“What’s going on? I can’t get through to him,” Malcom looked down at his phone after trying to call Kevin. He received a message from him almost thirty minutes ago and for some reason, he can’t get through to his phone.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8ZhwHvG1i
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He sat on his bed, careful not to strain his shoulder. He hoped everything back at Mr. Cowell’s house is fine. After Kevin’s message, he couldn’t help but worry even more. He wished he could go there, but now that his mother had her eyes on him and his sister, getting out of the house just got harder.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTrnWj5tcx
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He looked at his phone and tried to call Kevin again, but his phone still isn’t going through. He thought of calling Rhénee, but thought again if it would be appropriate at this time, considering that she might be tired after what went on today. Kevin must have also told her about Mr. Cowell. And knowing her, she’s probably there right now. He thought of calling her instead.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtssRWAsyD7
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Before he could do so, he heard a knock at the door. He muttered to himself, irritated that someone was by the door when he wanted to be alone. He told the person to come in and when he saw his mother enter the room, he couldn’t help but curse under his breath.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1KscmJkLH
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“Well, you don’t seem so happy to see me,” said Mrs. Derrand as he approached his bed.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulvTXMrfFA
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“Maybe it’s because I wanted to take a nap before you came in,” Malcom calmly lied.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV3SHBS2zF
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She stopped at the foot of the bed and stared at him. Malcom tried not to flinch in pain as his shoulder still continued to ache. He can’t give himself away now. His mother would throw a fit.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllLvl0GHns
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“Sorry if I’m interrupting, but I just came to check on you.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXOj4K2yVY
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“As you can see, I’m fine.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlvIOOsdKD
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Mrs. Derrand almost did a 180, when she stopped and turned back to look at Malcom. “Can you do me a favour tomorrow?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vRDE0jQ3D
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Malcom raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J8laldNgw
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“You’ll be on leave for a week, right? I was wondering if you could go to Rhénee’s house tomorrow to deliver something for me.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYJzP8OFvV
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Now Malcom is concerned. What could his mother want him to give Rhénee?782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK6YnR83UT
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“Why should I be the one carrying out that errand? You can easily tell the driver to do that, can’t you?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIwE1lzXCu
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“Well, after the incident at the party, I didn’t get to give her a gift.” Mrs. Derrand made herself comfortable, sitting at the foot of his bed. Malcom hoped she wouldn’t come closer. “And I've been busy dealing with the police that I completely forgot until I saw it in my room today.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡterE9k40pg
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“I know you’ve been busy and that you probably forgot, but why don’t you do it? I mean, it’s your gift to her, right?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrW9jtijf2
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“Yes, I know. But I’ve to get back to work tomorrow and it would be nice if you would do this for me. Besides, you can use that time to get to know Rhénee better since we were rudely interrupted at the party.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI4FLgvKD2
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Malcom raised an eyebrow. Why would his mother want him to get too familiar with Rhénee? Is there something that she wants out of it, he thought.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghQEbrWwIM
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“And if I refuse?” he dared to ask.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchu5lEHJDp
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“Don’t try to be stubborn,” she scoffed. “It’s only natural that you should get to know her since we all knew her late grandmother. And she hasn’t been in Madison in years. We’ve to make her feel welcome.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkogj24jNwZ
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“But you and Emelda weren’t the best of friends, you know.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqMli30Ze5
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Malcom knew he had struck a nerve because his mother stared at him like she would shoot lasers out of her eyes. But her demeanour quickly disappeared as she sighed and put up a smile.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuwuagJgKE
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“It’s because of that that I want to make amends. I know she’s gone and there’s nothing I can do to patch things up with her. It's left me in deep regret. I feel the need to connect with Rhénee more, you know?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLgbJzfNvP
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“Then why not take the present to her yourself?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgnz00vv7L
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“I would, but like I told you earlier, I’ve work to do. There’s plenty of time for me to get close to her. You and sister should too. Your friendship might be valuable in the future. You'll never know when you would ever ask each other for help.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ua1VIFbnr
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Malcom continued to sit in silence as he looked at his mother. Why would she want him to get close to Rhénee all of a sudden?  In the few days he and Greta got to be with Rhénee, they were already close. But their mother isn’t aware of it because as far as he and his sister are concerned, she might be their enemy.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeZTReD4C6
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“I’ll take it for you,” he said. “But you should be the one getting to know her better. Not me.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡix7pTL1LNC
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“Thank you, Malcom,” Mrs. Derrand said with a smile. “You should make your sister tag along.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNxsOZqycY
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“I’ll see if she'll be up for the idea.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDnQ1zyCtk
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Mrs. Derrand stood up from the bed and stretched out her hand to touch Malcom by the shoulder. He was quick enough to catch her hand before it landed. She looked a little shocked by the sudden gesture.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BujGSxdaN
