ANOTHER CLUE
Hey all! I'm back with another chapter, and I'm working on three as I update this! I just got finished with it, so I figured you'd want to read it right away. This chapter begins to thicken our plot a bit... you shall like it or you shall get a refund. (evil knowing smile) - Dis/Claimer - Thank you to my new fantabulous Reviewers! x) ToAbsolut - Thanks! I love Riley, too, lol. He is on my list of fictitious boyfriends...sigh... anyhoo, I'm glad you like the kids, too, because they're gonna be in this story for the long halland be key. So pay attention to them! Thank you so much for reviewing again! Enjoy the new chapter! x) Jessica Marie Evans - Thank you very much! Oh, I've set a lotup...just you wait... well, you don't have to wait. I'll just let you read now, lol. Thanks for reviewing and showing interest! Enjoy! x) mrs.pace - Thank you! LoL... I'm glad you like it so far and hope that you'll continue to read! Enjoy the chapter and thanks again! x) Ermine aka Tree - LoL, I love you pen name.Thanks for the review, also! I won't delay you any longer sincethe next chapter is here, so get reading! Thank you again and enjoy the chapter! x) Faile Aybara - I like your pen name, too, lol. It's all pretty and fantasylike. Anyways, thanks for the review and enjoy! Hope you continue to read and watch the story get interesting! .: Thanks again to all of my newReviewers!It's nice to have a brand new bunch to talk to:. x x x . Chapter Two . After emptying their bowls, throwing on swimsuits, grabbing towels, and waiting a full hour after they ate by Abagail's rule, Riley walked out to the pool with Sally and Charlie still jumping at his sides. Nine o'clock was still too early for this. The water was gonna be freezing even though Riley knew the pool was heated to a perfect eighty-six degrees. It sounded warm next to what the thermometer on the patio wall read seventy-four degrees. "Okay, you two," Riley said. "Even though it is nine in the morning and your parents own the surrounding mile of land, that doesn't mean people still aren't sleeping. Think of poor me, here." "Oh, get in! Get in!" Charlie shouted, pulling him up to the diving board. "Whoa! One second... arm floaties secure for the deep end?" Charlie and Sally both posed with their arms up in a bodybuilding position. "Yep!" Sally said. "Jump in! Jump in!" "Yeah! Do a cannonball! Cannonball!" "All right! All right!" he said, walking out onto the end of the diving board. "Do you two always say everything twice, or is it just me?" Riley looked out in front of him at the glassy, untouched water. His eyes rose to the shallow end of the pool, but they even went passed it to where Abigail’s beautiful gardens and shrubs were. His moment was ruined when he saw that Carolyn girl standing there trimming the hedges, and what made it worse, she had seen him. She gave him an evil glare before turning back to her work, and Riley again mimicked her when her back was turned. "Uncle, Riley! Are you gonna jump yet?" Sally asked, squinting the sun out of her eyes as she looked up at him. He tore his eyes away and looked down at them, almost forgetting that they were there. "Oh, yeah. Here we go." He jumped high and fell deep into the water with a shower of water splashing Charlie and Sally who giggled. Riley surfaced and immediately looking over at Carolyn, praying she wasn't looking. When he saw that she wasn't, he was sort of upset; he was supposed to notice him and be angry about it! "Do it again!" Sally said, running over to the side of the pool. Again, Riley had nearly forgotten them. He hit himself mentally. Ben and Abigail would kill you, he thought. "Um, how about you two jump in now?" he said. "I'll be right here in case you need help." "We don't need help," Charlie said as he and his sister climbed onto the diving board. "We're not babies." "Never said you were," Riley said. "Okay, here we go!" Sally said. "One, two, three!" They splashed into the water and popped up within seconds. Riley swam over to them and started coaxing them to the shallow end as they began to complain about the arm floaties annoying them (again). He sighed. The arm floaties didn’t even withstand three minutes today. It was a new record. He couldn't help but to look up at Carolyn again (which was as annoying as her herself), but she wasn't there anymore trimming the hedges. Instead he saw her next to the ladder at the shallow end scooping bugs out of the pool and huffed. "Hi Carolyn," Charlie said. "Hi, guys," Carolyn, said sweetly to them with a smile. "Enjoying a nice swim, huh?" "Yep," Sally said. "Uncle Riley brought us out. He's been gone two whole weeks in England, and now he's back so we can spend aaaall day with him." "Is that so?" she asked now a bit sourly, looking in his direction with a lopsided