When Secrets Surface (Book #1)

Chapter 34

Dorothy's POV

I was rummaging through the medicine cabinet looking for painkillers.

I finally found some. I went back to the living room and handed them to Sophie.

"Thank you," she said before drinking water to push the pills down.

The police conducted a DNA test and they confirmed it was indeed Dad.

Mom didn't know Dad was back yet. It was going to be a huge surprise.

Dad was going to show up before we had to testify to the court so they could deliver a final sentence on Mr Brian after that Dad would come over

"Good morning," Mom called.

She looked very ready to leave for work already.

We replied but she turned to Sophie concerned, "Sophie, are you okay? You look terrible".

She knows Sophie likes to bury her pain and emotions that's why she is always persistent.

"My head hurts when I walk or move too much for that matter, "Sophie revealed.

"I'll inform your Doctor. You'll be fine Soph, okay?"Mom tried to reassure Sophie.

Sophie nodded.

The doorbell rang. I dashed to the door. I opened it and I saw Dad.

My Mom's floor dropped to the ground.

"So, let me explain we found him two days ago but we just needed the police to confirm that it was him," I explained.

"Ashe," My Dad pulled my mom into a hug and it looked so cute. I wished I had my phone. The one time I decide to leave it upstairs.

"After all these years I never thought they would find you," My Mom said breaking into tears of joy.

"Us or the police? " I asked.

"Well, the police never but when you two started investigating I thought there would be a fifty percent chance they won't find you," Mom stared.

"Wow," Sophie replied.

"Take a seat," My mom beckoned to our Dad. He sat next to Sophie and I sat adjacent to them.

"Now, this feels like home. I've missed you guys so much," He said ruffling his hand through Sophie's hair.

Sophie's POV

This is what I wanted from the start.

Dad to be here just being Dad and Dorothy and I were able to get it.

Mom came back in a more casual outfit," I'm calling off work so that Dave and I could catch up. I also ended things with Alex".

A smile crept onto my face.

"Who's Alex?" Dad raised an eyebrow.

"Your replacement," I blurted out.

"I was trying to move on from the pain of losing you but I don't think Alex helped so now that you're back the original. I broke up with Alex," Mom told Dad.

Yes, the original can never be replaced.

"Have I missed that much?" My Dad asked.

"Yes, "Dorothy and I yelled simultaneously.

"You were 11 when I went missing now you're 16 you've grown up so fast," He said, his voice filled with nostalgia.

"Turning 17 soon," Dorothy corrected.

'Wow, ' Dad mouthed.

"Speaking about missing... can you tell us how you got abducted," I said cautiously.

"You're still curious I see. You see after I was delivering a package from Emma Lanes I drove back from Santa Monica just before I got back to Inglewood. I saw Mr Brian and he said he had a flat tire. I got out of my car and I felt something hit the back of my head and I passed out. When I woke up I was in a room and Mr Brian kept threatening me that I would never see you guys again unless I worked for him and made more inventions away from my family. He said you're a distraction, "Dad explained.

"So wait what about Xz?" Dorothy barged into Dad's explanation.

"I wanted it to be harmless to help patients fall asleep quickly so surgery can be performed and they can wake up immediately after surgery is completed but Mr Brian said I should tweak a few things but when we tested it on a patient it failed and acted more like a drug. I told Mr Brian I wanted to destroy it since the government made it an illegal drug but he refused. I ignored but when I wanted to destroy it. It was gone not a single trace, "He continued.

Sophie told him everything we discovered and he was astounded.

"So why did you leave home in such a hurry? Why didn't you talk to us before leaving?" Mom's curiosity piqued.

"He was threatening to fire me, and said I needed to come at once," Dad said, "But now I have to apply for a new job since I've been missing for the past 5 years".

"Sophie, what happened to you? " He questioned me looking at the back of my head.

"With Dorothy's help, we managed to narrow the suspects to Alex and Mr Brian but Dorothy said we should interrogate Mr Brian together and I didn't listen to Dori so I went to question him and he admitted to kidnapping you but he refused to tell me where you are. So they put Xz in my coffee when I wasn't paying attention to the coffee I got from them. They drugged and they intended to suffocate me with a plastic bag after I blacked out. I escaped from their house but when I got into the forest they pushed me into a tree my head popped open when I opened my eyes... blood everywhere. If it wasn't for Nichole and Dorothy I wouldn't be here, "I said almost crying.

"Who's 'they'? " Dad asked.

"I stupidly dated Mr Brian's son Theo and well his father too," I told him.

I got played hard. I fell for a manipulative rat.

"You're not stupid," Dad retorted.

"Thank you," Dorothy said.

"I met Theo before sweet kid never thought he would do that to you," Dad said sounding remorseful.

"That's what everyone's been saying! " I yelled.

I winced from the sharp pain in my head.

"Are you okay?" Mom rushed to my side.

"My head hurts the painkillers aren't working," I said, my voice sounding weak from pain.

"I think that's my next project making headache medicine for you to get rid of the pain for a longer period," Dad said.

Well, the last time he tried making medicine he created an illegal drug let's see how this one goes.

"Imagine you have to explain the 5-year gap on your CV by saying you got kidnapped," Dorothy said.

Dad laughed.

"I miss this," Dad said wrapping an arm around me, "I should go back to that lab and get my stuff and move back in," Dad said.

I finally got what I wanted but who was sending me threats?