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The Lone Girl (Chapter: 11)
HER DARK SECRET
“What does she know about Eva?” I asked “I have no idea,” said Ms. Clarette sounding restless. “Well that’s what we need to find out. Can you tell Agnes to come over here? I think she is in a way connected to all of this.” “But I don’t know if she’ll be willing to come in such a state. And why drag her in this sludgy situation,” Ms. Clarette hesitatingly responded.
“Ms. Clarette I've got a gut feeling that tells me she ain’t CONCERNED BUT INVOLVED in that child’s affairs. I’ve been practicing child psychology for two years in addition to becoming an expert in the field of counseling for troubled children. I might be of great help.” I said in a soft yet firm voice. “Okay, okay I’ll send her there. Give me the address.” Two minutes later I finished my supper, cleaned up and kept fresh milk cookies and even a glass of red wine to make her feel comfortable enough to open up. I waited for one hour but there was no sign of her. I bolted the door and settled on the couch in the living room to read a book. I didn’t sleep in case she walked in late.
Three hours later it started to snow heavily and I was starting to doze off when someone banged violently against the door. I woke up, startled and looked at the timer. My goodness, it was twelve. I rushed to open the door. Agnes stood there breathless, losing her footing on the front steps, “Killer snakes! Come in Agnes. Settle down and make yourself comfortable in here.”
She sagged down on an armchair by the fire and rubbed her hands furiously. “Are you not going to ask why I walked in late?” hands wrapped around her knees she questioned. “Well no. I want you to feel relaxed. That is all.” I grinned at her. “Jessie I think Eva is somewhere around here. We can get her back.” “Agnes, we both know you have some facts on Eva. Let it out.”
Agnes denied, “No, nothing. She doesn’t mean anything special to me other than the love I have for those kids I take care of. I'm just worried for her.” I knew that she wanted to say something but it wouldn’t budge. “Why do you hesitate? Are we not good friends enough to part our darkest secrets?”
Agnes looked away in silence. She eyed on the glass of wine, “Do you mind if I have a drink? My body needs some heat.” I smiled, “It’s for you Agnes. A warm glass of wine can do.” She drank the wine in content and I waited patiently. “I know that Eva is around. I need to set my eyes and ears out for her.” “No Agnes. I think she’s dead. Someone has ended her.”
Agnes crossly glared at me, “No she’s not dead. She is missing.” I took the advantage to squeeze the answers out of her. “How are you so sure, huh? Maybe the person wants to wipe out the entire Jones bloodline. So just stop the search.” Tears uncontrollably rolled down her cheeks. “That cannot happen. It’s not possible. Because she feels I’M THE ONE who wiped out their family. It’s all just a huge misunderstanding. Can’t speak of this hell,” she wailed aloud.
“First of all, calm down. We have all the keys to the locks of life if we mean to use it in its time.” I pretty much managed to silence Agnes at that time. “Why does Eva feel that you did it of all people? What’s the matter? Reason it out.” Agnes smeared her tears all over her face as she sniffled loudly. She wouldn’t resume speaking. “Agnes I’m being serious. I think of Eva as much as you do. We can’t see the end of the tunnel unless you show us the way. Do bear with me and talk for goodness sake. Time is merciless. It won’t wait.”
“You’ll never understand, Jessie. It’s not the first time I've entangled myself in these problems. I get involved one way or another.” She stood up and refused to look me in my eye. “Agnes!” I thundered. “I have one final question for you. How are you related to Eva and this bloody scandal?” “Stop firing out these questions Jessie. I have kept them a secret from Ms. Clarette for months together but you know what? I’m letting it out today for you.” She gave a cold hard stare and scorned.
“Then go ahead and say it. There is nothing to hide dear.” I said trying to sound as chill and supportive as I possibly could at the moment. “Well as for the former question, I am Eva’s near aunt and Felicia is her cousin. And the latter is what I will say now. Are you ready to hear?” I took a cookie biting it in ease but my heart was pounding out of my chest. “Yes. Do go ahead. I wouldn’t want to interrupt,” I said as I sat in a seemingly comfortable posture. Agnes smiled and continued.
