AN

so i know i havent posted in a really long time. thats because i have been super busy and i got writers block for a long time. i got confused when writing and decided to rework what i had. so i got ride of chapters 10-14. i just finished changing them and i promise you things make more sense now. i moved the order of some things and even added new stuff. i am back on track now and have a written plan for this ff. so i am going to be reposting chapters 10-14 for you guys. this is the new chapter 10. i changed some things for it to all make sense. i love you guys so much, without u i wouldn't have a reason to post this ff. so thanks so much for reading this ff, i have worked really hard to get it back on track. so enjoy the new chapter 10!

Emily's POV

Wow. Just wow. Toby cares enough about Spencer to knock down a door?! I looked at Aria and Hanna. They couldn't believe it either. Toby really likes Spencer. But then that made me thing of Ben. Ben. What was wrong with me? He is funny, a great swimmer, and he is gorgeous. Any girl would die to be with him. I have him, and he has me. But why does that sound like a bad thing? I don't think I like Ben as much as I used to. Which is sad to think about. But I have to sort out my feelings. Speaking of feelings, the new girl, Maya, is really cute. She almost reminds me of Alison, carefree, doing whatever she wants. Was I comparing them? My thoughts were interrupted when Toby spoke.

T- ok. I think we should spilt up to find Spencer.

I shivered. I know he proved that he didn't kidnap Spencer, but he still creeps me out.

H- ok. Aria and I will take the first floor.

A- you guys can look upstairs. Text if you find her.

H- good luck guys!

E- thanks.

I watched them disappear into the kitchen. This was going to be awkward. What was I supposed to say to him?

T- look, I don't know if you still think bad things about me. I didn't kill Ally, and you know I didn't kidnap Spencer. I just want to find her.

E- I know. I do too.

He smiled at me and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as I thought. I walked up the stairs and he followed.

Toby's POV

T- were should we even start?
E- well, I think that is Melissa and Spencer's room there. (points to a door) we should start there.
T- ok.
We walked in and started looking. I lifted up pillows, opened closets, drawers, but I couldn't find Spencer. I called her name a lot but she didn't answer. My heart sank.

T- I can't see her, can you?
E- (quietly) no.
T- are you ok?
E- (shakes her head) I just want to know if she is ok! Or alive for that matter! (starts to cry)
T- hey, c'mon. We will find her. I promise (gives her a gentle hug)
I was kind of worried as to how she would react to me hugging her. I know we all got past the we hate you thing, but you never stop thinking that they still don't like you. She was really upset, I could tell. After awhile I let go. She seemed grateful for me comforting her.

Emily's POV

I couldn't stop crying. Toby finally came over and hugged me. It was actually pretty nice. He kept reassuring me, telling me we would find Spencer, that everything would be ok. I believed him. He promised me we would find her. He better keep that promise.

E- thanks.
He just nodded and smiled at me. I smiled back; not a fake, half heart smile, a real, genuine smile. I snapped out of it and went back to looking. I tried under the beds but all I could find were piles of clothes and dust bunnies. Toby was looking at the desk. Across from it there was a book self. I started rifling through random books. Spencer read a ton. I was tired of this. But then I saw a photo album at the top shelf. I reached for it and dusted off the cover. I opened it and looked inside. The album was full of pictures of the lake house. I flipped through some. Then I came to a page that had been ripped out. I could see the ripped bits to the side. Whoever did this didn't do it carefully. Or had enough time. I called Toby over.

E- hey, I think I found something!
T- (excited) what?
E- this photo album.
T- what about it?
E- a page has been ripped out. Look! (points to the page)
T- weird. Do you think A did this?
E- maybe. But why?
T- what was in the album?
E- just pictures of the lake house.
T- hey, wait a minute!
E- what?
T- I think I see writing on the teared pieces of the page!
E- what does it say?!
T- I can't tell. The writing is too small.
E- let me see. (squints at the writing) it's tiny!
T- what should we do?
E- I think Mr. Hastings has an office up here. I'll go look for a magnify glass. Wait here.
T- ok.
I walked out of the room and tried to remember if there really was an office. Spencer's dad was a business man. He had to have an office somewhere. There was another bedroom, a bathroom, and dark room I couldn't see into. As I got closer, I realized it was locked. I reached inside my purse and dug out my wallet. I pulled out my driver's license to use as a key. I slid it between the door frame. A couple of countless tries later it unlocked. I grinned and put my wallet back in my purse. I took out my phone as a flashlight. I walked into the room and opened the door.

