Treasured (Book Two)

Chapter 17: Secrets

I took a couple of steps back. "Are you alright?" Luke asked. "Do you want me to-" "No," I interrupted sharply. "I am just trying to adjust my eyes, because I just saw my own grandparents being total freaks!"

"Cole," Luke reassured. "It's going to be fine." "Fine!" I cried. "Fine? My dad is a obsessive cheating poker player, Mom and I are actually broke, and my grandparents are psychopaths!"

"It's like my family is being replaced by the Texas Chainsaw m******e! Or the Simpsons!" I swept my hair back and wiped my eyes. "I just..don't know what to do right now." I admitted.

Luke gave me a brief nod. "Me too," he replied, giving my hand a tight squeeze. "I've been there before, I have seen so much destruction and I have lived through it."

He gave me a soft smile. "The last thing I want is people going through the same pain I have, especially you." "Thanks," I beamed. I wrapped my shoulders around him and gave him a brief hug.

Just then, Luke's phone hovered over the table. Luke sighed and hurried to answer it. "Hello?" Luke asked. "Hey Oscar the Grouch," said a familiar voice. "I found something."

"Ugh," Luke groaned. "Hey Seth, what did you find?" "Remember that you guys said that there was some conversation between Ellen and Cole's crazy Dad, no offense to your girlfriend, Luke."

"I can hear you Seth," I called in frustration. "Turns out," Seth continued, ignoring me. "I check out the phone records you gave me and it turns out they were fake." "What?" we both cried in unison.

"How are they fake," Seth said. "I don't know, but listen to this recording. It was dated two or three days before the murder." We heard buzzing noises coming out of the speaker phone. "Hello Ellen," a wheezy voice said. "How are you doing?" It must be my grandfather.

"Who is this?" Ellen asked. "I was expecting Lewis." There was a brief pause. "Say that again," Grandpa repeated. "Who is this?" Ellen repeated again. "Where is Lewis?"

"I am waiting for my blasted son-in-law to pick my calls," he responded. "Where is he?" "I think you have the wrong number," Ellen said in a nervous voice. "This is the right number, Ellen." Grandpa insisted. "Why do you want my son-"

"Ellen" said Stacy in the background. "Come help me set the table. I want to surprise Lewis." "One minute," Ellen promised. "Are you having an affair with my son?" Grandpa asked in horror. "I have to go," Ellen insisted. "Young lady!" he shouted in frustration.

Elle hung up on him. "Are there any messages left?" I asked. "One more," Seth replied. "Play it," Luke instructed. "Got it," Seth said. "Hello?" Ellen asked. "Hi Ellen," Grandpa beamed. "I know this is the middle of the night and all, but I want to know if you are alright?"

"Sir," Ellen said in an annoyed voice. "It is 3 a.m. in the morning, and Lewis and Stacy are sleeping upstairs." Grandpa ignored her complaint.

"I heard that you have a bit of money problem," Grandpa sighed. "Yes," Ellen said. "Didn't Stacy already told you that?" "Apparently yes-" Grandpa began.

"We are working very hard to earn the money," Ellen said angrily. "Now, if you will please stop calling me-" "I know about your affair with my son," Grandpa said calmly.

"How do you know?" Ellen gasped. "My wife saw you two holding hands at the park last week." Grandpa explained. "And I will be more than happy to tell your half-sister everything unless you stay away from him."

"What's in it for me?" Ellen snorted. "Ten million dollars in check," Grandpa replied. "Is this a bribe?" Ellen asked. He didn't say anything after that. "After you have the check," Grandpa continued. "Give it to Stacy and lie to her where you get the money."

"Why are you doing this?" Ellen sighed. "It's none of your concern," Grandpa rasped. "Good night." Ellen slammed the phone with all of her might.

"Ellen took the check from your grandparents and told the lie to Stacy," I explained. "She lied that Madison gave her the check in exchange for being the Flower Girl."

"I still don't understand," Luke said. "Why would your grandparents, especially your grandfather is blackmailing Ellen?" "And how did they get their evil streak from," I added.

"I understood know that my father wasn't the one who killed Ellen," I said. "But what about my grandparents? Could they be involved with the murder?"

Luke shrugged. "Thanks for the help, Seth." "Anytime," Seth said. He hung up the phone. "I still couldn't believe they would do this," I said. "My grandmother especially, I have never seen her talk except she cries."

Suddenly, my cellphone rang. I rummaged through my pocket to answer it. "Hello?" I asked. "Hey Cole," Mom exclaimed. "I am just calling you, because we are having two guests coming to our dinner party."

"Who are they?" I asked. "Your two grandparents of course." Mom chuckled. My smile instantly fell flat. Seriously, they're coming? I thought miserably. "When you are finished studying with Luke, come and get ready." "Got it, I said, hanging up the phone.

"Dinner with your grandparents?" Luke guessed. "That is the last thing I want to do right now," I groaned. My phone buzzed again, but this time, I received a text from Mom.

"Your father is also going to be there," Mom replied. "What?" I asked in shock. "I thought the psycho was in prison," I texted furiously. "What, did he got bailed out of jail or something?" A light hum came from my phone.

"Yes," Mom answered. "I hate this as much as you do, but we need to be a family." I shut my phone off and sighed. "My stupid dad is also going to be there," I groaned. "Is there anyway to move out of California and find someone to adopt me?"

"Meanwhile, we still don't know who Stacy's attacker." Luke said, sighing. "Have you find anything about him or her?" "Stacy did tell me something about the attacker," Luke said reminiscing. "The attacker was tall, slightly plump, and has a deep voice."

"Is the attacker a male or a female?" I asked hopefully. "At first, Stacy thought it's a he, but then she told me that the attacker wears Chanel No. 5." "The attacker is a female," I said, bobbing my head slowly.

"I'll uncover more details of the attacker," Luke explained. "Just relax for now, and go to the dinner party." I let out a huge sigh. "Just promise that you will call me when you or Seth find something, okay?" I asked.

Luke gave me a two fingered salute. "I promise, Smurf." he snickered. I gave him a small smile and climbed out of the secret entrance.

I then walked over to the opened window and nervously jumped across my roof. As soon as I landed, I pulled the window up and entered my room.

Just when I shut the window, Mom showed up out of nowhere. "Honey," she said. "Are you getting ready?" I nodded, curious that she was in my room.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "I just wanted to know where that ruckus was coming from," Mom said. "I am sorry that I have given you a fright."

That's when Dad walked into my room with a warm smile on his lips. "The food is almost done," he reminded. "Cole, change your clothes and come down stairs."

I gave him a cold look. Mom kissed me on the forehead and joined Dad downstairs. Sooner or later, something terrible was bound to happen.