Chapter 10: whispered threats

Chapter 10: Whispered threats

Cassie's adamance was unbeatable. With another girl missing,the stakes of resolving the case was too high because she could use a fresh lead.

As she walked into her office the following morning,she came across deputy Saunders,who was walking towards her hurriedly. His usually calm disposition was gone. Fear was written all over his face.

"Sheriff, this was put on my car's windshield. I found it this morning." He said in a low trembling voice

She took the envelope he was holding out from him and carefully but hurriedly opened it. She dipped her hand in the envelope and pulled out a single photograph. It was a gritty image of Cassie,which was likely snapped the previous night when she was leaving the office. She turned the photo over,and at the further end of the photo,on the left side, there was a faint writing,scribbled in red;

_"Stop looking"_

Cassie trembled slightly,but she stood her ground. She had already started getting used to these threats. If the person wanted her dead,she'd be dead by now. It was a game,which she was ready to play,even if it was meant to cost her her life.

As they still stood there,the door burst open. Logan walked in with a new development.

"Sheriff,I found a lead on the car that has been following you."

"Where?" Cassie asked with vigor,her eyes brightening

"A live footage from from the gas station in Oak." Logan gave her a copy of the car's license plate number. "It's a local tag, and apparently,the plate has been registered to a private security company,owned by principal Wheeler."

Wheeler? Cassie tried to take it in. She knew that Wheeler was among the affluent people who have a grip of the town,but to go this far? She could not imagine it. Was he the one behind all the crimes? Was he the one orchestrating them,or trying to cover them up?

Cassie immediately arranged a meeting with him,with an excuse of discussing the 'missing girl' in details. She was to meet him at Grace town high.

She walked into his office. He was there, sitting behind his desk,with an unreadable expression.

"Principal Wheeler, I'm in need of your assistance. Another girl has gone missing,and the patience of Gracetown people has been wearing off by the day. I believe you have information that can be of use to us."

Wheeler's lips twitched, she looked up at Cassie with little annoyance.

"Sheriff, I'm as concerned as you are about these recurring tragedies. But there are boundaries to what I can offer you."

"Are you sure principal? Boundaries or secrets? Which one is it?"

She saw his expression suddenly change,his composure wavered, his gaze shifted from Cassie,to the floor. She could easily tell that the move was calculative,and he was planning on how to counteract the ambush.

"Careful,Sheriff. I don't know where you are heading with all these your theories. I'd hate if rumours spread around,about a sheriff making baseless accusations."

"I'm one of the patriots of Grace town, and protecting is my responsibility. Hope you get that in your head,Sheriff." His eyes narrowed

She realized that Wheeler was not ready to talk,he was just taking her in circles,which left her with more questions than answers,so she left.

Outside the building,she bumped into someone unexpected; Aaron Langston! He was waiting for her by her car. Her pulse quickened,a familiar feeling she felt whenever she saw him; she knew she didn't like him,there was something quite diabolical about him. She maintained her composure as she walked towards him.

"Aaron Langston,once again, I'm surprised to see you here."

He leaned on Cassie's car and crossed his arms

"I heard that you had a fracas with Wheeler." He said smiling sacarstically

"Not quite the kind of news I expected to reach you." She said giving him a death stare.

Aaron shrugged her off,he twirled his lower lips as it formed into a sinister smile.

"Grace town is a small town,Sheriff. News always travel like lightning,especially when someone like Wheeler is involved."

"Is there a message you're trying to put across, Aaron?" She asked,while keenly studying his gaze to see if he had a hidden motive.

He paused first,then proceeded.

"It's just that,the people of Grace town are paying allegiance to the wrong people. And you don't someone like Wheeler to end up being your enemy."

" An enemy I'm sure I can handle by myself. What I can't handle,is a control freak,who thinks he can control a whole town,like he's some sort of a demigod."

Aaron's eyes narrowed,his expression became more dark,and his usual smirk replaced with an unreadable expression.

"Wheeler is not the only one who is behind everything happening in Grace town. There are others,other big fish,who have only been operating from the shadow for years now."

The Langston's,Wheeler,The Marston's and now unnamed others operating from the shadows? She felt regret and hopelessness settling in. Was this case ever going to end? Was she really going to get at the bottom of everything? It seemed like she had only scratched a surface of Grace town secrets and darkness,this went deeper than she thought.

She returned her gaze on Aaron. "Instead of warning me, I'd appreciate if you come clean and tell me everything that you know." She told him off firmly.

Aaron's expression remained unchanged.

"I told you Sheriff, Grace town is not what you think it is. Keep digging,you'll be shocked."

She watched Aaron walk away,his words still lingering freshly in her mind. As she climbed her car,she felt more determined than ever. She had come along way to let her work go down the drain.

As she was about to start her engine,her phone buzzed. It was another message from the unknown number.

The number sent an address this time.

_"12 O'clock, 457 Willow lane. Make sure you come alone."_

Her adrenaline rose. She couldn't tell if it was a trap or a breakthrough for this case.

What she was sure of was that,she was done being a pawn in Grace town's games. She decided she was ready to face whatever was coming her way,whatever was waiting for her at Willow lane 457.