NovelStartElysia woke with a start to find the bed beside her empty. Flicking on the bedside lamp, she sat up and called out, "Tarquin?" No response. He wasn't in the room.
Frowning slightly, Elysia felt a twinge of concern.
She knew he must have gone out to clear his head.
The matter of Elizabeth's ashes weighed heavily on them all. Even though she and the kids did bring warmth and comfort to him, it wasn't possible for the grief to have completely dissipated.
After all, Elizabeth was his beloved mother...
He didn't show it because he didn't want to worry her or the kids.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSighing softly to herself, Elysia turned off the lamp and lay back down.
Everyone needs their space, and respecting that need without intrusion was paramount.
Sburdens had to be shouldered alone...
The next day.
Dawn was barely breaking when Tarquin received a call from Lowell.
"Tarquin, you won't believe this, but Verity's illegitimate son has been living in Karl Town!" Tarquin's brow furrowed. "Are you sure?" "Yes, absolutely. I've sent you the files. Take a look." Karl Town was a well-known cultural hub abroad, a place filled with art and history.
It was where Tarquin and his mother, Elizabeth, had once lived! It also turned out to be the base of operations for the mysterious figure Keith had been investigating! And now, to hear that Verity's illegitimate son was also residing there was too much of a coincidence! Initially, Tarquin hadn't taken the news of Verity's son too seriously. But this revelation made him sit up and take notice.
Stubbing out his cigarette, he opened the files to see.
The son, now twenty-seven, had grown up in Karl Town.
After graduating from a top university here, he had returned to work at a local publishing house in Karl Town. Interestingly, this was the spublishing house where Elizabeth had worked after moving abroad. She had juggled her job with her literary pursuits. Tarquin still had vague memories of accompanying Elizabeth to her workplace as a child.
After reviewing the available information, no other anomalies stood out, except for the startling fact that this illegitimate son was living in Karl Town and working where Elizabeth had once been employed.
Tarquin felt there was a deeper issue at play, but couldn't quite grasp it.
The sudden ring of his phone broke his concentration. It was Gideon calling.
Frowning, Tarquin answered, "Speak." "Sir... Tarquin, sir, the old man wants you to visit him at the hospital. He has something to tell you." "I'm busy!" Just as Tarquin was about to hang up, Gideon's urgent voice cthrough.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"He says if you don't come, you'll never find out who killed your parents. Please, sir, he's very agitated." "Tell him I'll be there," Tarquin cut in, ending the call abruptly.
The mention of his parents' murderer was a call to action. Over the years, he hadn't uncovered any substantial leads.
He was too young when the tragedy occurred, and by the the was old enough and had the means to investigate, evidence had vanished. But Gideon, wielding significant power back then, must have discovered something.
After a moment of contemplation and checking that the kids were still asleep, Tarquin forwarded the information to Elliot and Elijah with instructions to investigate thoroughly.
They were to delve into the adoptive parents of the illegitimate son, any connection between the son and Elizabeth, whether the son had ties to the mysterious figure, and to scrutinize both the publishing house and the son's biological father. With arrangements made, Tarquin returned to the bedroom.
Elysia was still deep in sleep. After changing his clothes and planting a kiss on Elysia's forehead, he set out for the hospital.
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