Silent Jack

A Mist Of Doubt

Emily was painting on a canvas when the harsh sound of the doorbell diverted her attention. She placed the brush into a tray and wiped her hands with a towel.

"Who is it?" Emily said quietly as she walked toward the door.

She opened the door to find Sheriff Sarah and Sheriff Noah standing outside.

"Oh, Sheriff... I was just thinking about you and was about to call you," Emily said politely.

"I knew I hadn't updated you on the progress, so I came here," Sarah said with a neutral expression.

"We also need to discuss something important. May we come in?"

"Yes, of course," Emily replied, stepping aside.

She led them into the living room and said, "Please, have a seat."

"Thank you," Noah said with a smile as he sat down.

"What did you want to discuss?" Emily asked.

"I told you that Jack had started speaking and sharing bits and pieces about his past," Sheriff Sarah explained.

"Yes, you mentioned that and I asked to see him to learn about the night my family was murdered, but you forbade me," Emily complained.

"Yes, I forbade you because Dr. Rose believes it isn't the right time for you to see Jack. According to her, a small misstep could make Jack silent again and undo all her efforts. We needed to give her a few more days to ensure Jack's mental state improves," Sarah explained.

"Okay, I understand your point. Now, why are you here?" Emily asked.

Sheriffs Sarah and Noah exchanged a glance before Sarah spoke.

"Actually, Jack told Dr. Rose that your family used to torture and abuse both him and Mia. He also claimed that your family made them work long hours."

"Are you out of your mind?" Emily said, her tone furious. "How could you say such things about my family?"

"Jack's statements were quite severe. He mentioned that he and his sister suffered abuse over several years. Can you provide any evidence that contradicts these claims?" Sheriff Noah asked seriously.

"How can I provide evidence regarding the integrity and non-involvement of my father and other family members in any such wrong deed... and if don't have a proof, then jack also has no proof to prove his baseless allegations." Emily argued.

"Everyone knows what kind of person Ethan Harris is and how credible he is... and when my family was murdered, my dad was in France... and he never returned... I was there with him during that time and I never witnessed any deviance in his character... even the people of our circle always admire him for his unmatchable personality." Emily defended the reputation of his dad and other family members.

"France? That's quite a distance... I never asked you why your father decided to leave his country and shift there?" Sarah asked and then she added,

"Did he ever tell you why he decided to stay in France?

"Yes, he said he didn't want to return after the murder... He chose to live in France permanently, focusing on his business." Emily told.

"Sheriff I cannot believe that Jack said all of this. I still remember how I used to play with him and I always considered him like my brother... and now he is placing such severe allegations on his foster family." Emily said out of disbelief.

Sarah heard her and then she said, "Jack also said that Mia didn't die due to some fever or some common infection.... But she died due to forced abortion for which your parents took her to an unregistered clinic."

Emily heard this and she stood up from the sofa and said, "What is this rubbish?"

"How could you believe this?" Emily asked in a loud voice.

"Jack is telling nothing but all lies... his sick mind is making up stories," Emily shouted.

She couldn't believe that his father or anyone from his family could rape a young girl. She had seen how much social work his father, his elder brother, and aunt were used to do and they were always used to advocate for the rights of people surrounding us.

"Emily, we had to investigate it to find out whether Jack is telling the truth or not,"

Sarah said in a rational tone and then she added, "So, you don't need to become hyper."

"I am telling you that Jack is telling a lie... my family had done nothing of such sort of bad deed to anyone," Emily said in a firm tone.

"You should talk to your father and in the meantime, we try to find out the abortion clinic about which Jack was telling," Sarah said and stood up from the sofa.

Emily didn't give any reply to her and kept on staring at the back of Sheriff Sarah and Sheriff Noah until they went out of her apartment.

As they shut down the door, she came near the landline dialed the number of Ethan Harris, and placed the receiver on her ear.

As he picked up the call, Emily said, "Hello Dad."

"Hello, honey." Ethan Harris spoke in his polite and gentle voice.

"How are you? I am missing you dear." Ethan said in an affectionate tone.

"I am fine," Emily said in a dull voice.

Ethan Harris instantly noticed that Emily was in a bad mood, so he said, "What happened dear?"

"Dad, I told you that Jack, your foster son, hasn't spoken in the past fifteen years... but due to the efforts of Dr. Rose Wilson, he has started speaking and he told Dr. Rose that fifteen years ago, my family was used to abuse him and Mia and he also said that Mia died due to forced abortion and she was pregnant due to men of Harris family," Emily said reluctantly. She never thought that she would say any such thing to her dad.

Ethan Harris heard his words of Emily and gasped out a deep breath and said, "You are feeling bad over the words of a madman.... dear, leave him and his false allegations... and focus on your health and peace. I told you that you shouldn't go to Ireland for a lost cause... but you didn't listen to me and now you are suffering and I am feeling bad for you." Ethan Harris said in his ever-polite tone.

"But Dad, why did Jack say all of this? He shouldn't have spoken such lies." Emily said.

"What can you expect from a mentally unfit person?" Ethan Harris asked.

"He said what his sick mind suggested to him." Eth Harris said calmly.

"I knew, my family could never have done such things," Emily said in a relieved tone.

"Emily, come back and focus on your upcoming art exhibition... you have been waiting for this moment for so long." Ethan Harris said.

"I will come back, after finding the truth.... I still had to find out who killed my family." Emily said in a stubborn tone.

"Why you don't listen to me?" Ethan Harris said in a serious tone.

"Because I know I am doing the right thing," Emily said and disconnected the call.

She had regained her confidence that her family was the most credible one and they hadn't done any such thing as Jack Nolan was claiming.