frown. "Not intruding, are we?" he asked in a cocky tone. "Not at all," she replied right back, getting up and walking towards the other end now, net in hand. As she went in that direction, Riley could honestly say that he loathed that woman. "I hope she falls in," he muttered under his breath, turning back to the kids. And as if on cue, the scream and splash came from the farther end of the pool, and Riley whipped his head around, amazed at what had just happened. It felt as if he had a power or something, bringing what he said to happen in an instant. "I didn't mean it!" he shouted before swimming out to where she had fallen in. Just before he had reached her and went to go under to bring her up, the upper half of Carolyn's body came out of the water accompanied by a sharp gasp or air being drawn into her mouth. Riley was thankful she was okay, but on the other hand... Well, you know. He decided to ask anyways, even though her still hated her. "Are you all right?" "Chill out, scuz boy," she said as she split the wet hair in front of her face to glare at him like it was his fault. "It's four feet deep. I think I'll live." Yeah, Riley still loathed her, only more now. "Well I can see that you don't appreciate others concern for you even if they do despise you," he said smartly as she sat up on the edge of the pool now. "Not if it's coming from you," she said in a sweet, sickening tone. Riley gave her another look as she turned her head away, but he didn't get to for long; the sliding glass door made them both turn their attention towards Ben who was coming outside, Abigail right behind him in her light blue robe. "What happened?" Ben asked, approaching them. "Carolyn, are you alright?" "Yeah, she said, waving him off as she stood up. "I just... slipped...and-" "You get right inside and out of those wet things," Ben said, relieving her of the pool net. "Just relax for a while." "Oh, but I have work to do," Carolyn urged. "Nonsense," Ben said. "Now go change and lounge around for a while." "But-" "At least until after lunch," Abigail insisted. "There's not much that needs done til then anyways. We won't be setting up for the party until tomorrow." "Well, I can still help you cook today," Carolyn said. "I'll go change and meet you in the kitchen?" she asked Abigail with hopeful intonation. Abigail smiled thoughtfully at her as Riley mimicked her ignorantly again. He continued doing it as Carolyn began talking, unaware that she had seen him do this. "And I'm sure if it's necessary, we can have Riley do the dishes." Carolyn turned her head sharply to Riley who stopped imitating her the second Ben and Abigail looked in his direction. Carolyn looked angry that he hadn't been caught, so Riley played along. "Oh, I'd be glad to help," Riley said sweetly. "I'll even dry them by hand if you want me to." "Riley, you're fine," Abigail said. "You can spend the day with Sarah and Charlie, and Carolyn and I will be in the kitchen cooking for the party tomorrow." "Mom! Are you making caramel crisps?" Charlie asked, swimming over next to Riley with his sister in the follow. "You know they're my favorite!" "Yes I do," Abigail laughed. "I'll be sure to make some just for you. I might even let you two help me taste test later," she added with a wink. "What about that strawberry jello pretzel salad thing?" Sally asked. "That too?" "Sure. But it may be blue raspberry instead,” she laughed to her husband and Carolyn. “I’ll have to make sure we have strawberry.” "If not, I can run to the store and get some," Carolyn offered. "Oh, that’s alright," Abigail, said. "Now go inside and change. You’ll get sick out here even if it is the middle of summer." Carolyn obeyed and turned to go, but she looked back at Riley with a dirty look. He returned it, and she stormed away even faster. Abigail exchanged looks with her husband. “Riley, aren’t you and Carolyn getting along?” she asked. “Not really,” Ben said his wife’s ear. Abigail frowned and looked at Riley in confusion. “Well why not?” she asked. “Why not?” Riley asked loudly as if it were as plain as day. “She’s rude and stuck up and… and…” “And?” Ben asked expectantly. “Well, she…” Riley stopped, realizing he sounded like and idiot. Then he looked up at his friends with a serious look on his face and said loudly, “You know, there’s just nothing good about a person who eats cereal without any type of sugar on it whatsoever!” Abigail sighed, turning back to Ben. “Carolyn and I will be in the kitchen all day if you need anything,” she said. “And you two behave,” she said to Charlie and Sally. “We don’t need Riley under anymore pressure on his first day back.” “Funny, Abigail,” Riley said as she walked back towards the house. “Real nice!” He looked up at Ben who just raised an eyebrow. Riley returned it. “What?” “You heard