Chapter Eight
Richard looked at them. "Brothers who wear the same jacket as I do but worn out," he said and they all nodded.
"The day he dropped the note, he ran like a madman after seeing you or Jenna. I don't think it was Jenna because she doesn't look at all suspicious. So the man must have seen you Richard. If he ran like that I'm sure he knows you, " said Daryll.
Richard stared at him with his mouth hanging open. "I don't know anyone here. Then the brothers must be from Frankfort, Kentucky where I lived. They came all the way here to steal my grandma's valuable chest? But how did they know about it?" Richard thought out loud.
"Do they belong to your ex gang ?" Asked Nicholas.
"No, I don't think so. Then I would surely have remembered them. But I've seen them somewhere. The sketch and the handwriting looked familiar. After my accident, I have problems remembering, " said Richard getting up.
"I'll go home children and talk to granny. Let's see if she can help me remember, " said Richard. The children nodded and he left. The children went for a swim to cool off their brains. They played water games. Then they helped make dinner. The doorbell rang and everyone hurried to the door. Their uncle Stanley had arrived and they couldn't have been happier. Diana opened the door excitedly and there stood uncle Stanley with a happy grin on his face. The children hugged him tightly, so relieved to see him.
Nora Hawkes came out of the kitchen too with a smile on her face."Children let uncle Stanley come inside," she said. The children moved away and their uncle came into the house. "So happy to see you Stanley," said Nora Hawkes hugging her brother-in-law.
"So how have you all been? Enjoying yourselves?" Asked their uncle Stanley.
"Yes very much uncle Stanley. We have so much to tell you. Come upstairs please," said Nicholas.
"Wait children, let him freshen up first," said Nora Hawkes.
So uncle Stanley freshened up. David Hawkes returned home and hugged his younger brother. They all had dinner together. Then the children whisked their uncle upstairs to update him about their latest case.
After listening to everything patiently, uncle Stanley shook his head. "You're thinking in the wrong direction, I think," he said. The children looked at him, puzzled by what he said.
"How?" Asked Jasper.
"If the burglar and his brother came from Kentucky then how did they know about the silver chest? There has a be a link. There has to be a person who knows that granny Blair has a valuable chest. That person knows these two men and also knows that they are capable of procuring that chest. The same person is very much in need of money and is known to Richard as well as granny," said uncle Stanley.
"It can't be Jenna since she doesn't know these people. It can't be Richard himself since the men are hiding from him. It either had to be Grant or someone close to Richard," said Jasper.
"Let's talk to Richard tomorrow morning. It's late children, go to sleep," said uncle Stanley.
He left to sleep in the guestroom downstairs while the children too prepared for bed. Each one of them putting on their thinking caps and mentally considering all possibilities.
The next morning after breakfast the children and uncle Stanley went over to granny Blair's house. They introduced uncle Stanley to everyone.
"Grant never mixed with anyone when he stayed at our Kentucky home. So he's out of the scene," said Richard.
"Apart from granny, you, Grant and Jenna who all in your family know about the silver chest and where exactly it was kept?" Daryll asked Richard.
"My parents know but dad's no more. So only my mom knows," said Richard, with wide eyes.
"Is your mom in need of money?" Asked Jasper.
Richard's eyes widened further. "Yes," he said in a small voice. "My dad left a huge debt when his business went bankrupt. My grandpa always creates a scene and harasses mom when she asks him for money. After my accident, I couldn't earn enough to repay the debt. Mom's earnings aren't enough for her to live on her own. The people harrass her to recover the debts. Everyday is a nightmare for her," said Richard, massaging his temples.
"Why can't she come and stay here?" Asked granny Blair.
"My parents are upset with you granny. You never enquired after them when they were struggling. You hadn't helped them out although you could. When dad died, you never enquired after us or visited us. Mom's doesn't want to be a burden upon you," said Richard. Granny Blair gaped at him wordlessly. She didn't know the reality being too preoccupied with her own life.
"Does your mom know the burglar and his brother?" Asked uncle Stanley.
"Yes. She knows each and every member of my motorcycle gang," said Richard quietly.
"I know the person who's stolen the chest. I thought a lot last night. I remembered that he's the son of our old housekeeper at my grandpa's house in Kentucky. That's why he looked familiar. I helped his younger brother with his studies that's why his handwriting seemed familiar, " said Richard with a sigh.
"Mom might have given both of them my old jackets, " said Richard.
"But why would they steal my silver chest?" Asked granny.
Richard closed his eyes. "Maybe mom asked them to," he said crossing his fingers behind him. He didn't want it to be true but it seemed that it was the reality. Everyone stared at him with disbelief. Granny Blair held her head in her hands.
"Why did she have to have it stolen? I could have given it to her if she had asked for it," said granny Blair quietly, feeling guilty.
"Maybe mom didn't know it. Maybe grandpa threw her out of his home since he always threatened he would," said Richard with a sigh.
"Call her," said granny Blair.
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Featured picture: Tom Cruise as Stanley Hawkes
