Bobby Morrow sat on the porch of his Cleveland home, legs crossed in an easy chair, absorbed in a newspaper. It was a bright day, but the boy seemed oblivious to the sunlight. Outside, the sounds of the city-cars, people talking, rustling leaves-were like white noise to him. Bobby was preoccupied with something more important, although at first glance it seemed that his only concern was leafing through the pages of a newspaper completely absorbed in dull news about wheat and trade deals.
He didn't like articles like that. Wheat imports? Who read that? The boy quickly turned the page, where his gaze fell on a series of pictures - Hollywood beauties. That was what caught his attention. Bobby lingered on one of the pictures. It was an actress with golden hair, smiling as if her happiness knew no bounds.
"I guess she never has to go through boring things," Bobby thought, looking thoughtfully at her face.
His gaze slid back to the other photographs, and then another caught his eye-this time of a man he didn't know. He was standing in front of a beautiful landscape, his shoulders back and an expression on his face like he knew all the answers to any questions you might have. He looked confident, mysterious, almost dangerous. He was the kind of man Bobby might want to emulate.
Bobby raised his eyebrows skeptically and glanced at the article that accompanied the photo. It was a businessman or maybe a politician who had long been a figure in public life. However, some strange interest settled in the boy's heart.
"I wonder what kind of person he is?" he thought.
It seemed like a normal photo, but something about it made Bobby feel like things weren't as simple as they seemed.
But then his thoughts were interrupted by footsteps. Bobby looked up and saw a girl coming out onto the veranda, wearing a bright yellow sleeveless dress that immediately caught his attention with its contrast with the green foliage around her. Her long black hair hung down to her shoulders, slightly touched by the light breeze. She moved easily, almost as if she were gliding along the ground, her steps were graceful, although she herself looked a little unusual. It was Emily, the girlfriend of his older brother Carlton.
Emily was thin and leggy, which was emphasized by her style, and had a distinctive, slightly mocking expression on her face. Her mouth was always half-open, as if she was constantly listening for something elusive, almost as if she was missing a piece of the puzzle to understand what was going on around her. Bobby knew that this was not true, she just had a twitch in her face. But he still always found her behavior odd. She was different from everyone else he knew.
Emily, meanwhile, coquettishly adjusted her bright dress, then picked up a comb and began to comb her hair. Bobby, sitting in a chair, could not look away. He had stopped reading the newspaper, having completely forgotten about it. His eyes were constantly following the girl's every movement. It seemed that she knew that he was watching, and it did not bother her. On the contrary, her behavior was such as if she had deliberately decided to give him the opportunity to see her in all her glory.
Her long black hair shone in the sun, like dark threads that absorbed the light. The comb slid slowly through that hair, and each stroke created a truly mesmerizing sight, as if it were plowing the black earth, only not for sowing, but for something else. For something much more mysterious, which Bobby felt was hidden behind her cold but attractive gaze.
She looked at him again, not saying a word, but her gaze was calm, almost playful. Bobby couldn't understand why she was doing this-why she was trying to get his attention this way. But despite his age, Bobby knew in his heart that there was more going on than just brushing her hair.
"What, am I more interesting than your newspaper?" she asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Her voice was light, but there was a hint of irony in it. Bobby winced, feeling his cheeks flush. He looked up at Emily sharply, as if he had just noticed her presence.
"Uh... no," he said, jumping up and down in his chair as if he'd been caught in some misdemeanor. "Just... just looking."
Emily chuckled, but didn't answer right away. Her face remained calm, but there was a playful, mysterious glint in her eyes. She continued to comb her hair slowly, but her attention was clearly focused on Bobby now.
"You really haven't noticed I'm here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and giving him a look that was a mixture of surprise and some hidden amusement. "I'm not some kind of invisible man. Or are you just trying to be polite so you don't have to look at your older brother's girlfriend?"
Bobby's head snapped up, as if he'd been suddenly doused with cold water. He hadn't expected such a direct question from Emily. She stood before him, her long black hair shimmering in the sun, her gaze fixed on him. She looked calm, but there was a twinkle of irony in her eyes, and Bobby immediately felt that he wasn't fooled.
He shook his head nervously, trying to justify himself, but the words were stuck in his throat. He didn't know how to answer. At first it seemed to him that all this was somehow natural, but now, after her question, he suddenly felt how uncomfortable he became in her presence. For some reason, when she looked at him, his heart began to beat faster and his thoughts became confused.