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“What is it?” Mrs. Derrand asked. “You don’t want your mother touching you, Malcom?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfxYXMGwRg
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“Wow, mum, when you put it like that, it sounds really wrong,” Malcom said as he quickly stood up.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT8e5iGzQU
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"Sorry, dear. I just wanted to show my affection for the favour."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaj4aYez10
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"Maybe you should do that by leaving me for now. I need to rest."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RvKtFGuJn
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His mother sighed. "When are you going to stop hating me, Malcom?"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCKgNHZuHI
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"I think you already know the answer."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhpNehzcVe
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"Whatever happened to your father..., I still regret it to this very day."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhW4xiaZ7D
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"Do you mum? Because it doesn't feel like it."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg62MD4z5uE
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Malcom folded his arms and almost winced in pain as he strained his injured shoulder by doing so. Instead, he humphed as though he's upset. He turned to look away from his mother, approaching the window and looking at the dark lawn outside.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rVC5ObPV0
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"I know I can't undo what I did," said Mrs. Derrand, as she stood behind her son. "But will you continue to hate me forever? It's been three years since-"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4lZjTpwlO
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"Mum, enough. I don't want to talk about it. It hurts even more when you start this all over again. Staying here with you is already enough to bear, don't you think?"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ys2LbMcPT
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Mrs. Derrand opened her mouth, but no words came out. She knew it's best for her to leave.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡug34cUwRtn
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"I know you and your sister hate me, Malcom. But know this, whatever I did, I did it for the two of you. And I was never going to let your father get in the way. If you ask me, I would do it all over again."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9UYPqMfbk
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Malcom dropped his arms and clenched his hands into fists, straining his injured shoulder. He just wanted his mother to leave.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04PKy8of7w
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Someone knockwd at the door, and judging by how quick the knocks came, Malcom knew it's Greta. She might be late, but she couldn't have come at a better time.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKal4tZNmJ
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Mrs. Derrand went to the door and opened it. Greta gasped at the sudden sight of her mother in her brother's room.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShri6sS1NX
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"Hey, mum," said Greta, trying to compose herself.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUfRwHh8Cr
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Her mother gave a nod of her head and looked back at Malcom who still looked out of window. She sighed.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0M6iWwnQi
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"I'll leave you two," she said as she went past Greta who quickly stood aside. Greta looked on as her mother walked down the hall to her room.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPl2IGWv8Q
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Greta quickly entered her brother’s room, closing the door quietly. She turned to look at her brother. “What was she doing here?” she asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoVg7ocJ3b
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Malcom shook his head. “I’ll tell you later. Right now, something’s up with Kevin’s phone. I tried calling him but he isn’t answering.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUBVlXadsv
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“I guess you received the message too. I tried calling Rhénee and her phone wouldn’t go through either. I also called the house landline. It's ringing but nobody’s picking.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4UMGbamYw
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“Odd.” Malcom turned to look at his sister. “There should be Miss Griselda at the house. Could they not be home?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiqAWCK8AR
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Greta also looked just as confused as Malcom. He didn’t like this at all. Kevin and Rhenee’s phones were unreachable, and no one was answering the phone at Rhenee’s house. Could Kevin, Rhénee and Miss Griselda be in trouble? Or is there any reasonable explanation?782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBElS3E7ho6
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“I would like us to go check Rhénee’s house, but I don’t think mum would want us to go out,” said Greta.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyULQqscwP
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Malcom couldn’t agree more. Their mother would find it suspicious that they were both leaving the house together. Unless…782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMHfmLuaUR
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Malcom snapped his fingers and quickly walked past his sister, heading for the door.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D3ROD5aNI
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“Hey, where are you going?” Greta called out to him, as she followed.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwoZTHYJ0C
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Malcom stopped himself in the hall and turned to look at his sister coming behind him.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ162v5qFQLt
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“Lower your voice, I don’t want mum to hear,” he whispered to her.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3lmT4mkuQ
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“What is it?” she asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3dNUMsamE
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“I want you to follow my lead. Can you do that?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwzlH6LRqI
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“Whatever plan you have, I hope it works. What am I saying? Of course, it will.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebdJZddju3
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Malcom gave her a brief smile and continued his way down the hall, heading for his mother’s room. He heard Greta yelp behind him, but she continued to follow nonetheless.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziWzowD7Xj
