'A secret door?'
I tried to move the door but it was just too strong. It was made with a steel and quite stuck and dull already.
'Chris, do something! I can't open the door!'
'Okay. I can do something'
He came towards the door and touched it and just like that, the door opened.
'Come on, how is this fair!'
'Let's just go inside Harper'
I went inside the room. It was very spacious and someone could even live in it. The first thing I saw was our family picture. Dad was in it as well as mom. We were happy then.
This room must've been built by my dad then.
'This place is very dusty'.
What a mood killer.
'I'll clean it up Chris'
'You should!'
'I wonder why my dad built a secret room anyways. This place looks beautiful with the shelf filled with books and pictures and....are those case files?'
I went over to an area on the shelf. It was filled with different case files. Probably cases that my dad had worked on.
'There's a lot of things in here Chris. Things that would be of help to me but for now, I need to do something'
'Huh? What could be important than exploring your father's office?'
'I just remembered that I have something to do'
'What is it that you suddenly want to do?
Look for clues in here'
'We can always look for it later Chris. It's not really a surprising thing that my dad has a secret room. He is a detective after all'
'Where are we going now?'
'The boss's office'
'The boss's office? You mean your boss? The mayor?'
'Yeah'
'Why?'
'I'll tell you when we get there. Think of this as a mini mission'
'You're really crazy Harper'
'I wouldn't be Harper if I wasn't crazy'
***
I sneaked around the building to make sure the officials had left. Then, I went inside.
*Harper, what exactly are you doing? Why won't you tell me?*
*Sorry, It's just that the other day, when I came to get approval for Sophie's case, I heard and saw something*
*What did you see? And what did you hear?*
*It was very faint but I heard someone call the mayor 'dad'*
*That shouldn't be a surprising thing. I mean, he must have a daughter right?*
*No, he doesn't*
*How are you so sure that he doesn't*
*I've heard from my dad before that the Mayor cannot bear a child and had no adopted child as well*
*Now, that really sound suspicious*
*Yeah. Also, I had seen a file on his shelf. I've only seen that kind of file with my father because he makes the covers himself*
*Really?*
*It could've been a similar one but I saw has my initial on it. My dad writes my initials on his files*
*Alright then. In and out in ten minutes. Should be easy*
*You just jinxed it Chris*
*My bad*
It was very easy to sneak into the mayor's office as the guard was fast asleep. I tiptoed across the room to avoid any traps.
*There it is!*
The file was on the shelf, exactly where I had seen it.
'This was easy'
I grabbed the file and was about to leave when an alarm rang.
Oh no! It's a trap!
*Harper, we're trapped!*
*I should have known. Of course he would set a trap, after all, it was a confidential file*
'What do I do now?'
'Don't worry we'll find a way out'
I really should've thought about all these earlier and made a plan with Chris. I could hear the loud footsteps of people getting closer and closer to the office. I looked around for a way to get out but then.....
BANG!
The door swung open and lots of people rushed in. They were not government officials at all. These people were thugs who had cigarettes in their mouths. I tried my best not to cough where I was.
They parted and a lady in a mask came inside the office.
'Ma'am, nobody is here'
'Check everywhere'. The lady ordered them and they all set out to find me.
*This is what happen when you start taking decisions on your own*
*I'm so sorry Chris*
*It's okay. Let's hope we get out of here safely*
I had climbed up to the top of the shelf and I was really uncomfortable with my position but I had no choice.
The lady came back into the room while the rest of the goons were gone. She looked around and I felt her eyes on me.
Oh no!. Will I be killed before finishing my mission?
I could've sworn she saw me but then, it suddenly looked like there was a smile on her face and she left the room.
*Did you see that Chris?*
*See what?*
*Never mind. I must have been mistaken. We should get out of here now*
*Yeah, you should go through the window. It's the only option*
*Okay*
I slowly crept out and jumped through the window. I succeeded in getting the file and now, I have to get to the bottom of all these. I had less than ten days now, to find Sophie. I have to fulfill my promise to Uncle Mark and Aunt Samantha.
I also have to solve my dad's mysterious death.
*** IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
The Mayor threw away everything in sight, his mask now distorted making him look very unappealing.
'Why did you let them get away?!'
He roared at his men while his daughter sat down in silence playing with her bracelet.
'You! Why are you playing? I'm sure you must have seen them right?! Why did you let them go!'
She got up and turned to her father.
'Relax father'
'Relax?! What are you even saying?!'
'Why don't you listen to your daughter? I told you to relax didn't I? Don't worry, I know who took your file'
'You do? Then, why didn't you stop them?'
'Listen dad. You might have raised me but we're quite different. You like to end things quickly but I like to take things slowly. It's more interesting that way'.
The Mayor became calm as he heard that.
'So, you're saying you know what you're doing? That file is very important though'
'If it was that important then you wouldn't have been careless with it. Don't worry though, because the fun has just begun. I'll still keep my end of our deal. In ten days, I'll take over this operation'
'Alright, I trust my daughter'.
The lady turned to leave and just as she got to the door, she smiled.
'Harper, Harper, Harper. You have no idea of what you've gotten yourself into'.