"I..." He took a deep breath and tried to collect his thoughts. "I just didn't want to look like the guy staring at his older sister, er, Carlton's... girlfriend.
Emily chuckled, her lips curling into a thin smile.
"Oh, so you did notice, huh?" she said, not hiding her cheerful interest. "You're not as stupid as I thought."
Bobby felt his cheeks heat up. He didn't know what to say. Emily was older than him, and even though she was Carlton's girlfriend, she always made him feel like he could be her. She was like a riddle he couldn't figure out.
"I didn't mean to offend you," he said, feeling his voice waver. "I just... I thought, well, it might be weird... if I looked too closely."
Emily nodded, her eyes softening a little, but the slight smile didn't disappear from her face.
"Weird? Do you think I get tired of people looking at me?" she said, raising one eyebrow. "Maybe you're right, it is weird, but I'm used to it. Carlton and all his friends are always around me, so... you don't have to worry, I'm not going to hold it against you."
She sat down lightly on the edge of the veranda, crossing one leg under the other, and her gaze continued to stare at Bobby.
"But you yourself," she continued with a thin smile, "are just like everyone else. Looking at me is like looking at someone else's treasure. You kind of want to do it, but at the same time you're afraid to violate the boundaries.
Bobby was stunned. Her words struck him like lightning. He knew she wasn't really setting any boundaries for him, but her words seemed to indicate something more than just watching her.
"I don't... I don't understand what you mean," he said, feeling his face grow hot again. "I... I'm only eight, and you're twenty-two!"
Emily paused for a few seconds, looking at him in surprise. At first, she simply looked at Bobby silently, as if trying to process what he had just said. Her eyebrows rose slightly, and a mixture of mild confusion and amusement froze on her face.
"Oh, so it's just age?" she asked with a small smile. "You think I look at you like you're... well, a kid? So what, you're being so serious and anxious here because you're eight?" Emily shook her head, her tone softening. "Bobby, you're not the first boy to get nervous around me, and you certainly won't be the last. It's not age, believe me."
She took a few steps towards him, still watching his reaction carefully. Bobby felt his heart begin to beat faster and his palms began to sweat. He instinctively moved back, as if trying to hide from her gaze, but she was too close. Different thoughts flashed through his head in an instant, but they all came back to one thing: that she was an adult, and he was still little...
"Emily, I... I don't know," he said, trying to collect his thoughts, but the words wouldn't come. "You're so grown up, and I... Well, I just don't feel right."
Emily looked at him with gentle understanding, her smile warmer, but there was still something mocking in her eyes, as if she knew more than Bobby could comprehend. She sat down next to him on the veranda, leaving a small space between them.
"Listen, Bobby," she said quietly, but with warmth in her voice. "You think age is what separates us? But you're not what you think you are. I don't care how old you are, I just care that you're Carlton's brother, my boyfriend.
Bobby froze, his eyes wide with surprise. He didn't know what to say. Emily looked at him, and her smile softened, but it was still mysterious. It was as if she could see right through him, and it was both frightening and a little comforting.
"What do you mean?" Bobby finally asked, his voice shaking slightly as he tried to remain calm. "Are... are you saying this is all because of Carlton?"
Emily nodded, her gaze turning serious.
"Yes, exactly. You're Carlton's brother, which means you're a part of my life, too, Bobby. And I care how you feel, because you're not just some stranger. You're family. And it doesn't matter if you're little or not an adult yet, you'll always be important to me. So don't worry about your age, okay?"
Bobby felt his chest fill with a strange warmth. He didn't know how to react, because Emily seemed to see him for who he was, without any masks or doubts. This wasn't how he imagined relationships between people - everything was simple and honest. Suddenly he felt less small and unnecessary.
"You... really think so?" he asked, almost in disbelief.
He looked at her with such a sincere expression that Emily couldn't help but smile softly.
"Of course," she replied, sitting down next to him. "I don't care how old you are, you're still important, because if you're happy, then my beloved Carlton is also in seventh heaven. You are connected to each other by an inextricable thread, and I don't want to break that thread!"
Bobby sat there, unsure of what to say. He could still feel the weight of her words, their frankness and warmth. Everything she said seemed to lift him up and raise new questions at the same time. Emily's words were like a living thread that connected him to this world, to his brother, to Carlton, to the people he cared about.
