"I want you to look into something."
"What do you want us to look into." Hazel asked.
"Ten years and four months ago."
"Why so long ago?"
"That was the date that my mother was taken." Mark nodded.
"Yes.. It was."
"I want you to look into everything that my parents have done on that day. Even a few days earlier. If I remember correctly, they were leaving for a party and a few hours later my father returned alone. I want you to find out what happened between then and there"
"If it's ten years ago, I can't guarantee that there's any footage left."
"No need to worry. I am aware that back then the systems weren't much but I am positive that my father kept records of them somewhere. I'll look through his office, Hazel, you look through every single footage video. Nathan and Mark, I want you two to investigate what the hell happened and how. Report back to me as soon as you get results."
"Yes sir!" Nathan and Hazel ran off to do as ordered.
"I am proud of you kiddo. Really proud." A small smile spread on my lips.
"There's no other choice, is there?"
"Also true. I'll go help Nathan."
"You should, yes." He chuckled then walked off.
In the meantime, I'll look through my father's office. Maybe I'll find there something useful other than the recordings.
Making my way to his office, I took a seat at the chair as my eyes scanned the room then the table and drawers underneath it when one caught my attention.
It had an old fashioned lock on it. The one the requires one of those old keys. I tried opening it but no use, it's locked tight and not budging so I started looking through all the drawers but there was nothing that even resembles a key.
"Where could he have put it?" Remembering those action movies, my hands searched underneath the table but they only came in contact with the emergency button but it wasn't perky like should be.. My father pressed it and it didn't work?
I shook my head to get rid of those thought. It's too late anyway.
I have to think harder.. Where could he have put the key?
'This is for you, my love.. If I am ever gone, this will give you answers..' Was what my father said to my mother. He tied it around her neck but she had never even once wore it. She didn't want to believe that anything could happen.
Rushing to my mother's bedroom that was kept clean and organized this entire time, I searched through every corner of the room that she could have put it but no luck.
Only one place left that I could look in, underneath the mattress. There I found her favorite novel and in between the pages laid a string. I opened the book.
On that day, she had started a new chapter. She said that this specific chapter was her favorite so she read it over and over again and that was where I also found the key, tucked right in between the pages.
Taking the key, I put the novel back to its place and reorganized her bed. The palace had never lost hope at finding her and I am glad they didn't.
Rushing back to my father's office then approaching the mysterious drawer. The key fit perfectly. Opening it, I found the drawer to be empty.
"Seriously?" I sighed. Is this some Pandora box that must never be opened?
Looking through the entire drawer, pressing at the walls that would have held all the papers together but there was nothing out of place until I leaned my palm onto the bottom.
It cracked.
Regaining my hope, my fingers searched through every corner possible to open the bottom but nothing was found.
Getting frustrated and impatient, I angrily punched the drawer breaking the bottom wood completely. Ignoring the pain and the running blood on my knuckles, I caught a glimpse of letters and papers.
Taking the drawer out of its place, I put it as gently as possible on the desk.
Getting rid of the bottom wood completely by breaking the remains, I reached out for the materials that were probably meant to be seen by my mother alone.
I started then pulling out all the files, cases, photos, cassettes and letters until at the very bottom was something that I wished that I hadn't seen.
They weren't just letters, they were threats and by the dried blood on the soaked papers, it had probably been years. Maybe my father thought that he took care of it but the problem had seemed to return.
Whoever it is, wants something from us but the weird thing was, that these letters weren't for father but for my mother. Could have he hidden them so she wouldn't find out?
Maybe the same person who wrote these, is the same one who took my parents? We all know the answer to that, it's a definite yes. Without a doubt, and I suspect that this person is much closer to us than I thought.
It's someone who had been here enough to memorize the entire palace and its blueprints. There's also a chance there's no accomplice. There's a chance that I turned everyone against each other and let the suspect squeeze in between the chaos.
Whoever it is, they are doing it on their own but I still haven't figured out who they are, and I believe that it's going to take some time to find the answers.