Chapter Nine

Questions

Aaron fidgeted nervously as Theresa scrutinized him with her unwavering stare. "What do you mean?" He asked clearing his throat repeatedly. Theresa cocked her head to the side with a suspicious expression blanketing her face. "I don't think you're Dylan's brother." She said narrowing her eyes. "And I think you're hiding something from me."

"Don't be ridiculous." Aaron said laughing uneasily. He began pulling at the stray string of fabric that hung from his jacket in order to avert his gaze away from Theresa's prying eyes.

"Aaron look at me," Theresa said with quiet demand.

Aaron's eyes reluctantly met with Theresa's. Watching Theresa observe him in such a critical manner made his stomach churn with anxiety. He tried his best to conceal the evidence of the big secret he was harboring, but Aaron was sure Theresa was catching on quickly. It would not be long before everything would be out in the open.

"There's something about you that's bothering me," Theresa admitted. "You seem so much like"

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Alistair's intrusive comment as well as the unpleasant smell of his lit cigar made Theresa cringe with resentment. "Not you," She said in disbelief.

"My dear Theresa." Alistair greeted sarcastically. His cocky demeanors made Theresa loathe him even more than she thought possible.

"What are you doing here?" Dylan asked crossing his arms.

"Oh, look what we have here." Alistair said tapping his cigar lightly. Dylan watched the wind swirl the ashes around them. The gray cinders danced in the air before falling slowly to the ground beneath them.

Rather than answer questions, Alistair dropped his cigar and stomped on it. "It's my grandson's other accomplice- another disgrace to his own family."

Dylan's eyes narrowed in anger as his hands clenched into fists. "You have a lot of nerve old man," He said in a menacing tone.

"What are you doing here Alistair?" Theresa asked tapping her foot impatiently. Her eyes were alive with impassioned fury towards the powerful Crane.

"Why else would I be here?" Alistair sighed dramatically. "I'm visiting my grandson's gave."

"Why?" Aaron asked giving his own looks of resentment towards Alistair. "You never gave a damn about Fox."

"He was still family." Alistair said gesturing with his hands.

"Family doesn't mean anything to you." Aaron said through clenched teeth.

"And how would you know young man?" Alistair asked.

Aaron dropped his gaze. "Believe me, I understand it more than you know."

"Alistair, what really happened to Fox?" Theresa asked suddenly. She begged with her eyes for some piece of information that would settle her feelings of uncertainty.

"I know as much as you do." Alistair said. "Fox's dead. How? I don't know. Why? I don't know. Though, I do believe that his unpaid gambling debts had a lot to do with it."

"I don't believe you." Theresa said shaking her head.

Alistair shrugged. "Believe me, don't believe me. I don't give a damn, but Theresa you have to be realistic. Fox is gone. You need to stop living in that dream world of yours because your beloved Fox is dead."

Theresa pointed an accusing finger at Alistair. "You don't know that!" She nearly screamed as her rage overtook her emotions. "You don't have proof! No one knows how he died! You can't tell me that he's not alive!"

"What do you want me to do Theresa?" Alistair said in a sneering tone. "Do you want me to have his grave dug up? Do you want me to have someone open that casket so that you can look upon the decayed features of a man you claim to love? Do you? Do you?" He prodded.

Theresa looked away and said nothing. Alistair's cruel words were sharp needles that torturously pierced her heart. "Bastard," She whispered hoarsely. His words gave Theresa a grotesque picture that produced horror in her heart. She hated Alistair for the picture of Fox that he presented to her. Theresa desperately tried to shake the image of a decayed body out of her mind, but she was too upset and too angry to let the thoughts dissipate.

"Leave her alone," Aaron said angrily. "Don't you see that she's been through enough?"

Alistair let out a low evil chuckle. "He's gone, Theresa." He said failing to address Aaron's comment. "He's dead and gone. It was most likely those gambling debts of his that cost him his life. Thankfully I didn't have to pay his price. He did that all himself."

To her dismay a sob escaped Theresa's slightly parted lips. Struggling to see through the tears already streaming down her face, Theresa ran off her arms flailing beside her.

"Theresa!" Someone called after her.

Dylan looked at Aaron with wide eyes. "Who was that?" Alistair asked peering at the two men. "Um, me." Aaron said. "I-I called after her."

Alistair laughed bitterly. "That woman is delusional. If I were you two, I would stay clear of her. Have a nice day gentlemen." He said as he walked off with his two heavyset bodyguards.

Theresa stopped dead in her tracks and spun around. "Fox?" She said.

"Fox?" Theresa repeated as she began walking towards Aaron.

Dylan swore under his breath. "I-I'll be right back." He said running off in another direction.

"But" Aaron protested. Before he could run after Dylan, Aaron found Theresa standing before him with hope swimming in her eyes. "Fox?" She asked again as her fingers began touching his cheek.

Aaron held Theresa's wrists in his hands. "No," He said in a low voice. "I'm not Fox."

"But" Theresa said stepping back. "You called after me. You sounded just like him." She insisted.

"Theresa," Aaron said quietly. "You're only hearing things that you want to hear. I'm not Fox."

Theresa found her hopes as well as her heart crumbling to pieces. Aaron noticed her swaying slightly and reached out to steady her. "Theresa, you're upset. You need to go home."

Theresa nodded weakly. "Please take me home." She said before she fainted in Aaron's arms.