"I never thought I could be so important to you," he said quietly, his voice almost eclipsed by uncertainty.
He looked at her, trying to understand how she could say such things without feeling awkward.
Emily continued to look at him with a soft, attentive gaze, as if she saw something more in him than just her boyfriend's little brother. There was no judgment or pity in her eyes, only understanding and warm support.
"You're important to us, Bobby," she said, her voice quieter but confident. "We're all on each other's team. Your connection to Carlton is something unbreakable, and you should be happy about that, because I want to be a part of that connection, too."
Bobby felt his heart beat a little faster as he realized that despite all his doubts, there was someone who not only noticed him, but genuinely cared. Emily wasn't just his older brother's girlfriend, she was a part of his life, part of that very team she'd mentioned.
"But I'm so... small," Bobby said, not even understanding why it bothered him.
He knew he could be an adult, he could be a part of this world, but somehow he never felt important enough. Emily laughed softly, and her laugh was full of kindness.
"You're not little, Bobby. You're just... young. And that's fine. But that doesn't make you any less important than others. We're all growing, and you're growing, and that's what matters most."
Bobby sat on the veranda, feeling his heart calm down a little. Emily, sitting next to him, still looked at him with that warm smile that seemed to pull him out of the deepest reverie. With every word, with every look, those barriers that had previously prevented him from feeling like a full-fledged person were erased more and more. Now he felt that he found support and understanding not only in Carlton, but also in Emily.
He wasn't a child who had to remain in the shadow of his elders, he wasn't the one everyone thought of as "the little brother." He was just himself. And this realization was a real revelation for him.
"You know, Emily," Bobby said, his voice growing more confident, "I always thought the age difference was a big deal. That I was younger, so I should keep quiet and listen and not interfere. But now... now I realize that the age difference doesn't matter at all.
Emily turned to face him, her gaze focused, and she nodded softly.
"You're right. There are no real differences between people in this world, Bobby. Each of us has our own value, our own experiences, our own thoughts. And age is just a number. All that really matters is how we treat each other."
Bobby felt his words, his feelings, begin to form into something clearer. He was part of something bigger than just family or age differences. He was part of a human world where everyone could be heard, valued, and accepted.
"I always thought that only the elders could make decisions," he continued, blushing a little, but now calmly. "But now I understand that I can mean something, too. It doesn't matter that I'm younger.
Emily smiled, her face becoming even softer and warmer, as if she was happy to hear these words. She put her hand on his shoulder and said with confidence:
"You already mean a lot, Bobby. And at your age, you can understand a lot. You don't have to compare yourself to others. You are yourself - and that's enough. You are already an adult in your understanding of the world."
Bobby looked at her, his thoughts finally at peace. Everything that had seemed important to him-and that had sometimes frightened him-had lost its power. Age didn't matter, because people weren't divided into "younger" and "older." What mattered was what they had in common, what they felt for each other. And in this world, everyone was a brother or sister, because everyone could support each other, no matter how old they were.
With every word she said, Bobby felt his inner harmony being restored. He no longer felt like a stranger in this world, no longer felt out of place. He knew that no matter how life unfolded, he was important.
"Thank you, Emily," he said with a small smile, finally feeling the tension in his body melt away. "It makes me feel so much better. I was always worried about being left behind, but now I realize that... that it's not age that matters, it's what we feel and do for each other."
Emily, fixing her hair, looked at Bobby with a playful smile, but there was a slight concern in her eyes. She noticed how he was still sitting in the chair, wrapped in his black and green pajamas, and, unable to resist, joked:
"I see you've become wiser," she said, and then added in a teasing tone: "But walking around in your nightclothes during the day is not good. Would you like me to help you choose something better?"
Bobby, who had calmed down a bit after their conversation, blushed. He himself did not notice how he got carried away by the conversation with Emily and forgot about his appearance. After all, in his eight years there were many such moments when he considered one thing important, and pushed the rest into the background. However, now, when his eyes met hers, he realized that she was right. Emily was not only smart and kind, but also noticed everything around her, including such details that he would not have noticed before.
"Oh, yeah," he replied with a slight grin, trying to hide his embarrassment. "You're probably right. I just hadn't thought about it."
