Rising Secrets

Chapter 9- Strong Resolutions

     "Hey, Greg. It's been two months already. Won't you think about cooperating? Remember, the faster you agree, the faster you'll go home." The irritating voice flowing from the speakers hit Gregory with a blow of temptation. What wouldn't he do to see his wife and kids again?

     Oh yeah, he remembered. Commit murder.

     Not replying, Greg turned from his side to lay flat on his stomach, avoiding his back. They had taken to using all kinds of methods to make him agree; torture, threats, bribery. But it wouldn't work. Nothing short of murdering his children would make him want to assassinate again. He'd trained Aidan to ensure that they, the organization, wouldn't have that leverage against him.

     He wasn't so old that he couldn't remember what made him quit his job, and no matter what happens, he'd do everything he could to stay retired. So that he'd never relive that sort of torment again.

***

     Aidan stood before the school doors, debating whether or not to enter and search for Rosette. After the mall incident, he had returned home and apologized to Emma for his rude behavior and resolved to begin his search for their father.

     He'd already searched the house almost five times over, dug through his father's study, and flipped through some water damaged files around the house. But all he could find were old, crumbly photos, his birth certificate, quite unexpectedly, and a suspiciously labeled box that turned out to be the home of Emma's diaries. Which was also unexpected.

     He realized then that, no matter what he did alone, nothing would work. He was missing both leads and supplies.

     To get that, he needed help. Specifically from the daughter of a certain undead woman.

     Oh boy, this is gonna be a hassle, he couldn't help but observe. If Rosette really had no clue about her mother's questionable hobbies, what was he to do? But since he had already seen the accursed Pandora's box, he just had to keep going until he opened it. And hope that his father lay beyond.

     Well, back to the present issue- Rosette. He saw her emerge from the school, about to go home. Rushing up to catch her before she left, he stood silently for a moment.

     "Rosette, we have to talk." He blurted out suddenly. She appeared to be extremely startled and more than a little confused, but agreed nonetheless.

     Following him through the school grounds to his car, she stayed eerily silent. She asked him no questions, seeming to have an idea what the talk might be about.

     Arriving at his Jeep, he took a deep breath and asked,

     "Do you know of a Gregory Frosz?" Rosette didn't answer immediately. At first, she looked slightly puzzled, then torn, as if unsure how to answer.

     Finally, after am eternity of seconds, she replied:

     "Yes, I do."