The Case Of The Alpha, page 19
With shaky hands I pick the first picture up, my heart immediately sinking when I look. It was a picture of my mum and dad holding a little baby, who I'm guessing was me. My dad looked exactly the way that I remember him, he looked so happy gazing down at the tiny baby in his arms. My mum was smiling at the camera with her hand placed on my dads arm, I hardly remember what my mum looked like or how she used to act. I remember she was also kind and let me bake with her whenever I wanted, every single night she would read me a bedtime story and would wait until I fell asleep, no matter how long it would take.
With tears in my eyes, I place the photo down and take another. It was of only me, I looked around 4 smiling down from a huge slide. I looked so happy and carefree, if only I knew what events were to expire in just a few short years. I pick the rest of the photos up putting them on the side, the things underneath just make me so scared, sad and confused. As like Lukas, my pink little hospital bands sat at the button of the box. I take them into my hands and read, it had my name, weight at birth and the day I was born. How did Richard get these? From everything I've been told, he's never met my dad or anyone in my family to get these! I place the bands on the table too, before having another look into the box. There were little trinkets and pink tiny baby toys at the button.
The sound of a text on my phone snaps me from my search, who else would be awake at 2 in the morning? I look around the room unsure of where my phone was, that's when I spot it sat on my bedside table. I get up from my chair and quietly creep over to retrieve it, I didn't want to wake Toby who was peacefully still asleep. Once my eyes adjust to the bright light of my phone, I spot a text from Morgan.
"I know you're also awake, come and show me what's kept you up in the main room"
I smile a little placing my phone back on the side, I have no idea how he always knows when I'm awake. I quietly make my way back over to the desk, carefully packing all the little pictures and things safely in the box. I do a final check of the desk just in case I left something behind, when I was certain I hadn't I pick both boxes up. My keycard was hanging on one of the chairs by the door, I take it in my hands quietly opening my door. I take a little look back to check Toby was still asleep, he looked so peaceful laying there which causes a smile to fill my lips. I leave the room fully making sure the door wouldn't slam, which was hard as nearly both of my hands were full with the boxes.
I was soon making my way down the dark corridor and heading towards the main room, where Morgan told me to meet him. On the way, I pass the supply cupboard Julian wouldn't let me in. I did debate with myself whether to go and see if it's unlocked, but I shake my head aware of what Julian said he'd do if I were to go in without him allowing me to. I sigh opening the door to leave my corridor, my mind still racing with so many questions. Why would Richard have this? Where did he get all these from? And finally, what is Julian hiding? That being a question that I've been wondering since I found him there yesterday, let's see how many answers I'll get for these questions shall we?
44 Chapter Forty-Four
1746 words
I soon arrive at the door of the main room, the lights were on which tells me Morgan was already waiting for me there. I scan my keycard the door immediately, unlocking. I push my back against the door to open it, the boxes still taking up my arms. Morgan was sat at his desk waiting for me, but turns when I walk in smiling.
"How do you know?" I ask walking into the room, hearing the door close behind me, he just rises from his chair with a smile.
"I know you Taylor, I just sensed that you'd be awake right now" he smiles where his eyes soon land on the boxes that were in my arms, I walk over to one of the tables gently placing them down.
"I found these at Richards place yesterday, they caught my eye immediately, for good reason" I say turning the boxes around so he could read the front "they were under his bed in a suitcase, these were the most looked after thing in that whole house, read the names" I tell him stepping back at little, he glances at me slightly before knelling a little to look at the names.
He turns to the blue one reading that name, before his eyes eventually land on the pink one. Once he reads the name he takes a look up at, his face too holding shock.
"It's not even about my name being on a box, look what's inside" I say opening the clasp revealing everything that was locked inside "look, pictures of me and my family before the attack and not even that, he's got my hospital bands from when I was born" I say handing him the photos first before picking up the bands, he takes them in his hands reading what was written on them.
"It's the same with Lukas's, but I would understand why he'd have his, but why and how does he have mine?!" I ask finally able to ask the questions that's been swirling around my head, but I knew Morgan probably wouldn't have the answers for me.
"I know how" a voice says but it wasn't Morgan, I look passed him and over to the main door of this room, stood there was Julian "follow me" he says before he turns and leaves, Morgan and I give each other a look before eventually follow him out of the room, leaving the boxes sat on the table.
We follow in silence for a few minutes, I had a incline of where he was taking us but I couldn't be sure. Once we reach the door for my corridor is when my suspensions are validated, he uses his key card to open the door. He walks first holding the door where I begin to walk through, but I knew Morgan didn't want to enter my corridor. I smile pulling him by the arm to walk through, where I discover the door open to the supply cupboard with Julian telling us to walk in.
"Why are you in Taylor's corridor, only she is allowed here?" Morgan asks as we walk into the room, somewhere I've wanted to come in for awhile.