Emily laughed, and her laughter filled the air with a warm, almost cheerful sound, like a melody that seemed out of place on this dull summer day. She turned to Bobby, winking at him with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"Well, you know," she said, grinning, "the next time I come to see you and Carlton, I'll pick you up a nice suit from New York. You'll look like a normal person, not like a schoolboy who forgets to change his pajamas."
Bobby raised his eyebrows in surprise. He wasn't used to her playful tone yet, but there was something warm and caring about it. Emily always seemed to have something to say that made him feel a little older and a little more important. She was perhaps the first adult who didn't look at him like a child, but as an equal. And this look, full of respect and a little humor, was new to him.
"Really?" he asked, smiling back, though there was a hint of doubt in his voice. "Do I really need a suit? I probably won't even be able to move properly in it!"
Emily laughed again, and Bobby found her laughter even more infectious. She sat down on the edge of the veranda, holding her dress and swinging her leg.
"Of course," she replied, "if you decide to become a real gentleman, you will definitely need something better than these striped pajamas. New York is a fashionable city, and I know exactly where to get something stylish. You want to look like an adult, right?"
Bobby hesitated. He didn't really want to look like an adult, but a suit... Well, that would be something new. He might not want to be an adult, but sometimes he wanted to feel like he was part of something more important than a child's play. And if that meant wearing a suit, why not?
"Okay," he said finally after a pause, "but only if it has something with superheroes in it. At least like on a shirt or a tie!"
Emily looked at him taking his request into account, her eyes narrowing in thought.
"Superheroes, you say? Well, I'll think about it," she answered with a smile, "but if you want to be stylish, I don't think it should be too obvious. I can find something with a superhero style, but so that it looks more discreet. How about that?"
Bobby thought, and his eyes lit up again.
"Excellent! Then you know exactly what you need!"
Emily stood up from the porch, carefully adjusting her dress, and looked back at Bobby with a smile that seemed as genuine and light as the morning light. He still had the feeling that this meeting was something important to her, but she was treating him easily, as an equal, and this seemed to be the part Bobby was looking for. The part of the world where he was taken seriously.
But at some point his thoughts went astray. He suddenly realized that he had completely forgotten about Carlton. Where was his brother?
"Um... where's Carlton?" he asked, finally breaking the silence. He glanced around the yard, trying to spot his older brother.
Emily nodded briefly, looking at the house, and replied with a slight sigh:
"He's in the bath," she said, adjusting the hem of her dress without much interest. "You see, he's just getting himself together after we've been... well, doing a few things." She paused, as if hesitant to reveal details of her adult life to a small child, and then added with a smile, "But I think he'll be out soon. He usually comes out right after his bath to sunbathe on the veranda."
Bobby nodded, calming down. The thought that Carlton would soon show up took the pressure off his shoulders. After all, as he knew, his brother was always the one to dispel any doubts and worries. Carlton loved to spend time on the porch, enjoying the hot summer sun, and Bobby knew that he wouldn't be long in coming. But as soon as he mentioned his name, Emily's interest did not go unnoticed.
"Why did you suddenly want to see him?" she asked, watching Bobby closely.
Her expression became a little more curious, and the smile on her lips almost disappeared. Bobby felt his thoughts begin to get confused. Why was he suddenly so interested in Carlton showing up? And why did this question bother him so much?
The boy hesitated a moment, but apparently felt that he couldn't just brush off such interest. He turned to Emily, his gaze slightly fading, as if he himself wasn't entirely sure of what he was about to say.
"I... I just wanted to show my brother something," he finally said, struggling to find the words. "It's not important, it's just... something I found recently that I thought he might appreciate."
Emily raised an eyebrow and her smile returned. She took a few steps towards Bobby, stopping right in front of him and looking into his eyes with a slight squint.
"You're really trying to keep this from me?" she asked, shaking her head slightly. There was a hint of play in her voice and a mocking look in her eyes. "Do you think I don't deserve to know what 'interesting' stuff you're doing? Or is this some kind of 'only for boys' secret?"
Bobby felt his face flush. Emily was looking at him with a small smile, and her mocking tone did not add confidence. He blushed even more and did not know what to say.
"I... didn't think you'd be interested," he breathed, choosing his words carefully. "It's, like, a... thing for Carlton, you know? I thought he'd be glad to see it first."
Emily narrowed her eyes, her gaze becoming more and more playful.
"So I don't know because I'm a girl?" she asked, her expression coquettish. "Not manly enough, huh? Or are you afraid I'll laugh?"