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When he got to the door, he knocked and heard his mother behind the door tell him to come in.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7fKEFPm2c
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"Malcom, Greta," said Mrs. Derrand as she looked up at her two children. She was seated on her bed, with her phone in her hand. She looked a little surprised to see them, not after what happened with Malcom in his room. "What brings you two here?"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEdiUrZIxA
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Greta looked at her brother who immediately answered, "that gift you wanted me to take to Rhénee, I would like to take it to her now, if you don't mind."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsBsAfPXbt
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Mrs. Derrand looked even more surprised. "I thought we agreed you would take it to her tomorrow."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRmLzJD5kI
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"I did, but I thought I'm better off taking it today, before it gets too late. I just remembered that there's something I need to do tomorrow. And it's urgent."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3eeATnBJ2
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Mrs. Derrand looked at Malcom and Greta intently. The two thought she would simply refuse. She stood up from her bed and went to her closet. The two siblings looked at each other, wondering what she's going to get out of there.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJEqFVJEtp
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The doors of the closet closing caught the two's attention as they turned to look back at their mother who now had a small white gift bag in her hand. She held it up for Malcom to get.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiLguyA5on
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"Here it is," she said. "Are you sure you need to take it to her now?"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmQ4WPKhXT
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"I'm sure,"  Malcom answered. "I'll make sure she gets it."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sQLLPOtp7
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"I know you will. I'm just worried about the time. Do you two really have to be out at this time?"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaKMHX7vx3
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"Come on, mum, we aren't kids anymore," Greta chirped in. "It's not that late. We haven't even had supper yet."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgN07Ec3gZ
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"That's because you two weren't here that I told the cooks to delay for a little bit."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvcy2esLYx
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"We'll be back before you know it," said Malcom. "We'll have time to chat with Rhénee later."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YvzRbpsd5
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Mrs. Derrand sighed, knowing that she didn’t have a choice. She probed Malcom to get the bag from her hand which he did.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiG02lxtAe
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"Be careful out there," Mrs. Derrand said to them as they made their way out of the room.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eXDMtUMbb
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"Did anyone ever tell you how brilliant you are, Malcom?" Greta asked as they quickly rushed down the stairs.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMYim4gBrY
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"Keep it down," he warned as he reached the bottom of the stairs first and headed for the front door. "We don't want her to hear you."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKdcJ0Ws5N
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFWdHbwTvj
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He searched for the keys to the car in his pocket. Luckily he hadn't removed them from the time he got back home. He quickly opened the door and went for the car. Greta closed the door behind her and quickly followed her brother to the car. Malcom already unlocked the door and got in.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVyDpLM39C
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"I just hope they're okay," said Greta as she got in the car. Malcom had already worn his seatbelt.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykxBJFM7t7
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"I hope so too, especially Rhénee."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj0DAOwKFo
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Greta raised an eyebrow at her brother as she also wore her seatbelt. "You seem to care about her a lot lately."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l6aS05mpO
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnYuKoy2HV
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"Is that a problem?" Malcom asked as he turned the ignition and the car's engine roared to life, not looking at his sister.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PD4lxXNYD
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"Oh, nothing," said Greta. "I know we're protecting her because we swore that we would, but you seem to be taking this a little too seriously."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHwVupAS3h
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4QwQ3CD6K
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Malcom now turned to look at Greta. "It's like you said at first. We swore that we would protect her."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1azRRgO8q4
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fws5bamqi
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He put the car in reverse and it reversed right out of the driveway, through the gate. He put the car on drive, driving away from their house.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2nnpA5xa5
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"I know that. But haven't you stopped to think that by doing so we're also going against our mother?" Greta asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rUTrL9TRq
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"You're forgetting that we've been against her for a long time even before Emelda passed on."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4q1FSY1Z0
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SiJOXTQDx
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"True. But what if things had been different back then? Would we be protecting Rhénee like we're now?"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLQYRMAP6S
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9V6QGCUsR
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Malcom didn't answer at first as he had his eyes fixed on the road. "If things had been different," he finally answered, "something tells me we wouldn't have known Rhénee at all."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmDCdtyRLl
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpcks34jmG
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Greta looked at her brother and thought about what he said. She looked ahead. "I guess you're right."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkpLSWc0gx
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oPPFHQ1Oo