The walls were full with pictures stuck on them, with two or three whiteboards at the front also full. Just from the outside, you could just tell how many hours he's spent in this place, it also didn't smell the best either.
"Because this was the only place that I would get some privacy, until Taylor found out about this yesterday and tried to get in" Julian replies looking back at me, I roll my eyes holding my hands up in surrender, I was still a tad bit annoyed with him about yesterday if I'm being honest.
"She had the right to question you, you're in her private corridor" Morgan says defending me, I didn't even have to ask him to do so.
"We're not here to dispute whether I should be in here or not, but I found some things out that might help you work out why Richard has all those things" Julian snaps back pointing towards the main room, which was where the two boxes were sat on the table "I've been here in for about a week now, it was after we found out about what your dad and the whole of your family does, I don't know about you but something stood out to me" he explains as I begin to look around the room and all the papers on the wall, some were the documents I found at the mansion before it burned down, while others were of pictures of my dad and other family members.
"There is nothing on your mum, no documents, photos nothing, the last time she's even mentioned within your family was a year after the attack on you" he explains handing me a photo of my mum, wait he's right I haven't heard anything about my mum, whenever Jasmine would talk about my family she would always say my dad "something just kept telling me to look into her and see what's happened, it was tough to find anything on her so I went out and spoke to some people" he says walking around the room picking up bits of paper, I just continue to study the photo of my mum in my hands.
What's happened to you? The last memory I have of my mother is the night before Richard found me, she was making dinner while having a mini argument with my dad. They wouldn't have too many fights, or if they did it was never in front of me. That's why if something did happen to her, I just don't think my dad would be involved in any serious way. But why hasn't anyone been able to find anything on my mum? Why doesn't anyone talk about her when I've spoken with Jasmine?
"I spoke with many of your fathers old friends before he created M.S.P" Julian voice snaps me out of my thoughts, Morgan looks over at me sending me a little smile "according to them, they hadn't heard anything from your dad for many years but, they were able to tell me that perhaps a year after you went missing, your mother also went missing" he said handing me a piece of paper, it was a missing flyer of my mum with the reward of £10,000 if she's found.
"Was she ever found?" Morgan asks reading the leaflet over my shoulder, I couldn't help but look into the eyes of my mum staring back at me.
Though the years, I have thought about my parents and wondered if I should reach out to them. The only problem I had back then was I couldn't remember a single thing about them, which is why when I was found I went to live with Morgan as no one could put me anywhere. The only thing I could remember after waking up was my name and how old I was, the facts about my family or even what pack I used to live at were gone. Unfortunately, those memories have never came back and I'm still clueless on where I used to live. Maybe if I tried a little harder to track them down, none of this would be happening or I would have been able to stop my dad making that group before it got out of control.
"She wasn't found by her family or authorities, but that doesn't mean she wasn't found by someone else we all know" Julian smiles holding another piece of a paper up, Richard looking right back at us "I have some contacts in the area of no territory and no I can't tell you who they are or how I got them, but I asked and they confirmed that Mrs Dorothy Westlake moved in with Richard many years ago. I'm not sure if she still lives there as they never confirmed, but what I know for sure is that for whatever reason she left your dad and went to move in with Richard" he smiles which does take me by full surprise, my mum left my dad to go with Richard, I mean that would explain why he had those photos of me from birth and stuff!
"We need to find out why she left, where is she is now or even if she's still alive and if she is alive we need to talk to her" I say just jumping right into it, if she's somewhere out there she could be the key to us finding Richard.
"Taylor's right, you did good work Julian, but take all this out from here and place it in the main room, don't enter her corridor again" Morgan says before he walks out the room and corridor, I just smile placing the pieces of paper back down on the counter.
"I'm sorry I spoke to you the way that I did, but I still didn't have loads of information and I didn't want you to walk in here and see all this if I didn't know all the facts"Julian says from across the room, I just shake my head with a smile.
"You don't have to apologise, I totally get now why you wouldn't let me in" I smile turning to leave the room, but stop just before I left the door "you've got great potential Julian, you just need to learn how to be a team player" I say before I fully left him to think more on that point, he left me with loads to think about so I did the same thing.
Around an hour later I walk back into my bedroom, it was now around 4am and to be honest, I wanted nothing more than to get a few more hours sleep. As I walk in, Toby was still fast asleep in bed, I slip my shoes off before climbing into bed. I move his arm slightly so I could lay with him, his eyes open a little where he smiles pulling me closer to him.
"Where did you run off too?" His raspy voice asks his eyes closing, I sigh looking at his face with a smile.
"Nowhere important" I simply reply laying my head on his chest, he leans down placing a kiss on my head before falling back to sleep, in no time I was fast asleep with him.
45 Chapter Forty-Five
1485 words
I woke up a little late for me, Toby was actually the one to wake me up worried something was wrong. I assure him I was fine before getting my butt in gear, we had so much work we needed to get done today. What was plain on my agenda was to track my mum down, only problem was I had no idea how. Toby and I walk together to the main room, which also doesn't happen a lot either. The whole way he kept asking if I was okay, I was trying not to act off but it was hard when I learnt what I did last night, could my mum be helping Richard?
