Chapter One
"Are we there yet?" Asked an impatient Skylar who was only nine years old yet was more sensible than many others her age.
"Have some patience Sky," said her older brother, Jasper who was four years older than her. He was the oldest amongst all the cousins and knew his responsibilities well.
"We'll reach in twenty minutes, children," said their uncle Stanley. Stanley Hawkes was an engineer by profession and their youngest uncle. He was closer to the children than the others. He was the youngest brother of their father, Edward Hawkes.
"Uncle Stan, won't you stay with us?" Asked an eleven year old Nicholas Hawkes. He was the wiz kid and the most intelligent amongst the cousins. His dad Henry Hawkes was the next oldest after Stanley Hawkes.
"I will join you after a week. I have a conference in Richmond then, " said uncle Stanley.
They were going to spend their summer vacations with their cousins Daryll and Diana at their home in Richmond, Virginia. It was just a two hour drive away from the small town of Smithville, Virginia where they lived with their grandparents.
Last holiday they had bonded nicely with their cousins Daryll who was twelve years old and Diana who was only seven. Their dad, uncle David was the oldest amongst all their uncles. They used to live in Chicago and only recently shifted closer, to Richmond.
The children were very excited to finally be able to meet again. After the thrilling adventure they underwent last holiday they couldn't wait to catch up with one other.
The car drove towards the beautiful suburbs as they left the city of Richmond behind and started driving through Henrico county to Lakeside at Henrico County, on the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia.
They soon reached the beautiful gated residential complex lined with two storied houses on either side of a tree lined avenue. Each house came with it's own front yard and a backyard with a personal swimming pool.
"Wow, it's so cool," gasped Nicholas as the car came to a stop at a corner plot with a beautiful flower garden in front of the house.
They all climbed out just as the front door opened and Diana squealed with delight, running outside to hug her cousins. Daryll too came out and hugged all of them.
Their dad, David Hawkes and mom Nora Hawkes too came out to greet everyone. They hugged Stanley too. Everyone took the luggage inside.
While their uncle Stanley chatted with their parents, Daryll led his cousins upstairs to their rooms. Diana and Daryll had adjacent rooms and shared a balcony overlooking the background. There was a spare room opposite theirs. Their parents' bedroom was downstairs along with a guest room beside theirs.
"I will sleep in your room, Di," said Skylar excitedly and took her luggage inside Diana's room.
Jasper and Nicholas opted to share the spare room opposite theirs. Daryll went downstairs to get mozzarella sticks and lemonade that they made along with their mom.
He brought the food upstairs and they all sat around the table in the lobby upstairs. They caught up with each other and bonded like the last time they met.
Daryll suggested that they go out to the neighborhood park in the evening and they agreed and excitedly chalked out a itinerary for the next few days.
They splashed in the swimming pool and played exciting pool games. After an hour they went inside to see off their uncle Stanley who was returning home to Smithville.
The children showered and changed and went downstairs to eat the delicious food that was waiting for them.
"Children, say hello to Mrs Blair. She brought us this wonderful molten chocolate and chestnut fondant pudding," said their mom.
"Hello Mrs Blair, " chorused the children.
"Oh, so many of you here. Just call me granny Blair. Introduce yourselves, children. Let me know each one of you," she said, fondly.
She was a seventy year old woman who lived all alone, three houses away. She and their mom, Nora Hawkes met a few days ago at the local grocery mart and instantly became friends. The children, Daryll and Diana liked her too and she came to their house many times.
All the children, except Daryll and Diana introduced themselves to her and she smiled happily at each of them.
"Do, come and meet me sometimes, " she said and the children promised to visit her soon. She chatted a little more and left.
"Let's tuck innn," said Skylar excitedly eyeing the piece of pudding on her plate. Nora Hawkes smiled at the children as she served everyone lunch.
Their dad had left for work as he was a busy lawyer and was hardly at home. The children attacked the pork tenderloin sandwiches and creamy potato and leek soup hungrily.
"Mom, can we go to the park to play?" Asked Daryll.
"Not now. Go in the afternoon when there will be more people in the park," said his mom.
"Okay, at 4 o'clock then?" Asked Daryll.
"Yes, carry your mobile phones and don't talk to strangers, " she warned them.
"Yes mom, we know," said Daryll.
The park was inside the community under CCTV coverage and therefore quite safe for the children of the area to go to.
They went up to their rooms and played exciting word games and video games to while away the time. At last it was 4 o'clock and they rushed out. Daryll informed his mom before leaving. He led them to a huge park with a kids corner for toddlers.
They had brought a ball with them and played with it while Skylar and Diana opted for the swings. They played for nearly an hour when Jasper ran after the ball to fetch it.
His eyes were on the ball and he didn't see where he was going. He suddenly bumped into someone. Looking up he saw a man with a cap pulled low over his face and small earrings glinting on his ears. He wore a pair of ripped jeans and a black jacket which looked exceptionally fat around the waist.
"Oww," said Jasper as something hard hit his chest when he bumped into the man. He avoided Jasper's eyes and ran away at top speed, looking behind him all the time to see if he was being followed.
"Strange man," he muttered as he picked up his ball and went back to his cousins.
"Where were you? Mom called. She wants us home, now," said Daryll, worriedly.
"What's wrong?" Asked Jasper.
"Don't know, she sounded scared and worried," informed Daryll and they all trooped towards their home to see what the matter was.
