Chapter 14 - A Strange Event
1107 Words
The evening at Harbor Street eventually came to an end.
Livia walked Elsie back toward the car, still talking about everything that had happened during the evening.
“I still can't believe you ordered dessert before choosing a drink.”
Elsie shrugged.
“Priorities.”
“Your priorities are questionable.”
“They're delicious.”
Livia shook her head.
“You're impossible.”
They reached the car.
Elsie was about to open the passenger door when her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Ethan Bennett.
Her eyebrows lifted.
“Ethan?”
Livia looked over.
“At this hour?”
Elsie answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Elsie?”
Ethan's voice sounded unusually serious.
Elsie's smile faded slightly.
“Yes. What's wrong?”
“Are you alright?”
She blinked.
“Yes?”
“Are you sure?”
Elsie looked at Livia.
“I think so.”
“Did anything happen?”
“No.”
“Nothing at all?”
“Ethan, I'm fine.”
“Did you get into any trouble?”
Elsie stared at the phone.
“No.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes!”
She laughed awkwardly.
“Unless accidentally choosing chocolate cake over vanilla counts as a crime.”
There was no laugh from the other end.
Elsie's smile slowly disappeared.
“Ethan?”
“Are you really alright?”
Something about his tone made her straighten.
She looked toward Livia.
“Ethan… did something happen?”
“No.”
“That wasn't convincing.”
“I'm just asking about you.”
“Why?”
Silence.
Elsie's expression changed.
“Is Grandma alright?”
“She's fine.”
“Did something happen at home?”
“No.”
“Then why are you acting like someone just told you the house exploded?”
“Elsie—”
“Ethan.”
She lowered her voice.
“Did something happen in Willowbrook?”
Another pause.
“Is Grandma okay?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me what's going on.”
Ethan sighed.
“It's nothing you need to worry about.”
“That's exactly what people say when there is something I need to worry about.”
“Elsie.”
“Ethan.”
He was silent for several seconds.
Finally, he spoke.
“Mrs. Andrew noticed some strange activity near your house tonight.”
Elsie's expression immediately became serious.
“What kind of activity?”
“Some strange men were seen around the area.”
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
“Strange men?”
“Yes.”
“Were they doing anything?”
“Nothing directly. They were just… lingering.”
Elsie frowned.
“Near Grandma's house?”
“Yes.”
A cold uneasiness settled in her stomach.
“What else?”
Ethan hesitated again.
“Mr. Ruth also mentioned something.”
“Mr. Ruth from the departmental store?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“He said some unfamiliar men came into the store and were asking questions about you.”
Elsie's eyes widened.
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“I wouldn't tell you if I wasn't.”
For once, Elsie had no joke ready.
She looked at Livia.
Livia's expression had become serious too.
“Did they say why they were asking?”
“No.”
“Did they say where they were from?”
“No.”
“Did anyone recognize them?”
“No.”
Elsie looked toward the dark road beyond the car.
Her mind began racing.
“Ethan…”
“Hmm?”
“Please take care of Grandma.”
“I will.”
“And don't tell her.”
“What?”
“Don't tell Grandma about this.”
“Elsie—”
“You know how she'll react. She'll spend the entire night worrying about me instead of sleeping.”
Ethan sighed.
“She probably already worries enough.”
“Exactly.”
Elsie forced a small smile.
“Tell her I'm doing perfectly fine.”
“I will.”
“And Ethan?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful too.”
There was a brief silence.
“I will.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Elsie exhaled.
“Good.”
“And Elsie?”
“Yes?”
“Stay careful.”
She smiled faintly.
“I will.”
They said their goodbyes and ended the call.
Elsie slowly lowered her phone.
Livia watched her.
“What happened?”
Elsie looked at her.
“Apparently, Willowbrook has decided to become mysterious while I'm away.”
“That doesn't sound good.”
“No.”
Elsie told her everything Ethan had said.
Livia's expression became increasingly serious.
“So… strange men were near your house?”
“Apparently.”
“And asking about you?”
“Yes.”
Elsie frowned.
“Why?”
Livia folded her arms.
“I don't know.”
“Maybe they're robbers.”
Livia looked at her.
“Robbers?”
Elsie nodded thoughtfully.
“But honestly, what would they even get from our house?”
Livia stared at her.
“Your grandmother's silverware?”
“We don't have silverware worth stealing.”
“Your television?”
“It's old.”
“Your books?”
Elsie gasped.
“They'd better not touch my books.”
Livia almost laughed.
“That's what you're worried about?”
“They're valuable.”
“To you.”
“Exactly.”
Livia shook her head.
Elsie leaned against the car.
“But seriously… why would anyone come looking for me?”
Neither of them had an answer.
For several moments, they simply stood there thinking.
Finally, Livia sighed.
“Maybe they have the wrong person.”
Elsie nodded slowly.
“That makes sense.”
“They might be looking for someone else.”
“And once they realize I'm not that person…”
“They'll leave.”
Elsie considered it.
“Probably.”
Livia smiled faintly.
“See? Problem solved.”
Elsie nodded.
“Hopefully.”
Then she looked toward the road again.
“Still strange, though.”
“Very.”
Elsie sighed.
“Maybe Newhaven is making me paranoid.”
Livia opened the car door.
“Get in, paranoid girl.”
Elsie climbed inside.
“And don't call me paranoid.”
“Fine.”
Livia closed the door.
“Suspiciously cautious girl.”
Elsie rolled her eyes.
“That is somehow worse.”
Livia laughed and started the car.
Neither of them noticed the faint uneasiness that remained behind Elsie's smile.
For now, they had an explanation.
The strangers had simply mistaken Elsie for someone else.
At least, that was what they hoped.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD