Chapter 2 Devon Finds Out His Uncle Is Murdered

As Devon and Tristan come inside, they see Maddy is crying so Devon goes over and consoles his mom and says "Mom, what happened and where's dad? Tristan..."

Sniffing, Maddy wipes her tears and says "Tristan, you have to stay with Devon ok, dear."

Tristan comes over and bends on his knees in front of Maddy and says "Aunt, you don't have to say that, but Devon is right, where's uncle?"

Maddy wipes her tears and says "Your dad got a letter from your uncle Robert and left for Alexin a few days back. Today he called me and said Robert and Jin, both got killed in a hit-and-run. (crying) They died on the spot. The police captured your dad cause it was his car that was seen by the witnesses."

Both Devon and Tristan say 'What?' in unison

"Tristan, see if you can call dad." says Devon as he dials Rodrick and says "Hi, Rodrick, did dad call you, today, tomorrow or..."

Rodrick says "Devon, he said he would call but he hasn't called yet, why?"

Taking a sigh Devon says "Ok, listen carefully. Uncle Robert and Aunt Jin, both got killed in a hit-and-run and the witnesses saw dad's car...(Tristan signals to Devon his dad wants to speak with him) Rodrick, stay on line. (Devon takes Tristan's phone and continues) Dad, are you ok, how's Katherine?'

Tim says "I'm fine kid, as for Katherine I don't know. She won't see me."

Devon says "What happened dad?"

Taking a sigh Tim says "It's like this. After we came, me and Robert kept contact with each other and kept each other updated about you kids. But over time Robert seemed like he was not interested in what was happening and would only speak about the old days. I kept on pushing it sideways and was waiting for the day he would say Katherine is fine, but I just found out Katherine has those nightmares even now. A few days back he called and said 'Buddy come back home,' I took the next flight back to Alexin. On arrival I booked a room and then he called and said he would meet me in the afternoon, I waited till evening, but he didn't come. I got a call from him the next morning saying he couldn't make it and said he'd meet me the day after. Again he didn't show up and again he apologized. Then the car got stolen and I told the driver to file an FIR, and yesterday morning on the local news I saw Robert and Jin got killed in a hit-and-run. The car was found a few blocks away. Driver fled the scene."

Devon gets angry and says "Dad, why did you never tell me all this? Now where are you?"

Tim says "Devon, sorry kid, I kinda forget even though you are young, you have more brains than others. Anyways, I'm at the hotel. Ah, a kind of hotel arrest. That's why I called you. You'll have to come. Tell Tristan to take care of your mom, ok."

Devon takes a sigh and says "Yeah, sure dad. And, dad, don't worry, everything will be ok."

As Devon disconnects, he takes the other call and says "Hi, Rodrick, book me the first flight to Alexin. And, Tristan is going to stay here with mom, so please take care of the office while I'm away."

Rodrick says "Don't worry Devon, I'll mail you the ticket right now."

As he disconnects, Tristan says "Devon, what's going on?"

Maddy also says "Yeah, what's going on?"

Devon says "Mom, Tristan, at the present all I know there was something wrong with uncle and Katheirne is still having nightmares."

Maddy gets up and says "Then shouldn't I also go with you. Katherine, my child must be all alone. She needs me..."

Devon says "Mom, at the present she will not want to see any of us."

Shocked, Maddy says "What? Why? Come on, Devon , she needs me..."

Getting a little frustrated, Devon says "Mom, dad's car is responsible for the hit-and-run. So far dad is under hotel-arrest. I have to go and help dad. And, Katherine, dad said she believes the witnesses and doesn't want to meet dad. (Looking at Tristan) Tristan, take care of mom."

Tristan says "Don't worry, and Devon, don't get excited. Your breathing is getting heavy."

Suddenly remembering, Maddy says "Dev, did you take your medicine?"

Devon says "Yes, mom don't worry."

Just then Devon gets an email. He sees his reservation is for the evening.

Seeing the email, Devon says "Ok, mom the ticket is ready. I'm leaving in the evening."

Rodrick comes to pick Devon and takes him to the airport.

At the airport, Devon goes to the counter and then as he is ready to board, Roddrick says "Devon, please take care of yourself. The atmosphere of Italy and Alexin is quite different. Your health, and remember to take your medicine on time."

Smiling Devon says "God, Rodrick, and I thought mom was at home."

Smiling Devon hugs Rodrick and enters the gate.

As Devon arrives at the entrance, memories come to him like a flood. He hails a cab and tells the driver to take him to the hotel. Since Alexin is a small town, there is only one hotel, so Devon did not have to take the name.

As the cab stops, the driver says "You took one hell of a time to come here. Stay safe."

Devon smiles and pays the cab and as he keeps his bags down, he looks ahead of him. He walks over and enters the reception area and says "Excuse me, but I would like to meet Mr. Tim Clement, room no 1503 please."

Just then a man comes over and says "Ah, you must be Mr Devon Clement. Officer Ren, please this way."

Devon follows him and as Ren gestures to him to sit, Devon takes a seat and says "Officer, can I meet my dad?"

Ren says "Of course you can, but after we get the statement recorded. Your father said he would record it in front of you. Now that you've arrived, let's go."

As they reach the door, an officer sees them and opens the door. On entering, Devon sees his father is seated on the sofa with two officers standing on his both sides.

Ren says "Ok, Mr Tim, your statement please."

Tim takes a deep breath and says "Well, it's like this. Robert called me a few days back and told me to come. Since it's been ages since we met, I took the first flight. On arrival I booked this room and then Robert said he would meet me in the afternoon. I waited till evening but he didn't come. In the morning he told me he had some urgent work so couldn't come and would meet me the next day. In the morning, my driver told me the car got stolen from the parking lot so I filed an FIR. Two days later in the morning I saw the news that Robert and Jin were killed and then I got the call from the police station telling me the car was found and it was pounded as it's the car involved in Robert's hit-and-run."

Ren says "So, you didn't get to meet Robert during your stay here?"

Tim says "Yes, both times he didn't come."

Ren says "No offence, but how was your relation with the deceased couple?"

Smiling a 'what the hell', Tim says "My son is engaged to Robert's daughter. Me and Robert are college friends and my son and his daughter are childhood friends. How do you think our relation is, and here take a look (Tim shows his phone), not a day went by we didn't talk."

Ren says "Then you might know something. How was he during the conversations? Did he seem like he might have an enemy?'

Devon intervenes and says "Officer, may I ask a question?"

Ren says "Sure, why not?"

"What makes you think uncle Robert had an enemy?" Devon continues saying "Did he receive any threat or something?"

Ren says "From the files I see you and Miss Katehrine faced a near death situation. After you and your family left, Mr Robert took a loan and began his business. Over the years he had made a respectable reputation here. But a while back he did file a report of a burglary. Some documents were missing. I'm presuming that person came back."

Devon says "The one who attacked us? He's in jail."

Ren says "He was but only for a week, then he went off radar."

Shocked Devon says "What? It was proved he shot me and kidnapped Katherine. How could he be released?"

Ren says "Look, I wasn't the officer or judge back then. I'm just telling the facts I know now. Anyways, you can take you and your father are free to go. Oh, the car stays."

Devon says "Officer, are you presuming it wasn't a hit-and-run?"

Ren says "The way Robert's car went off the road, it looks like murder, but we can't verify that for now. Anyways the investigation is on."

As Ren leaves, Devon says "Dad, I want you to go back home..."

Tim stops Devon's sentence mid-way and says "No, I have to..."

Devon intervenes and says "Dad, uncle is dead and if what officer Ren said is correct, I'm not having you in danger. No one knows me here. I'll stay back and get to the bottom of this. You go back and look over the company."

Tim says "Devon, what about Katherine? She needs us..."

Devon stops his dad and says "Dad, you just said she didn't want to see you and she believes the witnesses. As for Katherine, I won't leave until I know she's safe. I promise."

Tim says "Dev, she's your future wife."

Devon's heart misses a beat when his father says that. Taking a deep breath Devon says "Dad, I tried texting her a couple of times back home. She read the messages but never replied. So, I would say she wants no connection with me. And, if she's still having nightmares, it's all the more obvious. (Just then he gets a call from Tristan) Yeah, Tristan, what's up?"

On the line Tristan says "Devon, Katherine has been using another number for the past 10 years. It's possible she never saw them."

"Tristan, if that's so, either uncle and aunt didn't let her know" continuing Devon says "And, if that's the so, I'm sure they had their reasons. But if it's someone else, I first need to know her position on me. Keep track."

Just then a bell-boy comes and says "Sir, Mr Tim's ticket has arrived. The flight is for tonight."

Devon takes the envelope and says "Thanks, could you please arrange for a cab to take my dad to the airport and please extend this room stay to infinite. Put it on my card."

Devon hands over his card and then begins to pack his father's bag. Making sure everything is packed, he keeps the bag on the side.

As Tim is waiting for his cab, he says "Devon, I can't leave if there's someone after them."

Devon sits beside his father and says "Dad, lesser the better. With you here, I'll have to worry about you and Katherine. Please, don't worry."

Just then the bell-boy comes and informs the cab has arrived. Tim and Devon hug each other and then Tim takes leave and goes back to Italy.

As Devon sits on the sofa he recalls his childhood memories. He remembered how he used to tease Katherine with her doll saying she loved her doll more than she loved him. And every time she would get angry and say Devon doesn't like her. He remembered one time when he had caught the flu, she stayed by his bed the entire time. The images flashed by as he remembered when his mother came to apply the wet bandages to cool off the fever, Katherine said she would do it. With tiny hands she would squeeze the cloth and place them on his forehead. When Devon was better, she cried and told him never to get sick again because she was so worried. Devon recalled he promised her he would never get sick again. Then he places his hand on his chest where his operation was done and says 'Sorry, I couldn't keep my promise.'

Then Devon goes through the paperwork Ren left for him. After going through the dates, Devon realizes the person knew his father was coming to Alexin. That means he wanted to frame his father for his uncle and aunt's murder. He also finds out his uncle's resort is under a huge debt. And, the resort is barely running. But his staff is loyal and trying their best to keep the resort afloat.