Investigation

" What are you guys talking about so casually? Do you mind sharing it with us?" Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah appeared out of nowhere surprising us.

" We weren't talking about anything important," I replied to Mrs. Evangelina.

" Whatever it is, we wish to know. Tell us what you were talking about!" Mrs. Evangelina said insistently.

" We were wondering about what to do now and what decisions to take for the time being" I replied.

" What to do? Decisions to make? What do you mean?" Mrs. Evangelina asked me questionably.

" Let me answer that!" said Lucas beside me.

What are you going to tell them, Lucas? I'm impatient to know what you'll pull out from that surprise box of yours. As if he read my mind, Lucas looked at me with a bright smile which gave me goosebumps.

" We were wondering if we were going to inhabit this house after all,��� Lucas answered.

Do they plan on leaving already? I'm sad, but that would be good for us. That way, they won't find out anything that would be comprising for us and put us in danger, Mrs. Evangelina muttered to herself.

That was the right call, but I'm sorry as I'll have to disappoint you, Mrs. Evangelina, Lucas muttered to himself.

" You're leaving? Why so soon? Don't you like it here? Why are you leaving? Have we done something to offend you?" Sarah asked shockingly.

…

" Whatever it is we have done to you, please forgive us! Don't leave us, please! Ms. Jennifer, talk some sense into him" Sarah said pleading.

" Sarah, please stop it! Stop pleading with them like that. If they wish to leave, we have to respect their decision. We can't force them into staying here with us" Mrs. Evangelina said to Sarah.

" Stop crying, Sarah! We're not going anywhere. We're staying here" said Lucas.

" What? You're not leaving?" Mrs. Evangelina asked surprisingly.

" What is it, Mrs. Evangelina? You look disappointed! Aren't you happy?" Lucas asked Mrs. Evangelina questionably.

" What are you saying, Lucas? I'm very happy with your decision regarding your lodging. I'm very happy that you decided to stay" Mrs. Evangelina said, faking a smile.

" Is what you said true? You won't go anywhere?" Sarah asked questionably.

" No, we're not going anywhere! We're staying here with you. We're not planning on leaving anytime soon" Lucas assured her.

" Why have you inferred on leaving earlier?" Sarah asked questionably.

" I never said we were planning to leave. What I said was that we were wondering if we'll be able to stay in this house after all" said Lucas explicatively.

" What did you mean earlier by that sentence? Do you have any issues you're not telling us?" asked Sarah questionably.

"The truth is, we're staying here for free and we're extremely bothered by that fact," Lucas said sadly.

" Why is that? Why do you feel bothered? You saved my life from that man, so it was only natural for me to help you guys in exchange" said Sarah.

" What we did for you, we did it as citizens of this country. It was our sole duty to come to your aid" said Lucas confidently.

" What do you have in mind?" asked Sarah questionably.

"We're planning on working for you guys. We want to help out around the restaurant. That's the only condition we have for lodging here" Lucas said affirmatively.

That's a good one, Lucas! Good job! That's the safest way for us to investigate without anyone suspecting us, I muttered to myself.

" What do you say, mom? What do you think of their request?" Sarah asked her mom questionably.

Mrs. Evangelina observed us intensely in a way to find something that would give us away, but she didn't find anything. She didn't have any valuable reason to refuse our request.

" Fine! You may work in the family restaurant, but I won't be paying you for the time being as the sales are not so great" Mrs. Evangelina replied.

" Money is not an issue for us. We're willing to work for you for free" said Lucas happily.

" You're starting work tomorrow if that works for you, that is," asked, Mrs. Evangelina.

" It works just fine! Thank you for giving us this opportunity. You won't regret ever making that decision" said Lucas happily.

" Now, let's go have dinner! I'm starving!" said Mrs. Evangelina while going to the dining room.

" Are you coming?" Sarah suddenly stops in her steps.

" We're right behind you!" Lucas said.

" Okay!" said Sarah heading to the dining room.

When there were only the two of us left in the room, Lucas asked me-----------------------

" What have you thought about my brilliant idea?" Lucas asked me questionably.

" Wow! It was just wow!" I said amazed.

" I'm glad to see you happy like that. Putting that aside, how are we going to find out the truth?" asked Lucas questionably.

" I have a plan!" I said to Lucas confidently.

" Do you mind sharing it with your friend here? " said Lucas enthusiastically.

" I don't mind sharing it. After all, it's not a secret. This is what I've thought of. " I said murmuring into Luca's ear.

I approached Lucas by a step and murmured my plan into Luca's ear. I wanted to let him know my plan of action confidently without any third-party interferences. I wanted neither Mrs. Evangelina nor Sarah to find out about my plan or else, it would have backfired. To prevent that from happening, I murmur my whole plan into his ear meticulously. I've stepped away from him to see his reaction. His reaction followed immediately.

" Wow! Your plan is just wow, but it's too risky. " said Lucas worriedly.

" I know that, but I have to take that risk. Otherwise, we'll never find out the root of the problem and we will never be able to help this family. I need you to support me all the way. Are you with me on this? " I asked Lucas questionably.

Lucas was hesitant at first before replying to me.

" I'll support you all the way, Jennifer and I'll pray that everything goes well for you," Lucas said to me confidently.

" Are you guys coming or not?" Mrs. Evangelina called out to us from the dining room.

" Let's go and have some food! " I said heading to the dining room.

" I'm right behind you!" said Lucas.

Lucas and I headed towards the dining room after our discussion to dine with Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah.

" What were you doing all this time?" Mrs. Evangelina asked us questionably.

" Nothing much! We were just talking a bit, that's all" said Lucas happily.

" I'm starving! Let's eat!" I said sitting down on the table and ready to dig in.

The whole dinner went on silently which didn't bother me much. Lucas also seems to be okay with the silence. After we all finished dining, we all headed towards our room to sleep except for the two of us.

" Let me help you wash the dishes!" Lucas said by giving me a helping hand.

" Thank you!" I said to Lucas thankfully.

" You don't say thank you between friends," Lucas said smiling.

After we had finished washing the dishes, it was time for us to head out towards our rooms as well.

" Good night, Lucas!" I said heading to my room.

" Good night to you too, Jennifer!" Lucas replied by heading out towards his room as well.

The following morning

" We're ready to leave! Are you coming with us or are you coming afterward?" Sarah asked Lucas questionably.

" We'll come a bit later!" Lucas replied.

" Why, later? Why not now?" Mrs. Evangelina asked Lucas questionably.

" The thing is, Jennifer isn't quite ready yet. You know how it is with women, don't you? They take a lot of time getting ready" Lucas replied to Mrs. Evangelina.

" That's quite true! Okay, we'll go ahead! Don't take too long, okay? We need help urgently" Mrs. Evangelina said.

" We won't! We'll be there before you realize our absence" Lucas said smiling.

" Okay! We're heading off! Let's go, Sarah!" Mrs. Evangelina said hurriedly.

" I'm coming! See you in a bit!" said Sarah heading off.

" They're gone! You may come out now!" Lucas said.

" Did they believe you? They didn't doubt you, did they?" I said appearing in front of Lucas.

" No! They didn't suspect a thing" Lucas replied affirmatively.

" Good! It's time to begin our investigation" I said confidently.