your mom, kids,” Ben said. “Drown Riley several thousand times before you behave and get ready for your camping trip tonight.” “Is that permission, Dad?” Charlie asked carefully. “In the full,” Ben replied, as he stood tall and turned to go. “Have fun, Riley.” The twins’ faces lit up in excitement while Riley’s fell in fear. Ben started to walk back towards the house, but Riley swam after him with Charlie and Sally trying to catch up. “No, Ben, no,” he said. “No, stop!” The kids grabbed hold of his shoulders, Charlie leaping for his head. “No! Wait! BEN!” Riley went under with a sound splash, and Ben walked inside laughing. x x x Carolyn stepped inside the Gates’ manor dripping and full of anger at that snot of a nerd Ben and Abigail had the guts to keep locked in the room down the hall from her. She moved swiftly across the open area of kitchen, living room, and library as a cold breeze from her walking sent a chill over her wet skin and all over her. She started up the stairs with a bit of a stomp until she got to the top. She went into the hallway passed Riley’s door on the left, a bathroom, and then opened the door to her right. She entered her guest room where the Gates had let her make herself comfortable and slammed the door behind her. She went over to the large antique wardrobe in the far left corner of the room and threw open its doors to look for something else to put on. She closed the huge white curtains next to her and chose a wine-colored silk tank top and some white capri pants. But before she decided to change, she wrapped herself in a warm lavender robe to warm up quickly. To pass the next few minutes’ wait, she stepped to the left and sat at the desk beside the wardrobe and turned on the decorative little lamp. Just as she was about to touch her computer, the whole screen lit up, and a fuzzy image displayed taking up the entire screen. Carolyn leaned forward in confusion for a moment until she saw a man enter the frame of the amateur cameraman’s spectrum and walk closer to her. Soon, the whole man’s head was taking up the screen. He smiled and gave a laugh as he stopped and looked directly at Carolyn as if they were in the same room. She looked at him angrily. “Have an accident?” he asked casually. “Oh, shut up, Ian,” Carolyn said heatedly as she rose from the desk chair and ran over to her bed to collect her new outfit. “It’s not like you’ve ever loused up once in your life.” The blonde-haired man looked away, Carolyn having struck his nerve about being jailed for the treasure heist. And she knew she had which made him even angrier. Deciding to let it slide for the time being, he continued his conversation with her on a more quick-tempered basis. “Not having much fun housekeeping, are we?” he asked in his genuine irritating and gleefully false tone. “You know, Mum was right. You’ll never be cut out for a family someday.” Carolyn poked her head around the wardrobe and scowled at him. “For your information, I fell into the swimming pool,” she said, disappearing behind it again as she discarded the soaking wet dress onto the floor next to her. “I wouldn’t consider that housekeeping.” Ian laughed again before turning to a more serious tone. “Well what on earth were you doing outside falling into swimming pools?” he asked. “You’re supposed to inside working.” “Abigail asked me yesterday to do some yard work today so that it would look nice for the party tomorrow night,” Carolyn said, putting on the silk tank top. “So I sort of had to unless I wanted to get thrown out of the house and blow my cover. That’s sort of what you do when you’re undercover, Ian,” she added smartly after pulling on the capris. “You sometimes have to listen to other people to keep from getting in trouble.” “Not willingly,” Ian mumbled. Carolyn let out an exasperated sigh as she shut the left door of the wardrobe and left the right one open to brush her hair in the mirror. “Well I’m so sorry,” she said sarcastically. “I could leave right now if you want me to.” “You will not leave that house without the painting,” Ian said with firm determination. “Do you understand me?” “Yes, master,” Carolyn, muttered bitterly, rolling her eyes. “Oh, and speaking of pools, that Riley kid you mentioned is a real prick. He came back from wherever last night I guess.” “Oh,” Ian said, his face falling into a dark glare at the floor. “He’s back from England then.” “Yes,” she said in disgust. “And he’s getting on my last nerve. I’m about to throw him in a closet and suffocate him, and then tell Ben that he went on another trip.” “Don’t get rash just yet,” Ian warned. “You can’t go around raising suspicions while you’re under their roof. All fingers will immediately point to you.” “No, really?” “Don’t worry. He may be annoying, but he could prove useful to us.” “In what