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“Do you regret doing this?” Malcom asked after a moment of silence had passed between them.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFBk8Iy0wt
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Greta hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words to use. “To be honest, I don’t know what to think anymore,” she answered. “If it weren’t for our parents, something told me we wouldn’t have been in this mess.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGYGuubSMG
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ830yOkPatu
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“But you don’t regret helping Rhénee out?” Malcom gave his sister a brief glance before fixing his eyes on the road again.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KbAd7IiHg
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“For some funny reason, I really don’t. And you?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIcWLw13O8
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Malcom found himself shaking his head. He knew he and Greta are doing this because they promised the late Emelda. Now it felt more like an obligation. He didn’t know if his sister also felt this way, but he did. As much as that thought scared him, he didn’t seem to care. Ever since he met Rhénee, he felt he had to protect her from whatever is going on in this little town. Maybe his sister is right. Was he taking this a little too far? If so, why? He felt he isn’t only doing this for the late Emelda, but for something else. Is it to get back at his mother for what she did to him and Greta in the past? Now that he is thinking about it, he realises that there must be some other reason, though he doesn’t seem to know what it could be.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bjZFmNXJE
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They were now pulling over in front of Rhénee’s house and they noticed as the car entered the front gate, that the lights inside the house were off. They couldn’t have called it a night and gone to bed for it’s far too early. Malcom and Greta knew right away that something's wrong.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEArlivquDA
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Malcom parked the car in front of the house and Greta immediately got out. Malcom killed the car’s engine and followed Greta.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lm9Xvw1kI
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“The place is dark and quiet,” said Greta as she walked up to the front porch. “It looks like nobody’s home.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLdFUZli7R
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Malcom looked at the mansion and then at his sister. “Let’s try the back.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIipxp8IBgG
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They went round the house and went for the kitchen back door. They weren’t surprised to find it locked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlPgq1T6XJ
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“I’m guessing they must have gone to Mr. Cowell’s house,” said Malcom. “I just noticed that Rhénee’s car isn’t here.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnG25b6UUF
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“Could she've gone with Miss Griselda?” Greta asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHcvuOzRzW
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“I guess so, otherwise, we would’ve found her here. Come on, let’s go to Mr. Cowell’s house.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHjP8SW2KZ
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKNkJ6C0Cs
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“Ya, let’s get out of here. With this house quiet and dark, I find it really creepy. I feel like a ghost can just appear out of nowhere.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA9Ar3JDgO
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“You watch too many horror movies,” Malcom shook his head at his sister. “Let’s go.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7gpOVNxK3
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Greta went back to the front of the house. Malcom lingered a little as he looked towards the garden and the greenhouse. For an odd minute, he thought there was someone there, but he was greeted by silence and darkness. Now that Greta mentioned how creepy she felt, it also got to him except this time around, he actually felt there's something out there, but he couldn't see or tell if it's actually there.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFSoIEXRaM
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He followed Greta and found her waiting by the car.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWzZhCwRp0
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"I thought someone had nabbed you back there," she said as he got close.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvjHvkIVNp
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"I'm okay, as you can see," he said as he went to the driver's side and entered the car.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0UPT5az1u
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"I really hope Rhénee is okay," Greta also followed into the car.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqbovDik4N
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"Give her a ring again." Malcom started the car. "If her phone won't go through, then there's definitely something going on."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1C1duG2Ax
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***782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUnacgRCLt
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"Rhénee?" Kevin called out as he heard noises coming from the livingroom.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpTMb0vOfG
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With his phone acting as a torch, he made his way to the door. When he pushed it open, he saw Rhénee on someone's back, her arms and legs wrapped round the person's body. All this while, the person was trying to get her off, but she stuck to the man like glue. Kevin looked confused as the two went from left to right, knocking over a few things in the room.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNH11h47AT
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How did he get in the house, he thought. And if he had been here the whole time, how come he and Rhénee hadn't realised it?782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmdBFNOka2
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Rhénee hung onto the man's back and as they spun around the room, she noticed a light appear in the room. She knew Kevin had arrived after hearing the noise. Right now, she needed to put this man down, but with him moving around, she didn't know what to do.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYvQfcvBLI
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"Kevin, help!" she called to him.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3rhmtTIvx
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Soon, the man ran her up the wall, making her get hit in the back. But it still wasn't enough for her to let him go.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7WG2Wp80Z
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"Get off of me!" the man yelled, running across the room, and in the process, hitting into the coffee table.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQixgXbBrP0
