ADRIAN'S SECRET
922 Words
Chapter Eight
Adrian ended the call before Amelia could ask another question.
She stared at her phone.
"The old warehouse," she whispered.
Her father immediately walked toward her.
"You shouldn't have told him."
"He already knows."
"Amelia, you don't understand what that place means."
"Then explain it to me."
Her father looked toward the window.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because if Adrian goes there, everything could become worse."
Amelia frowned.
"Why would Adrian going there be dangerous?"
Her father didn't answer.
That silence frightened her more than any explanation could have.
---
Across the city, Adrian stood inside his office with his phone pressed against his ear.
"Find out whether anyone has accessed the old Carter warehouse."
His head of security answered immediately.
"We're checking now."
"Don't send anyone there yet."
"Why?"
"Because whoever left those messages may be expecting us."
Adrian ended the call.
He walked to his desk and opened a locked drawer.
Inside was a small envelope.
He hadn't opened it in six years.
On the front were four words:
For Adrian, when you're ready.
It had belonged to his father.
Adrian had promised himself he would never read it unless he discovered what happened to Emily.
Now Amelia had appeared.
And the past was beginning to move again.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
His father's handwriting covered the page.
Adrian read the first line.
If you're reading this, then Emily is still missing.
His hands tightened.
He continued.
There is something you need to know. Amelia Carter was with Emily that night.
Adrian stopped reading.
He had suspected it.
But seeing the words written by his father made everything different.
He continued.
Do not blame Amelia. She was only a child. She was never responsible for what happened.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
Then he reached the final paragraph.
The person you are looking for is closer than you think.
Adrian stared at the words.
Someone was closer than he thought.
But who?
---
Meanwhile, Amelia sat in her father's living room.
She couldn't stop thinking about what he had told her.
She had been missing for twelve hours.
She had been found near the warehouse.
And Emily had disappeared that same night.
There had to be a connection.
Her father returned with two cups of tea.
"Drink this."
Amelia accepted the cup.
"Dad."
"Yes?"
"Did Emily trust me?"
He looked at her.
"Very much."
"Then why don't I remember her?"
Her father sat beside her.
"You were young."
"That doesn't explain everything."
He sighed.
"There was an accident."
"What kind?"
"You fell."
"Where?"
"At the warehouse."
Amelia stared at him.
"Did I hit my head?"
He nodded.
"Is that why I lost my memories?"
"Some of them."
She looked down at her hands.
"Did Emily disappear before or after I fell?"
"After."
"What happened between us?"
"I don't know."
Amelia looked at him sharply.
"You were there."
"I wasn't inside the warehouse."
"Then who was?"
Her father didn't answer.
Her phone suddenly buzzed.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
You remember more than you think.
Amelia's heart raced.
Another message arrived.
Ask Adrian what his father did that night.
She immediately showed her father.
His face changed.
"Don't respond."
"Why?"
"Because they want you to react."
Amelia looked at the message.
"Maybe they're trying to help me."
Her father shook his head.
"No. Whoever this is wants you confused."
---
At Blake International, Adrian was still reading his father's letter.
He reached the final line.
There was a second note written underneath.
Protect the Carter girl.
Adrian stared at it.
Six years ago, he had been angry with Amelia's family.
He had believed her father was responsible for Emily's disappearance.
But his father had known the truth.
And apparently, he had ordered Adrian to protect Amelia.
Why?
Adrian picked up his phone.
He called Victoria.
"Yes?"
"Pull every file we have on Emily's disappearance."
"All of them?"
"All."
"Even the restricted ones?"
"Especially those."
Victoria hesitated.
"Adrian, some of those files were sealed."
"I don't care."
He ended the call.
Then his phone rang again.
This time, it was Amelia.
He answered immediately.
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"Are you safe?"
"Yes."
"Good."
There was a pause.
"Adrian?"
"Yes?"
"I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"What did your father do the night Emily disappeared?"
Adrian went completely silent.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because someone told me to ask you."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
He stood.
"Amelia, listen to me. Don't trust any messages you receive."
"Why?"
"Because whoever is sending them knows about the night Emily disappeared."
"Maybe they know what happened."
"Maybe."
His voice became quieter.
"But they could also be trying to lead you somewhere."
Amelia was silent.
Then she asked,
"Do you know what happened to me that night?"
Adrian looked at his father's letter.
He could tell her.
But he wasn't ready.
"Not yet."
"You're keeping something from me."
"Yes."
"Then you broke your promise."
"What promise?"
"You said no more secrets."
Adrian closed his eyes.
"You're right."
He took a breath.
"There is something I haven't told you."
"What?"
"Six years ago, my father told me to protect you."
Amelia didn't speak.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Then find out."
"I will."
The call ended.
Adrian looked at the letter again.
His father's final words suddenly seemed more frightening than before.
The person you are looking for is closer than you think.
He had spent six years searching outside his own family.
Maybe that had been his biggest mistake.
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