way?” Carolyn asked in fear that Ian may do something as stupid as make him join their side. “I don’t know yet, but just stay quiet,” Ian instructed. “Noting must go wrong before tomorrow night.” “Right…” Ignoring her sarcasm again, Ian continued. “We need that portrait,” he stated. “And we will have it. Have you located it yet?” “Yes,” she said. “As the housekeeper of the Gates manor, I’ve covered every inch of this stupid castle, attic to basement. I ought to have found it by now, considering I’ve found dust in places they didn’t even know existed.” “So where is it?” “Above the fireplace,” she said, placing the hairbrush back in the wardrobe and closing it. She went and sat down at the desk, leaning towards the screen on her elbows. “In the downstairs part of the library.” “Good girl,” Ian said in satisfactory. “Are you sure it’s the correct one?” Carolyn huffed. “Who’s the art student here?” she asked, referring to her mock façade as she issued around the room the art easel and many paintings she had done. Ian nodded, pleased. “I guess you’re right,” he said. “Just remember to get it and get out.” “I know what to do, Ian,” she said, rising from the chair again. “It’s not like this is my first time or anything.” “You’re right again. It’s your second. And it’s no different from the first. You’re still an inexperienced little twit, and you’ll be that way for a while.” “All the experience in the world still doesn’t guarantee success, now does it?” she asked, pinching his nerve again after he got under her skin. She hated it when he underestimated her. “You know, that game is getting old,” Ian said shortly. “You started it,” Carolyn said immaturely, walking towards her bed and plopping down on it. She ruffled through an old leather book. “Now’s not the time for this. Now let’s go over this once more-“ “Ian, ‘once more’ has occurred about seven times now,” she said with a tired sigh. “I know what to, and I’m getting sick of you riding on me about it. You think I can’t control my nerves? Look at you. You’re pathetic. I’m wouldn’t be surprised if you hadn’t chewed off all your fingernails by now. You whole hand should be missing by tomorrow night at his rate.” “Insults are getting us nowhere, dearest,” Ian said acidly. “I agree. So stop it.” Ian huffed, getting impatient. Carolyn wanted to smile; she was winning this time. Then, she stopped leafing through the pages of her book and went over to the computer, holding it arm’s length away for her brother to see. “There,” she said. “This is the one I’m getting. George Washington at Princeton. Happy?” Ian surveyed it and finally nodded slowly. “At least you know which one it is.” “Darn right I do,” Carolyn said, snapping the book shut and tossing it over to her bed. “I’m not an idiot like your little cronies. Perhaps if you would’ve called me and had me help on your last little adventure, you’d have been a good deal richer today.” “I don’t place that much faith in you just yet,” Ian said, making it known. “Just get the portrait and-“ “-And we’ll figure out the rest from there, yeah yeah…” Carolyn said boredly, looking over at the bedroom door. She sighed. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go.” “And where to may I ask?” “To help Abigail cook and bake all the food for tomorrow night,” she replied, straightening herself out a bit. “I should poison that nerd’s food while I’m at it…” “Don’t go poisoning the food,” Ian warned. “You can kill him later if you like, just not now. Their little Independence Day Barbeque cannot bring on an epidemic in the capitol city.” “Psh… I don’t even know why they’re calling it a barbeque,” she said. “All of these big officials are coming in suit and tie to watch some fireworks and eat.” “And you?” “I get to attend as a guest,” she said with mock enthusiasm. “I’ve get to wear a nice dress and walk around talking to people I don’t even know while I eat little finger sandwiches and comment on how lovely it is to be graced by the generosity of the Gates family so poor little me can get into college another year.” “Sounds wonderful,” Ian said. “I’m sorry I can’t join you. I’m sort of on the lamb at the moment. Steal me a bottle of wine for when we celebrate with our spoils, alright?” Carolyn’s eyebrows fell level over her eyes. “Goodbye, Ian,” she said in annoyance. She shut off the computer monster before he could reply along with the small microphone and camera hidden in a little floral arrangement on top of the computer’s monitor. She fluffed the silk petals a bit, decided that they looked decent enough, and went downstairs just as Abigail called for her from the kitchen. Carolyn smiled knowingly back towards the computer. “Coming,” she said softly to herself with a sly smile. . Please Review .
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