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Rhénee and the man fell to the floor together, with Rhénee still on top of him. Now is the man's opportunity to get her off of him. But Rhénee was quick enough to sit upright on his back and press his head down onto the floor with her hand and pinning his back with one knee.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaFMC2v2uE
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"Kevin, help me hold him!" Rhénee called out to Kevin in front of her.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QgM85q5PF
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUovzpCOtFK
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Kevin woke up from his shock and tossing his phone on the couch, he came over to help her as he also pinned his knee onto the man's back. He also pinned the man's hands onto his back.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVfibNlGZ6
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The man squirmed and struggled to get out. He's much bigger and broad shouldered. Rhénee and Kevin weren’t going to be enough to pin him down for long. They had to do something quickly.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmIK1W1NIO
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“We can’t hold him down for much longer,” Kevin told Rhénee. “We’ve to do something quick-”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeggB9iQTd
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Before Kevin could finish his sentence, Rhénee had quickly pressed her index and middle fingers onto the man’s neck and he quickly fell unconscious.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0ZJLQzhYQ
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“What the-?” Kevin couldn’t believe what he's seeing. “How did you do that?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlKx7fRRJM
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“I hit his pressure point,” Rhénee calmly answered. She slowly stood up taking in a few deep breaths.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2urTOgBGZa
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZY1R5p6AK
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“Where did you learn to do that?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwsarKW8XI
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“I’ll explain later. We need to check if he has weapons on him.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdokXcUdpZx
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LHCy3QY2C
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Kevin agreed to leave this discussion for later as he started to check the man’s pockets while Rhénee went over by the couch to get his phone to provide light as he searched. He found an AK47 tucked under his belt and a sharp pocket knife in one of his pockets. He checked the other one and found a cellular phone. Weird, most people have smart phones these days. Why would he need a cellular phone?782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL03FD8P8a
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“I guess this is important,” said Kevin as he passed the phone to Rhénee.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZTMUsdGLO
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“Whoever he works for might get into contact with him,” said Rhénee as she looked at the phone and checked it. She frowned. “There’s still no signal.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkThanrFskM
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“Maybe he was going to cut off whatever is jamming it after he finished the job. We just have to find it.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZctV84bwv2
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNMP3CoaG0
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“Let’s tie him up first. Who knows when he might come around.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurXPAswLfc
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“I thought he will be unconsciousness until you touch his pressure point again.” Kevin stood up from the floor.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkQVcp1xLM
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“Not always. There’s a limit, you know?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfpHVEM5dU
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“I think I saw rope somewhere in the kitchen.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQLpDl5Je0
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782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADUHIxsSh5
Rhénee gave Kevin his phone back as he rushed to the kitchen. She took her phone out and turned on the torch. She looked at the man who lay unconscious on the floor. Sophie stood on the overturned coffee table, looking on. Rhénee smiled at the cat, glad that her plan had worked. She felt the cat could really understand her after all.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ceGoh44XO
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She knelt on the floor so as to take a good look at the man with short black hair and ruddy face with a slightly big nose. He wore black clothes and black leather boots like that of a soldier. In fact, Rhénee thought that if she were to look at him properly with the lights on, she might mistake him for one. But who could he be?782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ECyyGQfW8
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Rhénee continued to look at him when she spotted something on his neck like a chain, hidden under his black t-shirt. It looked like one of those chains most soldiers wear in memory of fallen soldiers. But the chain isn’t silver but gold. Looks like he isn’t a soldier then, she thought.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9QYpzDMiS
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Out of curiosity, she placed her fingers on his neck to get the chain out. It’s a chain necklace with a grey key. The odd thing about the key is that it’s real and not a trinket. She noticed rust in some areas and it looked old. Why would he be carrying it with him around his neck? Did it mean something?782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXVzrVrzVx
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She heard the door to the kitchen creak open and Kevin walked in, holding up his phone to light the way. Rhénee brought the neck chain around the man’s head, and managed to get it.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRQgLOh1kv
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“What’s that?” Kevin asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3cPu7hGbK
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“A key,” Rhénee answered as she stood up and held up the chain for Kevin to take a look.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN2Tb9gUrd
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“Do you think it’s important?” Kevin raised an eyebrow.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80q7luZwaL
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“I have a hunch.” Rhénee placed the key in her pocket. “Come on, let’s tie him up. Then we can go check upstairs for whatever is jamming the signal.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNstijgYsbk
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60yKB36bFr
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“How sure are you that it’s upstairs?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eHKq3kiDz
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“Because that’s where he has been hiding this whole time. It’s obviously up there.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VvVGMExXa
