Emma's heartbeat matched the relentless drumming of the rain hitting the car windows. Lucas drove with complete concentration, keeping his eyes on the road in front of him and firmly gripping the wheel like his life depended on it. The winding streets driving away from the manor appeared to be more tricky now, the smooth asphalt mirroring the light-emission headlights in a muddling way.
Emma's thoughts were racing as she sat in the passenger seat. The strange occurrences that had just taken place could be felt in the cold metal of the locket in her pocket. She resisted, unsure if she was prepared to hear what Lucas had to say, despite her instincts telling her to do so.
At last, she was unable to keep down any more. "Who exactly are you? And what were you doing in the mansion, anyway? Emma noticed a tightening in Lucas' jaw as he maintained his focus on the road. Lucas is my name, just like I said. I conduct private investigations.
"A Private Detective?" With skepticism in her voice, Emma repeated. "Who employed you?" Before turning back to the road, Lucas hesitated and briefly glanced at her. That is difficult. I wasn't recruited by just one individual. I followed a case that brought me to Maplewood and you. "Me?" A chill ran down Emma's spine. "What is my connection to any of this?" "More than you understand," Lucas said unobtrusively.
You have ties to the Blackwood family that you probably aren't even aware of. Did she ever talk about her time working for them—your grandmother? Emma's throat was holding her breath. Her grandmother had passed away when she was a teenager, and although they had been close, she had always avoided certain topics, particularly those pertaining to her work as the Blackwoods' housekeeper.
Emma acknowledged, "She didn't talk about it much." "Just that it was a long time ago and the family was...difficult," she said.
Lucas nodded as if his suspicions were confirmed.
"The story goes deeper than that. She was more than just a housekeeper; she was your grandmother.
She was a confidante and an observer of events that the majority of people were unaware of. People who wanted the Blackwoods' wealth and power were their enemies. Additionally, those people are still present.
Emma tried to make sense of what he was saying with a frown. However, the Blackwood family vanished decades ago. Why should they be of any concern now? "Since there's as yet incomplete business," Lucas answered. "Secrets that, if revealed, could result in the loss of lives. Also, certain individuals will effectively ensure those insider facts stay covered." The locket in Emma's pocket came to her mind.
She began by removing the locket and presenting it to Lucas: "This locket." "I came across it in the mansion. On it are the initials "E.B." Do you have any idea what it implies?"
Unable to make out his face, Lucas gave the locket a cursory glance. "Those had a place with Eleanor Blackwood, the matron of the family. She was the person who maintained some kind of control—until she couldn't any longer." The locket was encircled by Emma's clenched fingers.
"Why did it just sit there in the library?" Lucas moaned. "I wish I knew. Despite the fact that the Blackwood Mansion has been deserted for a number of years, it appears that someone has recently been there, presumably wanting you to discover that locket.
The implications overwhelmed Emma, and she shook her head. Why, then, me? Why now?" As they approached a crossroads, the rain continued to fall in puddles, and Lucas slowed the vehicle. "That is the thing we really want to find out. However, we must first reach a secure location.
Emma gave him a suspicious look as she spoke. "Also, where precisely is that?" Lucas said as he made a left turn onto a smaller road that deviated from the main highway. "There's a motel a few miles from here," he said. "There, we can regroup and determine our next move,"
Emma delayed, feeling a blend of dread and fatigue. She wasn't sure how much more she could handle as the night's events caught up to her. But she also knew that she couldn't go back. She was still being worked on by the person who had taken her to the mansion.
The rain-soaked grass glistened in the headlights as they drove, and the landscape outside the car window changed from a dense forest to open fields. The street was abandoned, and the main sound was the consistent wash of the windshield wipers and the murmur of the motor.
They came to a small, run-down motel on the outskirts of a town Emma didn't recognize after what seemed like an eternity. The neon sign glimmered in the obscurity, projecting a spooky sparkle over the unfilled parking area.
Lucas stopped the engine when he pulled into a spot near the entrance. He said, unbuckling his seatbelt, "Stay here." "I'll find us a room," Emma looked as Lucas strolled to the inn office, her psyche actually dashing. Although she did not completely trust him, he was the only connection she had to what was going on.
She was unable to stand to be separated from everyone else, not this evening. Lucas came back in a few minutes with a key and an old envelope in his hand. He made the way to Room 7 and motioned for her to follow him inside.
Emma wrinkled her nose at the musty odor and the dim, small room's faded wallpaper. But it was warm, and she felt some relief for the first time that night. Lucas turned to face her and dropped his coat on the bed. "We're protected here, for the present. You ought to get some sleep. Refusing to let the exhaustion take over, Emma shook her head. "I want replies, Lucas.
I can't simply fall asleep without knowing what's happening." Clearly reluctant to delve into the entire narrative, Lucas ran his hand through his hair. However, he could recognize the assurance easily and realized she wouldn't let it go. He sat down on the edge of the bed and said, "Alright." "I'll share what I know with you.
However, you must make a promise to me. "What?" Emma asked with caution. "Guarantee me that you will do nothing careless," Lucas said, his voice firm. "You're more profound than you understand, and the individuals we're managing don't carry on honestly. We must be smart if we are going to get through this. Realizing the seriousness of his remarks, Emma gave a slow nod. "I guarantee."
Lucas took a small step back to gather his thoughts. One of the wealthiest families in the state was the Blackwoods. They were well-connected across the country and owned half of Maplewood. However, with that kind of power came enemies—individuals who desired what they had and would do anything to eliminate them.
The pieces of the puzzle slowly fell into place as Emma listened intently. Lucas continued, "Edith, your grandmother, was more than just a housekeeper." She was Eleanor Blackwood's confidante, and Eleanor trusted her with her most intimate information. In any case, those mysteries were risky.
Things about her family and enemies that Eleanor knew could end lives Additionally, those secrets did not simply vanish along with the Blackwood family when they left. Emma felt her stomach tighten with a cold, fearful knot. "And now, somebody wants to keep those secrets hidden," Lucas said with a nod. "Exactly.
Emma, there is a lot at stake here. Also, for reasons unknown, they've concluded that you're the way to open everything." Emma struggled to make sense of it and shook her head. "However, why me? I have no knowledge of the Blackwoods. I just try to tell a story as a journalist. Lucas' demeanor relaxed. "Whether we are prepared for it or not, the past sometimes has a way of finding us.
Emma, your grandmother, and the history of your family tie you to this. And whoever called you this evening is aware of that. As the events of the night began to weigh heavily on her, Emma stopped talking.
In Maplewood, she had always viewed herself as an outsider, someone who had left the small-town life in search of something better. However, presently, she understood that her underlying foundations in the town went further than she had at any point envisioned. "I don't have the foggiest idea what to do," she conceded unobtrusively.
Lucas connected and put a consoling hand on her shoulder. You are not alone in this. We'll sort it out together. However, you need to rest right now. We'll start over tomorrow and see what we can find. He was correct, despite Emma's desire to protest and demand additional explanations.
She was mentally and physically worn out. In her current state, she was unable to make any sense of the whirlwind of questions and theories in her mind. Hesitantly, she gestured and advanced toward the other bed. She took off her shoes and sat down, covering herself with the scratchy hotel blanket.
She couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning as she looked up at the ceiling and listened to the rain tap on the window. The Blackwood family's darkest secrets were still out there, waiting to be discovered. She also had some inkling that nothing in her life would ever be the same after the truth was revealed.