Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)

Chapter 9

Rhénee had not counted how many cupcakes she had eaten and she could tell that it wasn't helping her or her tummy. She felt like releasing all her anger out, but the only way to do so was to take in as many cupcakes down her throat as possible.

"Hey, aren't you going to leave some for us?" Greta asked.

"And why should I?" Rhénee asked after taking in who knows what number of cupcake in her mouth. "You guys are way too slow."

"Stop eating like that, Rhénee," said Miss Marie, "you're going to burst."

"Look, I told you all I know about that weird stranger over the phone, let me eat the cupcakes in peace."

Miss Griselda scowled and stood up from her seat. She approached the coffee table and took the plate of cupcakes away from Rhénee's greedy hands.

"Hey! But I'm still hungry," called out Rhénee.

"If you don't stop now, you'll become a glutton," said Miss Griselda. "No more cupcakes for you, young lady."

Miss Griselda gave each and everyone a cupcake, except Rhénee. She took the remaining cupcakes to the kitchen and quickly came back to the living room to take her seat.

"Now that that's over, can we look at the current situation we're in now?" Kevin asked.

"Well," began Rhénee, "we're all in danger. I told you about the stranger's warning and the picture of the house in the woods. If you help me any further, you might get hurt."

"But you can't do this all alone, Rhénee," said Malcom. "The way I see it, this all seems like a game to him."

"Of course it is. For him to give me the necklace and the photo of the house...., it's like he wants me to know the mystery of my late grandmother's death."

"Do you think your grandmother was murdered?" Greta asked.

"To be honest," Rhénee raised an eyebrow, "I was never told the truth about her death."

Rhénee turned to face Miss Griselda who had a weird expression on her face.

"Miss Griselda, you might know how grandma died. My mother told me she died of a heart attack."

"A heart attack?" Greta looked surprised. "I was told she had been admitted to the hospital and had died due to low blood pressure."

"I was told the same thing," said Malcom.

"To say the least, everyone in town was told the same," said Kevin.

"But that's weird," said Rhénee, "if it was due to low blood pressure, then why did my mother lie? I mean, it's just low blood pressure."

"It's strange," said Kevin. "Did your dad tell you the same thing?"

"Well....," Rhénee paused at the mention of her father. Surprisingly, he still hadn't called her. That was so unlike him.

"Well, he did say the same thing," said Rhénee, quickly snapping out of her thoughts.

"Do you know what the weird thing is?" Greta asked. "I never heard anything about the late Emelda not feeling too well that she would be admitted into hospital for a day or two before her death. It just happened so suddenly."

"Maybe it was just her time," said Kevin.

"Or maybe she was murdered?" Rhénee suggested. "Just think about it. Why do you think this stranger is playing this type of game? There is something he wants me to know about her death."

"I agree," said Miss Griselda, her voice a bit shaky. "I find it strange."

"Weren't you here when grandma died, Miss Griselda?" Rhénee asked.