When Secrets Surface (Book #1)

Chapter 28

Sophie's POV

I was in the living room in my pjs devouring some ice cream and waffles, watching a psychological thriller.

I heard the doorbell ring. I ignored it but it rang again.

I groaned and stood up and proceeded to the door, when I opened it I saw Theo.

"Are you looking for this?" He asked, holding my phone.

"Oh my days, I have been looking for this everywhere. Thanks, you're so sweet," I pulled him into a hug, pretending that I didn't know my phone was in his dad's car all along.

"You called me yesterday using your house phone right?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh we were just having movie night to celebrate Dorothy's win but you wouldn't have liked it anyways 'cause it's a horror movie," I explained.

"How 'bout I make up for it?" He grabbed my hand.

"I started watching a movie right  now wanna watch?" I was happy I could spend time with him.

"I'm  free so why not?" He answered.

He stepped into the house and joined me on the couch and I dropped the blanket over us.

"What genre is it?" He peered at the TV screen.

"Psychological thriller," I replied.

"This is why you don't sleep at night," He stated.

"I find it relaxing," I said with a smile," Don't worry you can just hold onto my arm when it's time for the parts you hate, "I comforted him.

"As long as you're happy I'm fine," He replied.

"Did you sleep last night?" He turned to face me.

"Only for 30 minutes," I responded.

Midway through the movie I could see Theo was petrified so I decided to get his mind off the movie.

"Does your Dad hate me or does he have something to do with my Dad's disappearance?" I opened my big mouth again.

"No, I don't think he hates you but he just doesn't like talking about your Dad," Theo answered.

"So why does he not answer questions on my Dad truthfully?" I asked. Shut up. I told myself.

"I don't know," He answered sounding oblivious

"I think I have had enough of this movie. See you soon Babe," He said. I accompanied him to the front door and he gave me a quick kiss before he left.

Dorothy's POV

Was Theo here? Or am I going crazy?

Because I'm certain I heard his voice.

When I got downstairs I saw Sophie eating waffles.

"Was Theo here?"I asked curiously.

"Yeah, he returned my phone," She answered.

"So here's the plan I'll go speak to Alex and when I return we see Mr Brian together," I suggested. Something about Mr Brian was off and I wanted the two of us to be there when we faced him.

"Sure, I am going back to my movie," I responded.

I just nodded. After I waited in traffic for what felt like 30 billion years. I finally arrived at Alex's house.

I pounded on his door and rang his doorbell many times to ensure they knew someone was at the door.

"Hello Dorothy," A sleepy Alex answered the door.

"We need to talk now and it would be  amazing if Bella didn't intervene," I told him.

"She's not home in the first place come in, "He opened up his door widely.

Strangely, I've only been here a few times even though Alex has been dating my Mom for months now.

I switched on the recorder in my palm. I already asked for his consent earlier so this shouldn't be a problem.

_______________________________________

Interview with Alex

_______________________________________

Dorothy: You said you saw My Dad go to Mr James Brown. How did you know?

Alex: First of all, I didn't see him. I recommended your father to James Brown and he told me he was expecting your Dad on March 5th, 2019.

Dorothy: But you were particular about seeing him with my Dad weren't you?

Alex: It was a mistake. Are you suggesting I had something to do with your father's disappearance?

Dorothy : I am sorry but I am the one asking questions here. Not you, please.

Alex: Fine. Next question.

Dorothy: So where were you  the night of the unfortunate disappearence which happens to fall on March 5th of the year 2019?

Alex: So you are accusing me.

Dorothy: I just want complete answers to my questions. That's all I am asking for and you seem to be uncooperative.

Alex: I'm sorry. But I wasn't even in the state that week.

Dorothy: You're bluffing. You're lying. You're what???

Alex: Let me explain. So that week is  Bella's birth week and she said she didn't want to spend it in LA  she's  seen everything here. So she wanted  to travel she wanted to go to so many places it's terrifying. She wanted to go to Paris, Milan, New York, Vienna, Tokyo, Rome, and London everywhere so that night we picked Tokyo, Paris and NYC.
So we were away for the week.

Dorothy: A birthday is only one day so shouldn't you have flown and returned on her birthday whatever date it is?

Alex: We celebrate a birth week she thinks a day is not enough so we celebrate for a whole week

[It's giving spoilt brat vibes I thought]

Dorothy: This alibi is not very solid it's very shaky I need proof of that.

Alex: If you follow me to my study I can show you.

_______________________________________

I let the recorder continue to record.

I followed him up a flight of stairs into a large study room with a massive desk and large bookshelves at every corner of the room.

I sat on one of the chairs in the study as I observed him scrolling through his documents on the monitor.

He beckoned me to come and showed me a picture with Alex and Bella in New York at Times Square with a time stamp at 3:00Am on March 5th 2019.

That's midnight Los Angeles time.

That means...