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Kevin nodded and they went on ahead to position the man on the floor to tie him. They bounded his hands and legs, making sure to tie the rope round his body for him to lie straight on the floor.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg2iniQcyF
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Together with Sophie, they soon made their way up the stairs. When they reached the top landing, Kevin suggested they split up; him taking the left and Rhénee taking the right.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd725MLdnUT
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Rhénee walked down the hall with Sophie at her heels and approached the first door to her left. She opened the door and looked inside. It's a bedroom. There weren't things lying around on the dressing table opposite the bed which was close to the bed, so she could tell that no one occupied this room. She thought of leaving to go check somewhere else, but she found herself now in the middle of the room. She didn't know why, but she felt that she might find something of importance.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gsfDs5hSe
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There were sheets and pillows on the bed and Rhénee found it odd for a room that seemed unoccupied. Maybe she's wrong and there was someone who occupied it.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkf37dN897
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A wooden closet stood in front of her and she went straight for it. She drew the doors open, and found the closet empty. Strange, she thought. She felt sure she would find something. Just as she was about to turn and look elsewhere, she felt a light thud below. Sophie had just stepped in the wardrobe and went for the corner.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9nLbcs4No
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Rhénee shone the light over to where the cat was as it started to scratch the floor of the wardrobe. Rhénee knelt on the floor and bent over to the far corner and when she placed her hand on the spot the cat had been scratching at, she realised that the wall of the wardrobe felt light and hollow.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHLMtFphMz
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"Just how many secret places does this house have?" Rhénee asked herself aloud.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xxUyVBy9A
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She now started to press her hand along the corner of the wall of the wardrobe while the other held her phone. The wall caved in a little until Rhénee realised that it could be pushed aside. She pushed a little, and what she saw made her gasp in awe. She decided to call Kevin.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznfNOdGMB2
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“Kevin!” she shouted, bringing herself out of the closet. “You’ve to see this!”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLEHRmlgqf
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She heard quick, heavy footsteps and Kevin soon came with his light pointed at Rhénee. “What is it? Are you okay?” he asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMrtixoxtp
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"You'll be surprised with what I'm about to show you," she said as she went on her knees to enter the cupboard. Kevin still remained outside, and when Rhénee fully drew the wall of the cupboard aside, his jaw couldn't help but drop.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OI3mmicMi
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In front of them stood a stack of guns, mounted on the wall like they had been put up for some kind of display. Below them, were drawers. Rhénee drew one of them open to find a variety of bullets for the guns neatly stacked away. She drew out another and there were a variety of short knives also lined up neatly.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8trt6T6TgU
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"Was this man preparing for war?" Rhénee asked as she looked at Kevin.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpex3bkV6m
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"I'm just as surprised as you," said Kevin. "I've known Mr. Cowell to be peaceful. I never thought he could’ve a stack of guns and knives hidden in his house."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajJIKnoohZ
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"He isn't some war veteran, is he?" Rhénee got out of the wardrobe, her eyes still fixed on the guns.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSyqGSeDB7
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Kevin shook his head. He had a worried look on his face and Rhénee thought it best that they move on.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT0kdpZ9kq
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"Come on, we can worry about that later," she said as she went back in the wardrobe to slide the wall shut.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSTZGggJ8l
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"So many things are happening today," said Kevin. "It's kinda hard to process it."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nPxRYSIU4
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Rhénee put her hand on his right shoulder as she faced the opposite direction. "I know what you mean. All this is overwhelming for you and I'll understand if you decide not to go on with it."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zMln2IP0N
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Kevin turned to look at her in the semi-darkness. "I know what you're trying to do, Rhénee. You aren't going to convince me to leave you to face these things alone."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6xDT74OfA
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Rhénee couldn't help but blush in embarrassment as she stared at the floor in front of her. She felt Kevin take hold of her hand on his shoulder and turned to look at her.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9JOkVRwoK
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"I know I might not protect you with guns and whatnot, but I'll do as promised to your late grandmother: to protect you in the best way I know how. So you aren't going to drive me out of your life that easily. Not until the threat around you is gone."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvvrAgysL8
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The two continued to look at each other and Rhénee soon cleared her throat, finding their little moment a little weird. She gently pulled her hand away from Kevin's, and he didn't resist as he also looked away.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz1aCNVKQi
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"We should continue looking," Rhénee suggested as she started to make her way towards the door. She stopped. "You know I'm suggesting this for your own safety, right?"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrx1tpbH3Z
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqjLaBTbtZ
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"I know. But you don't decide what I do. I'm here to protect you willingly."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2ADQ6BcMo
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Rhénee noticed Sophie stand right next to her. She sighed. "Let's go check the other rooms. We can't waste any more time."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsveAQOc7s
