Toxicity

Eight

Mackenzie's P.O.V.

30 November, 2018

"Are you done yet?" I ask Nora for like the hundredth time this day. I told her everything which is happening for the past few days and also everything about Ken. I asked Nora to call him using the excuse that she wants to know about the college he went to at the Netherlands. So that she can get it out of him where he actually stayed there and stuffs. I need to be sure if he is the one who's behind Jessica's case.

"Come on Mac, it needs time." She has been on her laptop for like the whole morning, taking out information. She knows a bit to hack websites, she told me she learnt it from one of her friends. Well, good for us. Now she can get out Ken's details from the website of his college.

"You know something?" Nora says without taking off her eyes from the screen. "I think I found something really interesting."

"Please don't give me goosebumps. Tell me what did you find." I comfort myself beside her on the bed.

"Ken went to the same college in New York where Jessica and Johnny used to go. After taking the bachelor's degree from there, he stayed at the Netherlands for one year to take another degree." She turns towards me.

"But Johnny only could finish one semester as his parents died and he had to handle the business." I point out.

"Whatever, he did study there."

"And Ken is younger than them. I mean, he must be at least twenty four or five."

"Yeah, Johnny and Jessica were senior than him. But there are chances that Ken somehow knew Jessica. I mean, they went to the same college so..."

"Alright I get it. But how come is it interesting? I mean I already know that Jessica and Ken knew each other. I saw their pic together." I confusingly ask.

"Well, after Ken finished his studies at New York, I told you he went to the Netherlands for another degree." Nora says and I nod my head. "But he finished his course there on March."

"Wait," I think for a moment. "If he finished his course on March, why did he come to Canada on October? I mean, he was supposed to be joining the family business after finishing college. So where was he after his course was over?" I curiously ask.

"There's no details anywhere of where he was during March to October." Nora lightly shakes her head.

"Why am I having this feeling that Ken is the one behind all of these?" I silently mumble.

"Well he could be. But not maybe the only one."

"What do you mean?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"You said that you saw Johnny and Ken at the lounge that day, right? Look, you only know Ken through business and as far as I've seen in Johnny's business website, he has no connection with the Westphall Industries, never had." Nora says.

"But why would Johnny kidnap his own son? It's ridiculous."

"That's the point Mac! Austin was kidnapped but not harmed a bit. He also said that the guy who took him gave him all his favourite foods. How? A stranger obviously wouldn't know what are his favourites. But his Dad would. Plus, Sam found Austin in the school compound that night, I don't know if he is in this too but as far as I've seen, they both are really good friends."

Nora continues after a beat, "And if Austin got missing from the school, there's no way that anyone would search for him there. But Sam did and also found him there. So there could be chances that he already knew that Austin would be there. Or, if he didn't knew about it then Johnny asked him search Austin there, cause Johnny knew it that Austin would obviously be there!"

"Plus he knew it that if Matt was with you, your possibility of having the custody could be much more. And he's the one who broke you guys up, how? By sending the picture of you and your investor making out in pubic. Well, it could happen that Ken told Johnny that you would be there in a business meeting, he obviously knows it cause he also maintains his brother's business. And Johnny went to the same restaurant with Skylar the same time so that he can-"

"-make me jealous. He knows how I react when I'm jealous. And he also knew it that I'm gonna take steps like that." I complete her sentences. "Now, you're trying to say that Ken and Johnny are working in this together? And the angel is Ken. But why would they do it?"

"I'm not saying that the guy who kidnapped Austin is Ken, it could be someone else too. Someone hired by them. And it can happen that Johnny is doing all of these to get Austin's custody! After he went missing I saw it how you were blaming it all on yourself that you are a terrible mother. So Johnny wants to show it to the court that you really are one by kidnapping Austin, making them see how reckless you are about taking care of Austin."

"And he thought that I'd let go of the custody cause I'd also think that I'm not a good mother for Austin." I add to her theory.

"Yes! That's what I'm trying to say. Or else if someone even kidnapped Austin, why would that person let him go? Cause kidnappers rather want money or sell off organs. But the guy did nothing, rather he made Austin really happy. And the doctor's report even say that the food wasn't drugged or poisoned."

"So there's possibility that Johnny was behind it. But why would Ken help him? What does he want?"

"I don't know. But they surely has some link. Ken knew Jessica during college and then Johnny was Jessica's boyfriend, so obviously Ken also knew Johnny. But we don't know what is Ken's motive..." Nora stayed silent for a moment. "You told me that you suspect the person who is giving you those weird letters is Ken."

"Yep. Cause he is the only one who uses those 'love' and 'darling' pet names. And obviously the person sending me the letters, the kidnapper of Austin and the kidnapper of Jessica is the same person. Because that day something like, 'Austin could've ended up like Jessica' was written on the letter."