Once we make it to the main room, the whole team and Lukas were already there waiting. I send them all a little smile before walking straight to Brandon, he was the only person I could think of that could help me.
"What is it that you want my area expertise to help you with?" He asks before I even sat down, I smile taking my seat beside him handing the name of my mother.
He immediately, begins to type away on his laptop hacking into many different sites and documents. I'm glad we have someone with his clever of a brain on the team, I wouldn't know what we would do without him if I'm being honest.
"Okay I found something, Mrs Westlake was reported missing by her husband 14 years ago, but with little to no leads the case went cold" he explains already telling us what we already knew, but I knew this was just the tip of the iceberg of what he's about to say "but because I'm clever, I compared her face to a database to hopefully find a link, it's very plausible that she wanted a fresh start and is going under another name, if there are any hits I'll let you know" he smiles while still not looking up from his laptop, I smile placing a kiss on his cheek as a thank you before getting up.
"Wait Mrs Westlake, is that like your mum or something?" Lukas asks from across the room, I smile nodding my head "look at me figuring things out, we should celebrate" he exclaims rather happy with himself, I laugh a little walking over to Morgan who was waving a little piece of paper at me.
"Talking of celebration, your party is tomorrow Taylor" Julian chimes in from his little table, which was full to the brim of papers from the room last night, he should have just kept it in the supply cupboard rather than filling this room with mountains of papers.
I just roll my eyes not really being in the mood to have any kind of party, I hated being the centre of attention. Everyone who will attend will probably want to talk to me, I only have a certain amount of tolerance for social interaction, once that is used up I'm done.
"Have you written your speech yet?" He asks rising up from his chair slightly, what is it with him and asking me a bunch of annoying questions?!
"I don't do speeches, that's why Morgan does them for me, so Morgan have you wrote your speech yet?" I ask looking at him with a smile, he laughs opening his draw pulling a notebook out.
"I wrote it right after the director told me she was giving you an award" he smiles before placing the notebook back in the draw, so he's not gonna even let me look at it before tomorrow?!
"You should be celebrating Taylor, all your family and friends are gonna be there!" Julian exclaims from across the table, I smile but an idea soon comes to mind causing me to smirk.
"Yes they will" I smile pointing at the photo of my dad, this could be when we grab him "I could invite my dad and all his workers to my party, if they come we'll grab them there" I say rather happy with my idea, I told them I wouldn't arrest them when they helped me yesterday, but this is a total different situation.
"Yeah but that's if they even turn up" Julian says dropping a pile of his papers on the floor, as they hit the floor papers fly everywhere.
"Well they turned up yesterday, so they probably will-" Brandon begins to say behind his laptop, my eyes go wide as I whip my head around to look at him.
He didn't understand at first but he immediately, stops talking when he catches on. I move my eyes slightly to look over at Morgan, who was definitely looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Yesterday, you saw them yesterday?" He asks crossing his arms as he spoke, oh Brandon I so wanna hit you around the head right now "that's how you managed to go to no territory, they went with you" Morgan says piecing all the little bits together, why does he have to be so smart about things all the time?!
"You went to no territory, Taylor that's one of the most dangerous places to go!" Toby exclaims standing up from his chair, well yes I know we were the ones that went there.
"We didn't necessarily go there, it was just a fly in visit" I say taking slow steps backwards closer to Brandon, who looked as though he wanted to puke at any second.
"Regardless, you could've been killed!" Toby continues to yell, my response was just to roll my eyes at his growing anger.
"Did anyone try and attack you?" Julian asks still knelling on the floor to pick off the papers up, I walk over to help but as I pass Toby, he takes ahold of my arm pulling me back to stand with him.
"We had a little kerfuffle with a few of them, but I handled it" I smile shrugging my arms a little as I went, I really didn't see this as a big deal, let's be honest it was yesterday, we can't go back and change it now!
"Yeah and when that guy tried to claim you as his" Brandon says from his laptop once again, doesn't this guy think before he speaks?!
A growl immediately, erupts from Toby beside me. I turn my head to look at him where his eyes were pitch black, oh dear he's on the verge of shifting, lucky he can't do that here. I take a look to Morgan, who knew exactly what I was thinking and nodded for me to take Toby out for fresh air. I take Toby's hand and begin to pull him towards the exit, at first I thought I'd really have to drag him but he moved with little to no arguments.
I scan my keycard fully pulling him out the room, his room was closer so I lead him there. Once we stop outside the main door to his and Lukas's rooms, I use his keycard to open the door and pull him inside with me. We don't go in his room but stand in the tiny lobby place, could it even be classed as a lobby?
"Toby, you need to calm down" I say as the door closes behind us, no one could hear or see what was going on now.
