Page 148 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

Before I could respond, Chase stepped in the room with Matt and Ted. Matt and Chase looked anxious. Ted smiled at me. I teased them, “Are you guys ok? You look tense.” Chase looked from me to his dad. He asked, “Is everything ok in here?” I responded, “Why wouldn’t it be?” Chase said, “Well, I thought Isaac was in here with you guys.” I chuckled, “I told you I wanted to talk to your dad. No offense, but Isaac is Matt’s dad not yours.”

Chase stuck his tongue out at me as his dad laughed. Frank said, “Everything is fine, son.” I backed him up, “Yup, all good. We’ve started with a clean slate. We both want a do over.” Chase studied me before kissing me as Isaac came back into the room.

Matt said, “Well, Ted and I have to go.” Ted said, “I want the play by play tomorrow, Lex.” I smiled, “Sure.” He left and Frank raised an eyebrow at me. I just smirked. Frank said, “So very interesting. We will continue this conversation later.” I laughed, “See you around, Frank.” Frank teased, “Not if I see you first.” I smiled, “I’m pretty fast.” He laughed, “I noticed.”

I turned to leave then walked over to him. I held out my hand, “I need your phone.” He was surprised but handed it to me. I put my number in and shot myself a text so I could reply.

Me:You need my number if you can find out anything discreetly. Plus, ya know, you’re my string’s dad. You should have my number.

Frank looked at his phone and nodded. I smiled then grabbed Chase’s hand. We left and went back to my place.

Chase asked, “You exchanged numbers with my dad?” He sounded stunned even though he saw it happen. I replied, “Yes, I told you I’ve always wanted to be close with my string’s family. He and I are getting a do over.” Chase laughed, “You amaze me.” I’m not sure why, I was pretty clear about all of that. It was as simple as an overprotective father. It wasn’t some sinister plot. We spend the rest of the day buried deep inside each other.

When we woke up the next morning, I tried not to let my anxiety show. Chase frowned, “Are you alright?” I nodded, “Yes.” Chase pressed, “Do you have a big event this week?” I answered, “No, I’m just planning on going to the Shroud for a bit today.” Chase nodded, “Alright.” He clearly knew something was up. I wanted to tell him what today was, but I didn’t talk about the date with anyone.

We walked outside. I kissed him when we reached my car then I jumped inside. Kincade and Kevin both looked at me. I hastily explained, “Ted and I are going to the Shroud today. You guys can stay in the office until we will come back.” Both frowned.

Kincade questioned, “We can’t come with you? There’s no way?” I answered, “No, not right now. If it was all official, me and Chase, then as my guards my brother would allow you in, but no. I’m sorry.” Kincade sighed, “Just another way this job is hard some days.” I apologized, “Sorry.” Kevin laughed, “If it were easy we’d get bored.” I joked, “We can’t have that.”

When we got to the office Ted was waiting. He simply got in my car. He exclaimed, “WHEW! Joanie and Mark are FIT to be tied that I’m ditching them.” I warned, “Kevin and Kincade might spill the information that they could’ve come.”

Ted winked, “I didn’t get permission from Heath.” I laughed, “Very sly.” Ted observed me before saying, “So, we are going to chat but why are we going home?” I let out a breath, “I only say this because you won’t judge.” Ted agreed, “TeleTed is a judgement free zone.”

I focused on the road as I explained, “After I passed out from reading the letter left at my house, I saw my mother.” Ted encouraged, “Go on.” I smiled because that’s what I loved about Ted. He just accepted things. I parked at my house and turned to Ted. I rushed to get it all out, “She told me to look under the floors of our family home. Well, she told me to tell Heath to do it.”

Ted pointed out, “Heath isn’t in the Shroud today. He won’t even be back until Wednesday.” I nodded, “I know. That’s why we are going today.” Ted was stunned, “You aren’t telling Heath about this? You’re going to go back to your family home for the first time since your parents died to look for something under the floors. Today of all days? The anniversary of their death is not the day for this.”

The timing sucked, but it needed to get done. I said, “I can’t make Heath go back there for something my subconscious possibly threw at me in a moment of pure overload.” Ted winced, “Can you even go back there?” No. I stared out the window for several moments steeling my resolve.