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"You're right."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyOz7yfwrC
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The two left the room and carried on with their search. After checking in two rooms, Kevin found himself in the master bedroom: Mr. Cowell's room. He looked around for anything suspicious, but nothing. He started to check around the room where he could probably hide anything of value by checking the wardrobe for any secret compartments and also under the bed, but to no avail.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9VtF7zBo0
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He was just about to go check the bathroom  when he thought he had seen something through the corner of his eye by the bookshelf at the far end of the room. He almost ignored it, thinking that he’s just seeing things. But then a small flashing green light blinked in the darkness before he even had a chance to look away. He went towards the shelf, looking for whatever could be blinking in the dark. After moving a few books aside, he finds a small black device that had been placed behind the books. It looked more like a small black box and the green LED light blinked at him after a few seconds. He noticed a small wire from it going all the way into a small hole drilled in the wall. He wondered if this could be what’s blocking the signal. He took the device in his hand and found a small button to press on. He pressed it.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8E50CSw0N
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The LED light suddenly went from green to red and immediately, Kevin felt the phone in his hand vibrate. The network signal is back and he couldn’t help but feel relieved. He checked his phone and found three messages from Malcom asking why his phone wasn’t going through when he tried to call. Kevin thought of calling him back, telling him what’s going on.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjonhHkEaTO
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Rhénee is in one of the rooms searching, when her phone beeped. She quickly checked it and realised that the network is back. Kevin must have found what was jamming the phone signal, she thought. She quickly rushed to the door and called out in the hall:782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWOTU8PNjg
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“Kevin, did you find it?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1zlqZn4kT
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Kevin appeared down the dark empty hall from the master bedroom. “Yes, I’m trying to call Malcom. He tried calling me earlier but he couldn’t reach me.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cjfOjllJb
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Rhénee went back to looking at her phone and found messages from Greta asking her if she was alright and if they’re at Mr. Cowell’s house. She didn’t have to text back as Kevin got through to Malcom.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyAFgni6RU
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“Malcom, hey,” Rhénee heard him say on the phone. “We’re fine, yes, I’m with Rhénee. You’re almost at the house? But there's a problem. We can’t seem to get out of the house meaning that you can’t get in..., it’s a long story. If we can figure a way out you’ll get the details. Great.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDscaRytUq
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Kevin cut the call and said to Rhénee: “they are on their way.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9GfuV9B8c
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“Where did you find the device jamming the signal?” Rhénee asked as she approached Kevin down the hall.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfVGfWomBn
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“Hidden behind some books on a shelf,” he answered.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF2nqEoUa6
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“Good work. Found anything else interesting?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLX4CAcWa2y
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Before Kevin could answer, the phone in Rhénee’s pocket beeped. It’s the phone for the man whom they had tied downstairs. Rhénee quickly took out the phone to check it and found a message. She opened the inbox and what she read brought chills down her spine. She quickly looked up at Kevin.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrupmtglaMB
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“Kevin, you’ve to see this?” She quickly found herself approaching him.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjARJUYy1m
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“Isn’t it the man’s phone?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zV8DRx8m6
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“It is, and the message he got might be the clue to finding Miss Griselda.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsFTxatpXW
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Rhénee showed Kevin the message which read:782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGu5nvw0fI
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ih9CVSY1p
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyYa89SAfi
“After the job is done, meet me at the … bridge.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAfdqMXkOD
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"Could it be Mr. Cowell?" Kevin asked, looking wide-eyed at Rhénee.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6FkDyMHI2
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"It could be, or it must be the person they're working for," she answered.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtjTfuqe5R
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"Reply to them saying that you've got the message. They might find it a little suspicious that they didn't give any response."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DCGteY5Q5
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"Judging by the time the message was sent," Rhénee continued to look at the phone, "we were already here with Miss Griselda."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOM1AvQJHs
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"Let me see." Rhénee showed him and found that she was right. If they had sent back a message replying to it, they might have caused a blunder and the people on the other end would know something's wrong.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx7WJumYPY
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"We can send a message telling them that the job is done and we'll be heading to the bridge right away," Rhénee suggested.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo739VDsGC
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"That's okay, but that's if we can find a way out of here," said Kevin.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl2TW390da
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Just as Rhénee replied to the message, a sound of someone banging on the door downstairs reached them. Malcom and Greta are here. Together with Sophie, the two of them quickly ran down the stairs with their phone's as torches. When they got to the front door the banging on the door continued.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAW00KhR6w
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"Malcom!" Rhénee called to him.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWBkU1Kpsn