"I think Ken has something to do with Jessica and Johnny has something with Austin." Nora bits her lower lip and after a second, a mischevious grin appears on her face. "I think I have an idea. Why don't we go and pay Ken a visit?"

●●●

Austin has gone to some amusement park with his Dad after school and he'd stay over at Johnny's too. So I don't have to care that I'm leaving Austin alone home at evening, cause he won't be there. There is a dark shade of colour on the sky but still there's enough time to turn night.

I ring the bell with Nora standing beside me. And as how I thought it would be, the butler opens the door. "Yes? How can I help you?"

"Uh..we're actually here to meet Kenneth." I inform him.

"I'm sorry but young master isn't home." He lets us know.

"When will he be back?" Nora asks. I've seen how much anticipation she has gotten in herself to get it out who's after me. And I can easily tell that she'd stand by my side till we find it out.

"Actually, he has been in London for the past two days. And I don't know when he'll be back." He answers and Nora lets out a gasp.

"So...can we meet Mr. Westphall? I mean you know me, I'm his business client." I question. I don't even know how I'm gonna stand in front of him. I mean, after the night at the hotel, we didn't talk a bit. But now, all I need is to get in this house. And for that giving off an excuse of meeting him shouldn't supposed to be considered a problem for me.

"Actually, he is not even home too." He quietly says.

"Is he at London also?" Nora archs a brow.

"No, he is at Toronto. But not home."

"Is there any chance that we could wait for him?" I nervously ask, not sure if the answer would be yes.

"Well, I have to ask him first. I can't let anyone in without his permission." He replies and I let out a relieved breathe. At least the answer isn't no.

"Yeah, you can go and ask him with all means. We can wait." Nora stuffs her hands in her pockets and shrugs her shoulders.

"Give me a second." he makes us standing outside and disappears into the house.

"You sure about it? What if Ken understands that we went through his room?" I silently ask her.

"Come on Mac, don't be silly. We need more proofs. Aren't you willing to take that risk?" She cross questions me.

I let out a deep breathe. "Yeah, I am."

After a pregnant minute, the butler comes back, telling us that we're permitted to go in. He told us that we might wait in the living area and Mr. Westphall will be a bit late. Well good for us. But, under the watch of this man, we obviously cannot sneak up to Ken's room.

"Do you need something?" He asks both of us as we sit down on the couch, the material of it melted beneath our skin.

"I'd like to have a glass of water, thanks." Nora replies with the most polite smile she has while I was confusingly looking at the different magazines and newspapers on the table.

"Why are there so many newspapers? I barely read one." It was like Nora stole the thought out of my head. She picks up a magazine and snickers. "All of these are Galore, Cosmo and such other magazines."

"I never knew that Mr. Westphall had time to read these." I mumble to myself.

"Guys always find out time to read these." She gives me a boring look.

"Ma'am, your water." The butler walks in and passes Nora a glass. And in answer, she shots him a smile.

"Why are there so many newspapers?" Out of curiosity, I ask him.

"Actually Mr. Westphall likes to read different newspapers. And the magazines are read by his younger brother." He answers and I mouth an 'oh'.

"I told you I doubted if Mr. Westphall had time to read these shits." I whisper to Nora.

"If you need something else don't hesitate to call me." He tells us and walks away. I notice whether he is out of sight or not and when I realize everything is clear, we both take the stairway which leads us to the second floor.

"Do you remember which room?" Nora asks me while I push the very first door.

"Got it." I step in and she follows my lead. The room was clean today, not a total mess like I saw the other day.

"So where are we gonna start from?" I ask her while she slowly closes the door.

"Let's start from anywhere." She walks to the closet and pulls it open, "I don't think that if he has something in this room which is ought to be kept secret, it is not hidden. Cause he wouldn't ever think that we would be sneaking up to his room any day."

"Well, you have a point." I was checking the bookshelves until my gaze meets something. It was a door, not the washroom's or the balcony's. It was another door on the opposite side of his bed.

Why haven't I seen this before?, I thought to myself as I push the door open. The inner side was pitch black. As I turn the light on, dark red light surrounds the place. Before I could figure it out why the room is used, Nora's voice follows.

"What did you find?" She comes closer and takes a peek. Without delaying a second, she steps in. "I know, it's a room used by photographers. It's used for washing negative photos."

"Yeah I know." I also get in the room, this kind of place always seems really creepy to me. And now it's not any different. "Ken told me that he is a photogenic person but he also said that he stopped taking pictures after his camera broke."

"He could've lied, but why?" She babbles as she starts going through the room. I also start checking out the racks on the wall, there were cameras and other stuffs. And after a brief moment, Nora calls me from behind.

"Kenzie, you need to see this." Her voice was shaky and I turn back to see what she wants me to watch. She points out the photos hanging on the wire. He must've washed them recently and put them out here to dry.

I take a glance at them and my heart sank in my chest. There were a tons of pictures...pictures of...me.