Stolen and Confused

Chapter 4

Gracie

     After dinner, I trudge up the stairs and into the attic. I haven't been up here for a long time, and I was hoping I never would have to again. The room gets very little light and doesn't have any electricity. For any good  light, you must light candles or carry a flashlight. I tip toe around the small attic and shine my flashlight around. All around there are dusty boxes and old crates. One box in particular has both mine and my husbands interest.

     The old chest in the back corner has been passed down from one generation to another for practically forever. In it holds secrets of my husband's ancestors. The good, and the bad. This chest holds plans and knowledge and tools that would definitely lead to most of Jerome's family being arrested. His family did bad things, and no one needs know that he has even participated in some of their dark tasks.

     The chest is covered in old fashioned designs. It is very old and you can tell by how worn out it is. I'm shocked it can still hold anything, but this chest has is still tough. When I open the old chest, it makes a loud creaking noise. When I look down. the chest is empty. All that is left is the leftover dust.

     When I walk down towards the living room, I can hear the TV blasting the local news.

     "People all over town have been in deep worry over the past few hours when a local teen went missing. Shane Harper, age 16,  went missing at 10:00 am this morning from her school, Grandview High. We will come back to this top story after the break."

     I stopped dead in my tracks. Missing. Teen. If I ever knew what my husband liked, it was teenage girls. But it can't be him. He hasn't done anything like that for years.

     But he emptied the chest.

     I walk backwards, out the door. Jerome stands up and tries to convince to come back in. But I don't listen to him. I get into my car. As I start my engine, Jerome comes out waving his arms like a maniac.

Because he is.

      I ignored him and backed out. No way was I going to stay in the house with a man who has become undone. Again.