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"Rhénee? Thank goodness!" came Greta's voice, sounding relieved. "We thought all this is just some silly prank when we found the lights off and the door wouldn't open."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c5QMGH7mc
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"It's no joke. Somehow, we got locked in, the lights went out and the phone signal got jammed. It's why we couldn't call for help."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9MTLV3bJV
782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6NS00RvzF
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"And what of Miss Griselda?" Malcom asked. "There was no one at the house. Is she with you?"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlgYyedDUs
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Kevin and Rhénee looked at each other in the semi-darkness, wondering who would be the one to break the news about Miss Griselda's kidnapping.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNtlAjDQ1K
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"She was with us," Kevin answered, as he continued to stare at Rhénee, then back at the door.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1czgWnz2Tc
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"What do you mean 'was?'" Malcom asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WhloV0FP6
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Kevin looked at Rhénee, willingly for her to answer that. She swallowed before she said:782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYGat69Lqs
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"She was with us at first but she isn't anymore. She's been kidnapped."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4QxYV4gAg
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"What!" Greta exclaimed. "And what about Mr. Cowell? Isn't he there with you? How's he doing?"782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwXMn0ZpeG
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"That's the thing," Rhénee quickly started to say, "he was never injured."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a3e0wRCjk
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"Huh?" Malcom and Greta sounded surprised by the whole thing. Rhénee could only imagine the look on their faces.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPtR43BEOZ
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"How come? Is all this some sort of setup?" Malcom asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1twGvRFW6A
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"Seems so," Kevin answered. "Mr. Cowell drugged Miss Griselda and left us trapped in the house. But we do know where they are."782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3aKhiYaRd
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“Let’s get you out of here first. It seems we have to break the door from outside.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThRPtwK9N3
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“Aren’t there any keys or anything?” Greta asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrlsNZcl3A
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Rhénee brought over the light from the torch to illuminate the wall where the key hanger was. She wasn’t surprised to find it empty.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAcRpEn8RM
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“Nothing, we just have to break the door down,” said Rhénee. “We tried looking for something like a crow bar in the house, but there isn’t any.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEnMapZPEF
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“Let me see if there’s something in the car,” said Malcom. Rhénee heard his footsteps as he walked away from the door.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO2DFuV6kC
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“Don’t worry, guys,” said Greta. “You’ll be out before you know it.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnbrXDPXdS
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Rhénee turned around and went for the living room. Kevin followed and saw her approach the man they had tied up, still unconscious on the floor.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA0ITrBrGc
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“Do you plan on waking him up already?” he asked.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRH8uN3VOE
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“Not yet,” Rhénee answered as she squat next to him. “We’ll have to take him with us.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EhaWbzfxa
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“Are you crazy? He just tried to kill us not too long ago.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHUHGr6oIG
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“Yes, but there’s a lot he knows that we don’t,” Rhénee stood up from the floor. “I need answers.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrGoQ4dJaz
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“I know you, but isn’t it dangerous to carry him along?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiQo3PGm95
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“It is. But he’s the only one who can tell us what’s going on.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTe2zy3B7a
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Kevin shrugged his shoulders. “If you say so. Let’s hope the others will agree with your plan.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloIevKZOpF
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They soon heard the sound of something banging the door. Malcom must have found something to break the door open.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvYCZJxCK6
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“I hope so too,” Rhénee said as she followed Kevin to the foyer. They already found a hole right next to the door knob until Malcom removed it, drawing the door wide open.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MhIeXhImz
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“You guys are okay!” Greta exclaimed as she quickly ran through the open door and went straight to hug Rhénee. Rhénee could only chuckle.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck87TWnSvf
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“Don’t worry, we’re okay,” Rhénee assured her.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C6tDSLiL8
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“Do you mind explaining to us what’s really going on? Why did they lock you in here?” Malcom asked with a crowbar in his hand. “And why did they take Miss Griselda?”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6OWIDsXFk
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“We don’t know. But I’m guessing the man tied up in the living room might know the answers to all that.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkQjms6v5s
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“There’s a man in the living room?” Greta sounded surprised.782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTsIteNftq
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“A lot has happened and you’ll be surprised,” said Kevin. “I’m still taking a lot in.”782Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO895TXclAw
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“Tell us everything,” said Malcom. “And don’t leave out any details.”1234 copyright protection778ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsy173SisM 尼

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