Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
I check his closet, which is very simple, filled with only the essentials. I don’t find anything right away but see a small box at the back that’s sitting behind a stack of shoes. I pull it out and open it while sitting on the floor. There are some beautiful photos of his parents, and I can’t help but feel sad at the pictures of them as a family. He lost his family, and he doesn’t know how—that must be hard.
I reach the bottom of the box and see a key. Well, would you look at that?
I pluck it out and stand, and place the box back before sneaking out of the room. I glance around as I head back down the hall, suddenly feeling really guilty about what I’m going to do, but I’m curious. I want to know what makes Mykel so damned bitter, so damned angry at the world. Mostly, at me.
There must be something about me that makes him feel like he doesn’t want to be around me. I want to know what that is and I hope this room will tell me more.
I put the key in the lock and it opens. Taking a deep breath, and trying to calm my racing heart and nerves, I step inside the room and flick on the light. What I see is not what I expected. Not in a million years did I expect to find this. It’s like I’ve exited the house and stepped into a detective’s office. On the wall, there are pictures, articles, notes and strings attaching people to places, just like you’d see when the police are trying to figure out who was behind a murder or vicious crime.
I walk over, completely fascinated by the scene in front of me.
Right in the middle of the wall is a picture of Mykel’s mom and dad. Coming off them are strings leading to different places and people. I glance at the strings and see most of them connect to places in and around New York. That’s odd; is that where his parents ended up? Does he know where they are or is he just clutching at straws? There are some people on the board I don’t recognize, but they have names. There are three men, all of who look very powerful and dangerous. Beside them are notes, information about times his parents contacted them, things like that.
I keep staring, but there’s so much to take in.
My eyes home in on a picture of woman. She’s beautiful and young, maybe only my age. She’s got a big question mark beside her, and on the little note next to her, it says, ‘What do you know?’
Who is this woman, and why is Mykel looking into her?
Beside the picture is a name: Harlow McKennon. I quickly pull out my phone and take a picture of the entire board before I get caught in here. I want to keep looking at it; I want to see what exactly it is Mykel is searching for. One thing is for sure: I was right about him. He’s got some big secrets and whatever they are, they’re consuming him.
I leave the room and make sure everything is locked up just the way I left it, and then I go back into his room and place the key in the box and put it back exactly as I found it before leaving the room. When I get back to mine, I pull out my phone and glance at the picture. So many unanswered questions. Obviously, something happened to Mykel’s parents, and he’s determined to find out what.
Were they killed?
Were they kidnapped or did they leave by choice?
And if they are, what exactly is it that made them leave everything behind?
Amongst everything else that’s happening right now, I’m more determined than ever to find out what lies behind Mykel’s impenetrable gaze.
He’s got a whole lot of secrets, and I’m desperate to find out more.
Even if it does get me into trouble.
What’s a little trouble, right?
9
WAVERLY
I place my hands over the pipe that’s suddenly spurting water all through the kitchen. Making a squealing sound, I try to stop the flood happening under Mykel’s sink that I just found after taking a walk outside to clear my head. Within seconds, I’m drenched and water is already soaking the kitchen floor. I open the cupboard and to a busted pipe spraying everywhere. I’m lucky I came home when I did, because it looks like it’s only just burst.
With another squeal, I try to find something I can shove over the end of the broken pipe so I can go on a hunt for Mykel’s water and turn it off. Goddammit. Nothing is within grabbing distance and this is going to start ruining things in a second. I let the pipe go, and water sprays at me again. I tear off my shirt and stuff it into the cupboard door when I close it to try and stop more water coming from the cupboard while I go and find the tap.