Bobby felt awkward. A bunch of thoughts were running through his head, but each one only made him feel more embarrassed. He suddenly realized how ridiculous this all seemed. He was younger, and Emily was Carlton's girlfriend, a grown woman who, logically, shouldn't care about such trivial things. But something about her behavior made him feel like she might understand if he told him the secret.
"No, I'm not scared," Bobby said, trying to shake off his nervousness. "It's just... I didn't think it would be that interesting for you. Because you're, like, an adult, and I'm... I'm just a kid."
Emily laughed, her laugh light and kind, like a melody. She came closer, crouched down next to him, and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Bobby," she said softly, "you're not a boy, you're a smart, interesting guy. I don't look at you as a junior, I look at you as an equal. If you want to share something, do it. I'm not here to look down on you.
Her words calmed him down a little. He knew Emily wasn't trying to hurt him, that her words were sincere, but there was still a little uncertainty. Maybe she wouldn't laugh, but it still seemed stupid to him to show her what he had found.
"It's just... well, a newspaper article," Bobby said, trying to justify it. "I don't know if you should see it."
The boy was nervously playing with the corner of the newspaper he was holding on his lap, as if he hoped that the friction would calm his restless thoughts. Emily stood nearby, watching him with interest, her face not expressing any judgment, but rather a look of curiosity hidden behind a slight smile. She came a little closer and leaned down to examine the newspaper in the boy's hands.
"A newspaper article?" she asked, a little laugh in her voice. "You're so worried about something in the paper? Seriously, Bobby, what's in it that you don't want to show me?"
He clutched the paper even tighter, as if trying to hide the words that were written on its pages. He didn't want to show Emily that it was just something insignificant, uninteresting. But at the same time, he was drawn to reveal this little secret. Maybe if it was revealed, it would just be funny.
"It's not what you think," he said, trying to find the words to explain that it was, in fact, just a random newspaper article he'd found interesting. "It's just... you know, it's about something weird. I'm not sure if I should show it to you."
Emily raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression serious but not stern. She sat down on the edge of the chair next to him and put her arm around his shoulder, trying to get him to open up.
"You don't think I'm going to laugh, do you?" she asked softly. "Don't worry, I just want to understand what it is. You're already halfway there, holding it in your hands, so why not show me?"
Bobby felt the tension inside him ease a little. He looked at her friendly face and knew she wasn't going to laugh or judge. She really was just curious, and he was making more of it than it was worth.
"Okay," he breathed. "Here... it says something about some strange incident in New York. The police claim to have seen... something that can't be explained. Some supernatural deaths, to be precise.
Bobby glanced at the paper again, turning over in his mind the strange article he hadn't been able to forget. Emily sat next to him, watching his eyes closely, clearly waiting for him to continue. She leaned a little closer, ready to listen, and her curiosity seemed to be growing.
"Supernatural deaths?" she repeated, raising her eyebrows as if she couldn't believe her ears. "Is this straight out of a horror movie? Or are you making this up?"
"No, no," Bobby hastened to reassure her. "It's true. I'm not making this up. The article says that the police found two bodies in a photo studio. One belonged to the owner himself, and the other to some boy. They were both lying on the floor in the photo studio, and the pathologist stated that they died of a heart attack."
Emily narrowed her eyes as she listened to Bobby's story, but her gaze remained calm, almost emotionless. She felt that the boy might be exaggerating, or perhaps he was simply influenced by the strange and frightening news. But there was no point in arguing with him, and she decided to find out more.
"What happened next?" she asked, trying to figure out what had attracted Bobby to this story.
"Well," Bobby continued, somewhat encouraged by the fact that he was being listened to, "the police say that these two people were dead. But here's the weird thing - when they started checking the scene to see what could have caused their deaths, they found something surprising."
Emily tilted her head slightly, as if waiting for him to continue.
"The police found that the bodies... they weren't the only things in the room." Bobby paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts, before adding, "There was a camera in the room that belonged to a photographer. It took pictures of a man the police recognized as...
He paused, as if unsure how to continue.
"Admitted... which was very strange," Bobby finally said, slowing his speech as if he couldn't believe what he was about to say. "The police admitted that the photograph was of... a politician who had died many years ago. But the pictures were dated the day the police found the bodies in the studio..."
Emily raised her eyebrows, not immediately registering what Bobby had said. She paused in her tracks, processing his words.