I fumbled around in the dark until I found the light switch. I was right; Mr. Hastings did have an office. I walked over to the desk and looked in the drawers. There were mostly papers and files. I was about to start looking at something else when I saw a newspaper on the desk. I picked it up and read it. Apparently someone had robbed a bunch of rare, expensive jewelry. I scanned through the witnesses and police investigations until I saw a picture of the robber. I gasped. Written underneath the picture were the words

"Peter Hastings was believed to have stolen rare and priceless jewelry from a Tiffany store in the Rosewood Mall. Police are not sure why Mr. Hastings stole the jewelry, but the police are certain Mr. Hastings had someone help him. They do not know who helped him or where he is. Police have been looking everywhere for the partner in crime, but it is impossible considering several witnesses have seen a man wearing a mask and a disguised voice. Other citizens have reported to seeing him with Tiffany jewelry. This masked man is most likely Peter's little helper. As for Peter, he is being held in custody at the moment. His trial will begin sometime next month. The shocking thing is this all just happened this morning. Police will continue to investigate."

I couldn't believe it! Why would Spencer's dad steal jewelry? Didn't he have enough wealth already? Why would he need more? And why was the newspaper on his desk? None of it made sense. I thought about leaving the newspaper where it was, but then I decided to take it. It could be useful later. I moved away from the desk and remembered why I was here. To find a magnifying glass. Then I spotted one lying on the floor. I grinned and grabbed it. I ran out of the office and back to Toby.

E- here! (hands it to him)
T- ok, let's see what this says.
He placed the magnifying glass over the ripped page. I peered over his shoulder to see.
E- what does it say?
T- (reads out loud) Oh no! Still cAn't find Spencer? She is closer thAn you think. Who knows? MAybe she is right underneath you! Kisses

-A

E- oh my god.

T- A was in here.

E- but when?

T- probably when we were all downstairs. Before we spilt up.

E- did you hear anyone?

T- no, I don't think so. But A could have easily been waiting up here. Watching us.

E- that's creepy.

He nodded. Then I thought, should I tell him about what I found in the office? It was a shocking scandal that would devastate the Hastings. I don't know if I can trust Toby as well as Spencer can, but right now he is the one helping me. I have to tell him.

T- so did you find anything else?

E- as a matter of fact, I did.

T- what?

E- here.

I handed him the newspaper. I pointed to the main article. His eyes quickly scanned the page, looking for detail. When he read the caption under the criminal picture, he gasped.

T- it was Spencer's dad?

E- yep.

T- oh my god. Poor Spencer!

E- she probably doesn't even know.

T- that's horrible.

E- it said someone helped him with the robbery.

T- I wonder who it is.

E- could it be his wife? Melissa?

T- a whole family scandal? I don't think they would risk all of them.

E- you're right. I bet it was someone who Mr. Hastings could easily pin the blame on.

T- someone no one has thought of for a while.

E- but who?

We stood in silence, thinking. I didn't think Mr. Hastings would have committed the crime with anyone else from his family. That would leave people to think bad things about the rest of his family. Even if he was a criminal, at least his wife and daughters weren't. It had to be someone else who helped him steal the jewelry. Could he be involved with A? Was he the one behind all of this craziness?

Then all of a sudden a loud ring penetrated the air. I looked at Toby who pulled his phone out of his pocket. His face gave hints that he was worried. Whenever we get texts, I feel my heart leap out of my chest. He gasped once he read the text. This can't be good. And it wasn't. He handed me his phone and I read the text message:

I am not A. I am A's "helper" I was the one who took the video of Spencer choking. A blackmailed me into doing their dirty work. They threatened to expose my secret if I didn't. I'm on your side.

From Anonymous.