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“What does she know about Eva?” I asked “I have no idea,” said Ms. Clarette sounding restless. “Well that’s what we need to find out. Can you tell Agnes to come over here? I think she is in a way connected to all of this.” “But I don’t know if she’ll be willing to come in such a state. And why drag her in this sludgy situation,” Ms. Clarette hesitatingly responded.
“Ms. Clarette I've got a gut feeling that tells me she ain’t CONCERNED BUT INVOLVED in that child’s affairs. I’ve been practicing child psychology for two years in addition to becoming an expert in the field of counseling for troubled children. I might be of great help.” I said in a soft yet firm voice. “Okay, okay I’ll send her there. Give me the address.” Two minutes later I finished my supper, cleaned up and kept fresh milk cookies and even a glass of red wine to make her feel comfortable enough to open up. I waited for one hour but there was no sign of her. I bolted the door and settled on the couch in the living room to read a book. I didn’t sleep in case she walked in late.
Three hours later it started to snow heavily and I was starting to doze off when someone banged violently against the door. I woke up, startled and looked at the timer. My goodness, it was twelve. I rushed to open the door. Agnes stood there breathless, losing her footing on the front steps, “Killer snakes! Come in Agnes. Settle down and make yourself comfortable in here.”
She sagged down on an armchair by the fire and rubbed her hands furiously. “Are you not going to ask why I walked in late?” hands wrapped around her knees she questioned. “Well no. I want you to feel relaxed. That is all.” I grinned at her. “Jessie I think Eva is somewhere around here. We can get her back.” “Agnes, we both know you have some facts on Eva. Let it out.”
Agnes denied, “No, nothing. She doesn’t mean anything special to me other than the love I have for those kids I take care of. I'm just worried for her.” I knew that she wanted to say something but it wouldn’t budge. “Why do you hesitate? Are we not good friends enough to part our darkest secrets?”
Agnes looked away in silence. She eyed on the glass of wine, “Do you mind if I have a drink? My body needs some heat.” I smiled, “It’s for you Agnes. A warm glass of wine can do.” She drank the wine in content and I waited patiently. “I know that Eva is around. I need to set my eyes and ears out for her.” “No Agnes. I think she’s dead. Someone has ended her.”
Agnes crossly glared at me, “No she’s not dead. She is missing.” I took the advantage to squeeze the answers out of her. “How are you so sure, huh? Maybe the person wants to wipe out the entire Jones bloodline. So just stop the search.” Tears uncontrollably rolled down her cheeks. “That cannot happen. It’s not possible. Because she feels I’M THE ONE who wiped out their family. It’s all just a huge misunderstanding. Can’t speak of this hell,” she wailed aloud.
“First of all, calm down. We have all the keys to the locks of life if we mean to use it in its time.” I pretty much managed to silence Agnes at that time. “Why does Eva feel that you did it of all people? What’s the matter? Reason it out.” Agnes smeared her tears all over her face as she sniffled loudly. She wouldn’t resume speaking. “Agnes I’m being serious. I think of Eva as much as you do. We can’t see the end of the tunnel unless you show us the way. Do bear with me and talk for goodness sake. Time is merciless. It won’t wait.”
“You’ll never understand, Jessie. It’s not the first time I've entangled myself in these problems. I get involved one way or another.” She stood up and refused to look me in my eye. “Agnes!” I thundered. “I have one final question for you. How are you related to Eva and this bloody scandal?” “Stop firing out these questions Jessie. I have kept them a secret from Ms. Clarette for months together but you know what? I’m letting it out today for you.” She gave a cold hard stare and scorned.
“Then go ahead and say it. There is nothing to hide dear.” I said trying to sound as chill and supportive as I possibly could at the moment. “Well as for the former question, I am Eva’s near aunt and Felicia is her cousin. And the latter is what I will say now. Are you ready to hear?” I took a cookie biting it in ease but my heart was pounding out of my chest. “Yes. Do go ahead. I wouldn’t want to interrupt,” I said as I sat in a seemingly comfortable posture. Agnes smiled and continued.
© All Rights Reserved