"A politician?" Emily asked, frowning slightly, as if she wasn't quite sure she'd heard correctly. "Someone who died years ago? And you're saying his photo was taken long after he passed away?"
Bobby nodded, his face serious and his eyes wary. He continued, feeling his voice tremble with emotion.
"Yes, that's right. It was him in the picture, the police are sure of it, but he was photographed in that very studio, and even the page of a tear-off calendar that got into the frame confirmed that the picture was taken on the same day, and not many years ago..."
Emily didn't react right away. She looked at Bobby carefully, and then looked at the newspaper, as if hoping to find something in the text that would explain everything.
"So... you're saying that the photo of this politician, who you say died a few years ago, was taken the same day these two bodies were found?" she asked, trying to process the information. "And you don't think it's a coincidence? Some kind of... mystical phenomenon?"
"I don't know what it is. But I feel like something's wrong," Bobby said, throwing the paper aside, his fingers shaking with excitement. "And that's why I didn't want to burden you with this, Emily..." He stopped, feeling his face begin to turn red. "You're a girl..."
Emily laughed softly, the sound warm and kind as always, but there was a hint of irony in it. She came closer, sat down next to him, and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Bobby," she said, her voice soft and confident. "Do you think I can't understand? I know you're going through this, but you're not alone. You don't have to deal with this alone.
Bobby looked at her, slightly surprised. His doubts, which he tried to hide, seemed to dissolve in her words. Emily was not just his older brother's girlfriend, she was a person he could trust.
"I just... didn't want to bother you with any weird stuff. You shouldn't hear about any of this," Bobby muttered, feeling his doubts creeping back into his thoughts.
He didn't want Emily to worry about something that seemed so ridiculous. How could you even discuss supernatural things with someone who didn't believe in such things?
Emily looked at him with a slight smile, then lifted her chin, as if to tell him that she already understood everything.
"It's not weird, Bobby. It's important. If you feel like this is something unusual, something important, then you need to figure it out. It doesn't matter if we believe in the supernatural or not. You're not alone. I'm going to help you, and Carlton is going to help you, too. We're all in this together. So don't hide your feelings, they matter."
Bobby looked at her, and for the first time in a long time, he felt like he could share his fears with someone. He still wasn't sure if this was all just his imagination, but he felt like Emily was genuinely willing to help.
"I didn't mean to disturb you," he said, finally calming down. "But it's all true. I can't get these pictures and these strange things out of my head. I need to figure out what's going on."
Emily smiled again, her eyes warm with sympathy. She stood up to walk over to the table, took his hand, and pulled him toward her.
"We'll figure it out," she said firmly. "We'll find the answer, together. And you're not alone in this, Bobby. You did the right thing by sharing this with me. I believe you'll find the answer. We just have to tread carefully and not jump to conclusions."
She sat down next to him, and their eyes met. Bobby felt his fears gradually recede, and a warm feeling of hope flared in his chest. He was not alone.
"To tell you the truth," the boy said, looking at his bare feet, which were nervously swinging under the chair, "you made me show you this note. Until the very end, I didn't want to involve you in this... nonsense..."
Emily narrowed her eyes, as if looking into his thoughts.
"Nonsense?" she asked with a slight smile. "Bobby, you were worried for a reason. It can't be just any nonsense if it's bothering you so much."
"Well..." Bobby hesitated, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just overthinking it. It's probably just a coincidence..."
Emily touched his shoulder lightly, causing him to look up. Her voice became more serious, but remained calm.
"Bobby, you have to learn to trust your instincts. If something is bothering you, there's a reason for it. Even if it seems strange or ridiculous, you have a right to feel uncomfortable.
The boy thought about it. Her words sounded somehow too adult, and there was something comforting in them.
"But it could just be a journalistic hoax," he finally said, trying to convince both her and himself. "Maybe someone made it up to create a sensation."
Emily shook her head.
"Or maybe not. Even if it's someone's imagination, it's important to understand why it affected you so much. And didn't Carlton tell you that sometimes the strangest stories have truth in them?"
Bobby nodded, remembering how his brother loved to tell stories of the amazing discoveries they made by following the most unusual clues.
"I said..." he admitted quietly.
"That's great," Emily concluded. "Then let's just figure it out. Together."
She looked at the newspaper lying on the floor and, bending down, picked it up.
"So this note is your lead? Well, let's start with it."