Family Business

Chapter 11

Dana spent all day, walking around Lanchester with a folded photograph, asking people if they knew Aaron or saw him at least, but it was no use. She was exhausted, her legs were aching and she felt like she could faint.

Finally stopping at a cafe, she ordered for some lemonade after asking the waiter if her saw Aaron. Just then she saw someone enter the cafe, it was the same guy who spoke to her that morning at the hedge wall. She was so distracted, she did not notice someone slip something into her drink.

Sipping her drink slowly, she suddenly noticed her vision getting blurry but before she realised what was happening, her eyelids dropped and her head fell on the table with a loud thud.

******

William and Adam talked all day. William felt like he finally made a friend. Adam was a young carefree guy who only had a little brother to care for. Recently they got into an argument and lost contact but Adam would still send money to make sure he was ok.

William never had any friends. Ever since he left his house, he kept to himself. Leah was an exception because she was the light in his life. The light that snuck in through the cracks of his heart. And now he was left burnt.

Adam was different, he was like a little brother to William. It must have been the protective big brother attitude that Adam had towards his brother that made him connect more.

After their walk, they went to grab some coffee at a local cafe. Then it was getting late.

"It's getting dark, let's grab some dinner before we start our shift." Adam told William.

"Sure, lemme go see if Frank wants to join us. I wonder if he left the room today." William replied.
When they reached the building they stayed in, Adam stopped dead in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" William asked, turning back to see Adam staring at the building. Walking back to Adam for a better view, William finally saw what was wrong.

It was Frank. He was standing at the top of the four story building, where they stayed.

A chill ran down his spine as he watched his roommate stand there. He was at the edge, staring at nothing in particular.

"FRANK!" William yelled.

Frank did not react, nor did he move.

"Talk to him, don't let him jump. I'm going up." William told Adam urgently before running up the flight of stairs to the top of the building. It was times like this William's well tones muscles came in handy. He ran up four flights of stairs in a minute. But it was still not fast enough. Just as William bursted through the terrace door, Frank took a step forward and disappeared from site.

William felt his heart beat hard as he ran to the edge where Frank was. He looked down to see Adam was on the phone, calling the ambulance. A small crowed of people had gathered around Frank's body whose head was over a pool of blood.

What's going on ?!

******

It was dark outside.
Dana's head hurt when she woke up. Someone was sitting opposite her.  It was Derrick.

"Dad!" She gasped.

"Your mother was worried." He said calmly sipping his coffee. "You told Sophie you were getting tickets for the maze?"

"What are you doing here?" Dana said slowly, trying to recall what happened before she woke up. Suddenly everything came together.
"I was supposed to buy tickets!" She gasped. "Dad, I'm so sorry. I was looking for the ticket booth and just couldn't find it."

"You were searching for it all day? No wonder you were tired." Derrick said, kindly "You were asleep when I came in, tried to wake you up but it dint work. So I just ordered some food while I waited." He added, pushing a plate of fries towards her.

Dana's stomach rumbled as she stuffed her mouth with fries. Derrick chuckled.

"So what do we do about the tickets? Can't enter the maze unless we buy it." Derrick asked as they paid for the food.

"Maze? Are you entering the Cornwall maze?" asked the waiter.

"That's why we are here." Dana said dully, angry with herself for not finishing the mission and falling asleep.

"The ticketing booth is right around the corner next to the famous Copper Pan bar." He said smiling. "But I'm afraid they would have closed by now. You could try again tomorrow."

"Don't worry sweetheart. The boys won't make a fuss, they love the arcade. So what if we have to wait another day? We dint plan to leave so soon anyways." Derrick said, looking at his daughter's sad face. She dint say anything till they reached the hotel, then she said she was tired and went back to her room.

Alice was confused but Derrick said "She wants to be treated like a grown up but she beats herself up for every little thing. Don't worry, she will be fine by tomorrow."

Alice nodded, but a mother always worries.

When Dana went to her room, she went straight to her bag, sobbing her eyes out. What an utter waste this day was! All she did was eat and sleep.

She couldn't even find Aaron in a tiny town, how was she supposed to be a grown up and move to college. How could she hope to accomplish anything in life.

Still crying she opened her bag and began to look for the envelope she wanted to give Aaron. It wasn't there. She began throwing clothes out of her bag looking for it.

It wasn't there.

She stopped crying and began breathing hard. It wasn't there! But she saw it last night! For a heart stopping moment she thought her father found it, or was it her mom?... No.... It can't be. Neither of them could go without talking about it.

And then it hit her. Her room was found open that morning. Did someone come in and take it? Why would anyone do that? Her head was buzzing with questions.

******

"Damn it!" exclaimed a dark figure, punching the wall angrily, outside the café.

He had just managed to slip some sleeping drugs into Dana's glass before her father walked in. He continued to spy on them, hoping the father would leave but he just sat there, waiting patiently for her to wake up.

He wanted to get Dana alone. Maybe he could drug the father too? But that would draw too much attention. No he had to wait. He looked at the envelope in his hand which he stole from her room, and wondered if he was doing the right thing.... Of course he was! John would do the same thing.

Then he heard them talking about the Cornwall maze. This was good news! She would be walking to her death in there. Smiling to himself, he walked away.

******

Who is John??

Who is the mysterious guy hanging around this poor family, attacking one member at a time?

And most importantly what is in the envelope that was so important for him to break into her room.

Oh and FRANK!! Poor guy cannot catch a break. Did he break this time or did he survive the fall?

If you liked this chapter you know what to do ;)

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