Summoner: The Book of Dimension

62 Calm Before The Storm

Peter had been secretly watching Emma ever since the will was on his possession. Even if he tried to not suspect her, she still showed things that were suspicious.

He had some wondering thoughts that he kept in his mind and he was ready anytime for any available explanation. He didn’t tell Ray and Zack because they wouldn’t even believe him.

“Did you know Josh had that much wealth?” Zack asked, still in disbelief for all the things Josh stated in his will. “In just three years, he had that much money?”

Peter looked at Zack who was comfortably seated on his chair. Mr. Benedict was upstairs to rest, Violet was with another group of people among with David. “Did you forget? He inherited Edgar Lee’s possessions,” he said.

Zack clapped and nodded. “You’re right. I almost forgot about that. But still, we didn’t know he had that much money. He wasn’t the type to keep the money.”

Ray scoffed. “How could you say that? You don’t even know him well,” he said while picking up chips served by the Lee family’s maid. It wasn’t that long since the will was announced. It was still bright outside and sunset was still to come.

Zack patted Peter’s shoulder. “What can you say, Peter? Josh, isn’t the type to be like that, right?”

Peter shook his head and picked up a few chips before he placed it inside his mouth. Before Zack could even brag to Ray that he was right, Peter said, “You don’t know Josh well. He’s not a one-day millionaire. He keeps his money so, in the future, he would have something to use. Also, it’s not his obligation to tell us about his wealth.”

Zack pouted and then smiled. “Well, he’s generous enough to give me something. I kind of miss him.”

“Who doesn’t?” Peter asked with a grin.

“But speaking of Josh, what could be his reason why he included that weird request at the last part of the will?” Zack asked and acted like he was thinking. “The more I think of it, it gets weird,” he chuckled.

“Well, some deceased might have that kind of sentiment. Before they died, they probably thought they wanted to spend the last days of their wake with their loved ones. People also believed that a deceased person stays at their house for a week because they developed such an attachment. Josh must’ve thought the same as them,” Ray explained before he crossed his legs.

Zack stifled a laugh. “Who the heck believes that? Where did you hear that kind of folktale?” he asked Ray. “Also, how do people know that kind of thing? It’s not like they experienced the same. Did they experience death and lived again?”

Ray shrugged. “I don’t know. A beggar told me.”

Zack laughed. “What? A beggar told you? And you believe that?” he laughed and Ray did as well. “Whoever will tell me that, I won’t believe it, honestly.

Meanwhile, Peter thought the opposite of Ray. There was no way Josh thought like that. The request was too specific that it was a stranger. What’s stranger was, the context of the whole request was simply weird.

He believed that either Josh really believed that or he was pulling a prank or the will was faulty. He couldn’t tell the latter, because the will was written with his own handwriting. And when he said Josh’s handwriting, it was his close friend’s unique scribbles. He also signed it and Peter could tell that it wasn’t fake.

Peter continued to watch Emma and he couldn’t help but notice her repetitive actions. She was looking at her watch frequently and she had been into calls every now and then and she looked impatient and anxious.

Looking around the lobby, everyone seemed to forget about the strange request. Some revealed they wanted to leave the place and go home but they would also tell how they thought they should comply with his request. In the end, they were doing it for Josh for the last time.

He wanted to tell something was wrong with the will, but he didn’t want to look like a madman.

He continued to think about his wonders.

One, what was Josh’s message to his girlfriend, Violet, that could be a great help with the progress of the investigation?

Two, why did Emma approach Josh so suddenly, a month before his death? Was her motive really clean or was it tainted with a bad motive? And for what gain? What did she gain from it? What was she gaining from it? If she was actually the one behind the death of Josh, then what did she need from him? Was she after the book? Did she know about it?

Three, how come Josh had time to write the will to give it to her? Did he write it voluntarily or did Emma somehow forced Josh to make the will? Whichever it was, what made Josh think he needed to write the will as soon as possible?

He glanced at Emma again and she wasn’t on a call anymore, but she was closely watching the time on her wristwatch. “What’s so interesting with that wristwatch?” he whispered to himself.

“Peter?” Zack called him. He looked at Zack and his friend was grinning at him with malice. “What is this? Are you interested in Emma now?” he teased.

Peter scoffed. “What? No, of course, not. It would be great if that’s actually the reason,” he said.

“Then what?” Zack asked.

He only gave his friend an annoyed look. “Let’s drop this topic, I have other things to think,” he said and buried his face on his palms before he sighed.

More thoughts came to his mind, and it made him feel like crazy because there was no answer. The last two could be answered if only he could interrogate Emma. Maybe if he would ask again, she might give in and tell him the truth. Better, she might reveal something else.

Right when he lifted his head from his hands, he saw Emma standing from her chair and looked like she was about to leave. He stood up but he was called by Zack and Ray. “Where are you going?”Ray asked.

Zack looked at walking Emma and chuckled. “I thought you’re not interested?” he asked.

Peter sighed. “I have no time for this,” he said and ignored the two before he sprinted to Emma.

Emma turned and he saw how her eyebrows creased when she saw him. He smiled a little. She smiled back. “Do you need anything, Mr. Peter?” she asked. “Do you have something to say to me, or is this still the suspicion you’re putting up at me since earlier?”

He was quite flustered at her questions. He chuckled. “Why are you sow worked up? That was earlier. I wasn’t thinking of that before you asked,” he lied. She looked at him as if to tell him she wasn’t fooled but she just smiled.

“That what is it?” she asked.

He just shrugged. “I’m just here to ask where are you going.”

She smiled. “I’m going to the comfort room,” she said.

“There’s a comfort room by the lobby. And also on upstairs,” he said. She was flustered but she didn’t show it to Peter.

She sighed. “I know. But I’m quite sensitive to comfort rooms. I’d rather use the one that was rarely used,” she continued to walk. “Mr. Benedict told me there was a comfort room by the swimming pool and he said it’s rarely used but it’s clean.”

He followed her and insisted, “Let me come with you. It’s getting dark and it could be dangerous for a woman like you to come there alone.”

“What’s wrong with a woman like me?” she asked, looking at him.

He laughed. “No, I didn’t mean that. You’re a woman and this mansion is like, in the mountain. It could be dangerous for you to go out alone.”

She nodded and looked at him. “Sure, thanks,” she said.

“Don’t worry, I don’t mean any harm,” he reassured. I’ll escort you there and wait outside,” he said.

They walked to the backyard and there saw the comfort room she was talking about and noticed that the swimming pool was left empty.

Now, what was his plan? He was planning to find the right moment to throw the questions that would corner her. His plan was to get much information as possible. The ones that he could use to point either she was guilty or not.

He stopped her halfway and held her wrist with a smile. “Let me check the comfort room first before you come in there,” he said and walked ahead of her. “I’ve been meaning to ask you this, but based on the date on the will, he signed it in-between times when you came to him and before he died. Did he ask you—“ he cut his word when he turned around.

To his surprise, Emma was not behind him anymore. Confused, he looked around and thought maybe he fell on the empty pool. But she wasn’t there.

He quickly ran back to the lobby. “Did Emma come back here?” he asked Ray and Zack. Everyone was looking at him since he spoke too loud.

Ray gave him a look. “I thought you left with her?”

Peter scoffed and he felt that something bad was about to happen.