Allegedly

Chapter 6: The Thanksgiving Guest

The sky above the ranch house had begun to darken, casting long shadows across the fields as the late November dipped below the horizon. Inside, the house buzzed with a sense of anticipation. Yuthika hummed to herself in the kitchen as she worked on the final touches of the Thanksgiving dinner, while Rowan sat at the kitchen table, watching her with a quiet appreciation. "Big meal tonight," Rowan said, sipping from his cup of water. "Emma's daughter and son-in-law coming in, right?" . 88%0 Yuthika nodded, her face lighting up. "Yes, Hui and Cecilia. They've been driving all day from Dallas. Emma' excited to see them. Its been a while."

The mention of Hui piqued Rowan's interest. He hadn't met Emma's son-in-law before, but he'd heard a few things. Hui was a quiet, intelligent man -reserved, but always watching, always thinking. There was something about that kind of person that made Rowan a little uneasy. He'd spent most of his life avoiding men like that-people who were too careful, too controlled. As the smell of roasted turkey filled the house, the sound of a car pulling up to the front yard caught their attention. Rowan stood, glancing out the window just as Emma's daughter, Cecilia, and Hui stepped out of their sleek SUV. Cecilia was a picture of elegance, her long hair tied back neatly, while Hui was tall and lean, dressed sharply despite the casual nature of the evening.

"Looks like the quests of honor here," Rowan muttered, more to himself than anyone else."
Yuthika smiled, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Come on, let's get everyone ready." Rowan followed her to the foyer where Emma, seated in her favorite armchair, was waiting with Lucy, her Pembroke Welsh Corgi, curled at her feet.

Emma's face softened the moment she heard her daughter's voice as Cecilia and Hui entered the house, bringing with them the chill of the evening air. "Mom!" Cecilia called warmly, rushing over to give Emma a gentle hug. "It's so good to see you. We've missed you." Emma smiled, her hands reaching out to find her daughter's face. "Cecilia. It's good to have you both home. I've been waiting for this."

Hui stood behind Cecilia, watching the reunion with a quiet smile. He didn't say much, but his presence filled the room, steady and composed. Rowan felt the tension in the air shift as they all greeted each other, though something about Hui's demeanor seemed guarded -like he was constantly analyzing, sizing up the situation. Rowan stepped forward to introduce himself, extending a hand. "l'm Rowan. Nice to meet you, Hui." Huis handshake was firm, his expression unreadable. "Likewise," he said simply, his eyes lingering on Rowan for a moment longer than was comfortable. "Emma's spoken of you." Rowan chuckled softly. "All good things, I hope." Hui didn't reply, but the silence that followed was answer enough.

As the evening continued, everyone settled into the dining room for the Thanksgiving meal. The large oak table was adorned with platters of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and more. Yuthika, ever the gracious hostess, served with a smile while Ada quietly moved between the kitchen and the dining room, her presence barely noticeable but always there. Conversation flowed easily at first. Cecilia and Emma reminisced about old family holidays, while Yuthika and Rowan exchanged more jokes about life and family.

"You know," Yuthika said with a grin, "my husband's convinced that if we keep the Airbnb running much longer, we'll be paying taxes until the end of time. He says it's like we're planting money trees but watering them with tax forms."

Rowan laughed, appreciating the lightheartedness in contrast to the tension that seemed to follow him everywhere in the house. But his eyes kept drifting to Ada, who hovered near the stairs, her demeanor distant, distracted. Something about her behavior had been off all night, but Rowan couldn't place it. The conversation continued, but a strange undercurrent of unease began to settle over the table. Even Hui, typically composed, seemed unusually quiet, his eyes flickering toward the staircase every now and then. And then, just as Cecilia was in the middle of telling a story about their trip to Paris, a piercing scream cut through the air. Everyone froze. It was Ada's voice.

"Help!" she screamed. "Oh my God! Help!" The sound of her shrill cries echoed down the hall, coming from upstairs. Rowan's heart leapt into his throat as he shot up from his chair, his body moving on instinct. Yuthika dropped the ladle she was holding, her face draining of color. "What's happening?" Emma asked, panic tightening her voice. Lucy barked furiously, pacing around Emma's chair as if sensing the chaos about to unfold. Without waiting for anyone else, Hui was already halfway up the stairs, his footsteps pounding against the hardwood. Rowan followed close behind, his heart racing, the world spinning into a blur of adrenaline and dread.

When they reached the top of the stairs, they found Ada standing in the doorway of one of the guest rooms, her face pale and contorted in terror. Her hands were shaking, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Inside the room, lying on the bed, was man. A body. Blood was everywhere. The bed sheets were soaked in it, dark red and pooling around the man's chest where a large kitchen knife protruded from his body. The handle was still embedded in the man's torso, and his suit-a clean, tailored outfit that now hung in tatters-was riddled with deep stab wounds. There had to be more than ten, Rowan thought, as his eyes tried to make sense of the gruesome Scene.

Hui moved forward, his face a mask of horror as he stared down at the body. "No," he whispered under his breath. "No..." The man was motionless, his eyes wide open but unseeing. Blood spattered the walls, the floor, even the headboard of the bed. And in the chaos of it all, Lucy's barking could be heard from down the hall, louder and more frantic than ever. She was scratching at the window-an old, large window that had been converted into a balcony door, leading to a small rooftop garden. The window was wide open, the curtains fluttering in the cool night breeze.

Rowan's breath caught in his throat as he took in the Scene. Grass from the rooftop balcony was scattered across the floor, trampled into the blood that stained the hardwood. Whoever had done this had left through the window. And yet, all Rowan could hear was the relentless sound of Lucy's barking, echoing through the room, piercing the night with her frantic yelps as if she was trying to tell them something.