Found Obsession

Chapter 79: Wyatt Ashcroft questions on the program.

November 3, 2005

Rose woke to the comforting aroma of pancakes and freshly brewed coffee wafting through the apartment. Stretching and yawning, she glanced over at the couch, surprised to find Raven already up.

Still in her pajamas, she padded out of her room and into the living area. Raven stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease.

"You cooked?" Rose teased, leaning against the counter with a sleepy smile.

"I figured you deserved it," Raven replied, his tone light as he plated the pancakes.

Soft music played in the background, and as Rose walked over to the speaker, she turned up the volume. The familiar tune brought a smile to her face, and before she knew it, she started singing along.

To her surprise, Raven joined in, his voice blending with hers. Their duet filled the room, lightening the atmosphere.

After breakfast, they got dressed and decided to unwind with a game of Xbox. Seated on the couch, controllers in hand, they played competitively, the room occasionally bursting with laughter and playful taunts. The singing continued, neither of them caring about being in tune.

The carefree moment was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Rose paused the game and stood, still smiling as she went to open it. When the door swung open, Lucas stood there, his expression unreadable as he took in the scene.

Inside, he saw two people who seemed utterly at ease, as if there were no problems in the world. 

After wrapping up for the evening, Rose, Raven and Lucas headed out for another day of work.

Lucas seemed unusually quiet—more so than usual. Rose noticed his silence, her gaze drifting toward him as they were in the car.

"Is something wrong?" she finally asked, breaking the tension.

Lucas hesitated for a moment. "No... well, actually, yes. I haven't been able to contact your mother."

Rose's heart skipped a beat. "Since when?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

Lucas glanced at her, his expression uncertain. "After I sent her your number. I lost contact with her after that. Have you heard from her?"

Rose shook her head, her concern genuine. "I haven't," she admitted, her thoughts racing.

She bit back the questions she wanted to ask, the urge to confront Lucas directly bubbling inside her. But her mother's warning echoed in her mind—Lucas is a spy for your father.

Rose clenched her jaw, unsure how much she could trust him. She would never dare use Levi against him. For now, she decided to stay cautious, burying her questions beneath the surface as her worry for her mother grew stronger.

"Has my father called you?" Rose asked, her voice steady despite the unease swirling in her chest.

Lucas nodded. "Yeah. He asked if I knew where your mother was or if she'd called me."

Rose bit her lip, her thoughts churning.

"Do you think something happened to her?" Lucas asked, his concern evident. The genuine worry in his eyes made Rose pause—was he truly a spy for her father? If so, it didn't seem to be with the intent to harm her.

Raven sat quietly, observing but saying nothing.

"I... I don't know," Rose finally said, her voice quieter now.

Her thoughts drifted to her mother's past. The CIA. The Blue Program. Her hacking skills. Could her mother be in hiding? Should she report her missing, or would doing so jeopardize her safety?