I told him, “I have to. Mom came to me. Heath has enough to deal with, and I can do this. If we find something I can take it to him.” Ted nodded. We got out of my car and flashed to the Shroud. We snuck in the same way I’d snuck out to get drugs.

Once we were inside Ted questioned, “So, that’s how you got out to go get drugs?” I nodded. Ted sighed, “You always were smart. Let’s go.” We made our way quickly to my old house. I paused when I first saw it. Someone had kept things up. It looked just as I remembered. Heath’s house was on the opposite side of the Shroud. Noah’s family had moved over there too. No one lived over here anymore. I took a deep breath and stepped up on the porch. My hands shook as I reached for the door.

Ted put a hand on my shoulder, “You don’t have to do this.” I disagreed, “I do.” Ted sighed, “This was such a bad day to come here.” He wasn’t wrong. Heat was gone because of the date. Ever since I started being mission focused Heath would take some time off the week of the anniversary of our parents’ death.

I finally managed to open the door then walked inside. I looked over to the staircase. My mind flashed back to seeing my dad’s beaten body. I felt sick. Ted whispered, “Lex…” I closed my eyes saying, “Open the floors. That’s what she said. Why did dad die over by the stairs, but mom…? She was by the couch.” That would be where I started.

I walked around the corner, and I sat down on the floor. I began to feel around for some sort of false panel. Ted joined me without a word. We searched for what felt like hours. I was beginning to think this was all a massive joke my brain played on me. I’d really come into my own personal house of horrors because I passed out and my mom said open the floors. I mean, really? Open the floors.

Ted gently asked, “Do you want to go?” I really did. I pushed myself, “Let’s check my dad’s office.” I had no bad memories there. It would be easier to be in that room. We began to search, but we found absolutely nothing. I groaned in frustration and leaned back on my dad’s bookcase. I heard a click and turned. Oh my god! Tell me I didn’t break something here.

The bookend my dad kept had sunk down into the bookshelf. Ted gasped. I turned as a panel by my foot on the floor opened. I whispered, “Son of a bitch.” I pulled files out, and beneath them there was a lock box. The files contained different passports for our family. There were passports for each of us with multiple names. What the hell?

I looked at Ted. I asked, “Is it me or does this seem like…” Ted cut me off, “Go bags. Like leave and never return go bags. What the hell is going on?” I whispered, “I have no idea.” I turned to the box. There was some sort of locking mechanism I’d never seen before. I hit it against some things, but nothing happened.

I groaned, “How do we get in this?” Heath spoke from behind me, “You need me.” I gasped, dropping the box. I whirled around to see my brother leaning against the doorway with grocery bags in his hands. Ted stood asking, “Isn’t he not supposed to be here?” He definitely wasn’t.

Heath raised an eyebrow, “I think the better question is what are you two doing here?” I gulped, “Umm well… it’s…” Words failed me. Eventually, Heath said, “Ted, why don’t you go visit with your family. It seems my sister and I have things to discuss. Don’t mention I’m here though.”

Ted looked at me and I nodded. He said, “Of course. Mums the word on you actually not being out of town. I’m beginning to think you never went out of town. Life is so very strange these days. Lex, text when we are leaving to go back to your place.” I nodded and he took off.

Once he was gone, Heath asked, “Where did you find that?” He pointed at the box. I admitted, “I literally found it in the floor. Mom said to open the floors. We’ve been looking all over the house. I accidentally opened it by hitting the bookend.”

Heath questioned, “Mom said? How would mom say anything?” I avoided that topic, “What are you doing here? You’re never here at this time anymore.” Heath sighed, “Let’s go to the kitchen.” I nodded and followed him out.

Heath put his groceries away, and I sat down at the kitchen bar. I forced myself to focus on what Heath was doing. Heath turned, “Every year I tell people I’m leaving, but I don’t. I feel closer to them here, and I pour over everything I have into solving their murders hoping something will break.”

I shouted, “Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve joined you!” Heath said, “Lex, you saw horrors here.” I pointed out, “You did too!” Heath closed his eyes, “I saw our parents, but I was focused on you. I knew they were gone. I wasn’t here when it happened, and I didn’t take pills to numb the pain. That’s not a dig, it’s just a fact. I didn’t know if being back here would bring up that need for you.”

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