Chapter 14: Shadows of The Past

The rain had finally stopped. Dark clouds still lingered above Stark City, refusing to surrender to the morning sun. Kisha sat alone in her living room, the old photograph resting on the coffee table.Her fingers traced the faded edges for what felt like the hundredth time. The little girl in the picture was undoubtedly her.The little boy standing beside her…

Corey.

How could that be possible? She searched her memories desperately. Nothing, not a single image or a single voice. Not even the old timber mill looked familiar. Her head began to ache. “No…” She whispered to herself. This doesn’t make any sense. The sound of her phone vibrating startled her, unknown number.

Her heart skipped. She answered cautiously, “Hello?”

Silence.

Then, a calm masculine voice spoke. “Some memories are buried because they were never meant to be remembered.” The call disconnected.

“Kisha?” She stared at the phone in disbelief. Who knew her name? Who was watching her?

At Legacy Woodwork, Corey had barely slept. The photograph Shawn had secretly forwarded to him lay across his desk. It was identical to the one Kisha had received. The same abandoned timber mill, the same smiling children, the same impossible mystery.

He rubbed his temples. “I would’ve remembered.” He had an exceptional memory, business negotiations, people’s faces, dates. Nothing escaped him yet, he couldn’t remember ever standing beside Kisha as a child. Something wasn’t right, he could sense it. More like someone was trying to play a game with him. He stared blankly for five minutes, trying to connect the dots in his childhood.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

“Come in.” Shawn entered carrying another file, I found something. Corey looked up immediately, what’s going on? The Lawson Timber Mill officially shut down twenty-three years ago.

“I know that, what’s new?”

Shawn paused for a while, according to public records, he placed another document on the desk. But according to private land records the property still belongs to someone. Corey’s brows furrowed.

“Who?”

Shawn inhaled deeply, it’s Morgan Lawson. Silence filled the office. That’s impossible, he transferred every asset before he disappeared.

“Apparently, but not this one.” Across town, Robert Prime stood before the large window inside his study. His walking stick rested firmly beneath his hands then behind him, Mylo waited patiently.

“You called for me?” Robert nodded. “Everything is moving exactly as planned.”

She smiled. “And Kisha?”

She received the invitation code.

“What if Corey follows her?” Mylo voiced out, worried.

Robert chuckled. “He will and that’s exactly what I want.”

Mylo feels skeptical. So you are saying that you want both of them together? How does that make any sense

“For tonight.” His smile widened. Maybe they both deserve to know the truth, he shrugged.

Meanwhile…Brenda Boone wasn’t smiling anymore. The private investigator sat opposite her. You didn’t tell me they had this much history. It’s…uhm am utterly speechless.

“I only report facts.”

Brenda slammed another photograph onto the table. There are dozens of these and to me it looks like they were practically inseparable. So what’s with their distance now?

The investigator nodded. “It appears both families spent years trying to erase that period.” Brenda’s confidence slowly faded, this isn’t just an old romance…” Not at all

This looks much bigger than I had ever imagined. She stared at the photographs and for the first time… She felt something she wasn’t used to feeling. Something she wouldn’t dare to voice out.

Fear.

Late afternoon Kisha drove herself although she hadn’t told anyone where she was going, not even Mylo. The old envelope rested on the passenger seat. Every few minutes she glanced at it, turning back crossed her mind countless times. But one question kept pulling her forward. Who was Morgan Lawson before she knew him?

Unknown to her…A black SUV maintained its distance. Inside, Shawn kept both eyes fixed on Kisha’s vehicle. He spoke quietly into his earpiece. “She’s heading north.”

Corey’s voice answered immediately, stay with her.

“What about you, sir?”

“I’m on my way.”

Forty minutes later, the city disappeared behind them. Trees replaced buildings and the roads became narrow, older and lonelier. Finally, a rusted sign appeared; Lawson Timber Mill.Kisha slowly stepped out of her car. The wind whistled through broken windows. The enormous building stood like a forgotten monument.

She looked around and didn’t see anyone, only the sound of her footsteps echoed. Then the warehouse doors opened by themselves with a loud groan. A chill ran down her spine.

“Kisha.” A voice called out. She spun around but didn’t see anybody again.

“Kisha…” This time the voice came from inside. Her heartbeat thundered as she swallowed hard. One step then another, the wooden floor creaked beneath her feet, dust floated through beams of fading sunlight, broken machines stood abandoned. Everything smelled of old timber and rust.

Suddenly…A single light flickered on. Then another and again it repeated, illuminating a narrow path through the warehouse. At the end of it someone stood waiting. A tall figure,holding a walking stick. Behold it wasRobert Prime.

He smiled. “I knew you’d come.” Kisha’s face hardened, you’ve been manipulating me. How could you? You’re so..,

“I’ve been protecting you.” Robert said with a wild grin spread across his face.

“Liar.”

Robert sighed. “You sound exactly like your mother.” My mother has nothing to do with this.

“Oh really, that’s what you really think” he scoffed. His smile became almost sympathetic. Everything has to do with your mother. He slowly raised his walking stick and pointed toward the second floor.

“Come.” I have something that belongs to your family. Kisha refused to move. Trust is a big word when it relates to Robert, she wasn’t convinced to believe him at all. “I’ll stay right here.”

Robert’s expression darkened. You’ve always been stubborn, but tonight you’ll finally understand why Morgan Lawson abandoned his own family. The words struck her like lightning, he didn’t abandon them, she defended.

Robert laughed quietly. “That’s the story they wanted you to believe.” Above them, a loose wooden beam groaned but neither of them noticed.

Right outside, Corey’s SUV came to a violent stop. He jumped out before the vehicle had fully halted, Shawn ran after him.

“Sir!”

Corey ignored him. His instincts screamed danger as they approached the warehouse. Shawn suddenly froze, his face drained of color.

“Sir…” Corey turned slowly, Shawn what is it?

Shawn pointed toward the surrounding trees. Dark figures, at least a dozen men dressed in black, watching the mill, watching Corey and then Kisha. One of the men slowly reached inside his jacket.

Corey’s jaw clenched. “This wasn’t a meeting…” He whispered.

“It was an ambush.”