chapter 13: under the surface

The previous turn of events,especially the one at the train yard left Cassidy so disturbed. It was as if Grace town's dark secrets were lurking from the shadows and coming back to haunt her. And if at all Aaron was telling her the truth about her predecessor,Sheriff Lawson,that he was silenced forever for just standing on the truth,then she was supposed to be more cautious than ever.

Cassie was in her office, plunging deeply at the files again, to see if she missed any important detail.Logan came in,looking a little shaken.

"Cassie, you won't believe this," he said as he handed her a folder. "I did a thorough background check-up on the property with the hold houses in Willow lane,and you will surprised if i tell you the owner."

She received the folder from Logan and quickly but carefully scrutinized it. There it was—The Langston's family name.

"The records have indicated that the Langstons bought the property several years ago,and the records also indicates that they are still the legal owners. And this is the most interesting part,the company which initiated and funded the purchase ties back to your predecessor...Sheriff Lawson."

Cassidy was appalled. Grace town had a way of surprising her in any availed opportunity.

"So do you mean the Langstons are the sponsors of this whole operation!"

He shrugged, his eyes filled with doubt and fear. "I can't say that yet,but if the Langstons are involved,then the whole image Aaron has been parading here lately playing our 'ally' is just a charade."

She took a deep breath. The revelation was pressing on her. She was beginning to trust Aaron,but now this...she wasn't sure of anything anymore.

---

At sunset,when the night was almost setting in,Cassie drove back to the 457 Willow Lane address. She was not able to shake off the feeling that she might have missed something which might be important to the investigation. She found herself making her way back into the 'Langston property',as indicated in the records. The shadows lurking from the gardens which seemed like they had been left unattended to for years limited her view. The property looked abandoned,but cassie knew it was essential for the ongoing investigations.

She slowly pushed the rusted gate,it opened with a creaking sound. She then carefully made her way towards the entrance. Her lungs were filled with the smell of mold and decay,but she didn't stop. The place was too quiet,that made her footsteos sound even louder,thereby,making her more tensed.

Cassie stepped inside,the furniture and the huge art photographs were mantled with dust and cob webs. The place looked like it had been untouched for long. The stillness inside added to the eerie,she could only hear the sounds of crickets. She went deeper,the flickering light from her torch reflected at something appalling in the hallway. There were several photographs lined on the wall,she looked at the faces,and easily recognized most of them. The last photograph, was that of Sheriff Lawson staring at the camera with a serious expression.

Cassie's stomach churned as she stared at the photos lined in a row.Seeing all her predecessors now immortalized in the dusty frames in a forgotten hallway, she felt history weighing down on her.

Her gaze fell on the last photo on the furthest end. She directed her flashlight towards the photo. This last photo was different. It had no one,only an emptu cgair with a sign on it written, "The future."

She heard a creak sound behind her, and she thrashed and came face to face with Aaron gazing at her intently.

"Sheriff, You shouldn't be here. It's not safe,you know." he said with a low and soft voice.

"And why should i not be here ,Aaron?Another family secret you thought i was not going to discover?"Cassidy said with a bitter but steady voice.

"No, you won't understand. Gracetown is a legacy,and you are wrong if you think that Grace town is need of a savior,it does not want saving.,Sheriff."

Cassie glared at Aaron,anger surging up her chest,she felt betrayed."So you are also involved,you've this known all along?"

Aaron kept quiet. His silence only meant that he was guilty. Cassie's heart felt like it was being shattered into.a thousand pieces. Even though she had not known Aaron for a long time,his betrayal cut right through her heart as if she had known him for ages.She realized that his allegiance was not for anyone, but to himself and to a tradition that went way back.

"Do you understand the impact of your clouded judgement? Do you know what you're supporting, Aaron?" she said in a demanding voice. "People are disappearing mysteriously,lives are being upended. And you'll just stand by and support all that?"

"Sheriff, i assure you, some truths are just better left buried. Please understand that."

She gazed at him,desperately hoping to see the man she thought he was for the past few days.

"Then why did you offer to help me?"

"That is because you reminded me of what I wanted to believe in." He said in a whisper, and Cassie saw the vulnerable side of him for a momentanous moment.

But he quickly shut down his emotions. "You can't save Gracetown, Sheriff. No one can."

Those words awakened her resolve. "I dare you to watch me save it." She said with unwavering confidence.

Aaron just looked at her with what seemed like a mixture of admiration and sorrow. His jaw tightened, and without another word, he stepped aside and gave her way to pass. She went ahead without looking back. Her mind was spinning with the revelations and betrayals she just faced.

---

Cassidy met with Logan in the morning. She was still thinking about her altercation with Aaron,she was unable to get enough sleep the previous night. She told Logan everything that transpired at the Langstons property.She was pleased to see his expression change from being appalled to being resolute.

"So Aaron and his family have been involved in these all this time,and he was here playing 'ally' with us Aaron's family has been tied to this all along," Logan asked in dibelief in his voice.

Cassidy shrugged, she nodded her head but uncertain. "I dont know, Logan. There is a a part of me that wants to believe he's also trapped just like others.But i also know that I can't trust him."

Logan glanced around and then whispered to cassidy.

"One more thing,you remember the number which was sending texts to you anonymously? I was able to trace it."

Her heart beat quickened. "And?"

"The sender is someone within the police station."

Cassidy was shocked. "So it means that there is someone within the force who has been feeding us false leads?"

Logan nodded his head in agreement.

"Yeah,i think someone has been trying to keep us off the real trail.

A loud noise suddenly echoed down the hal followed by a single gunshot. Cassidy and Logan looked at each other then ran off towards the sound.

They were shocked at the scene when they found principal Wheeler lying down lifeless in his cell. One of the deputies was standing beside his corpse. He was pale and was trembling. He had blood smeared all over his hands,and also on the gun which was already discarded on the floor.

"Believe me, i didn't mean to...i didn't mean to kill him.He was threatening me that he was going to come for me if i told anybody." His expression displayed sincere remorse and more of terror.

Cassidy's stood their emotionless,not knowing how to react. "Who said that and who made you do this?"

The deputy gazed all over the room. He was trembling.

"I can't tell you. They are everywhere. They are always watching...i can't say."

Cassidy was frustrated. Whoever these people were, and whichever the game they were playing,they had control over Grace town to its very own core. In a much as she was down to break through all the lies and deceit. And the more she dealt with this case,the more she realized the hold Gracetown had on its residents.

Logan looked at Cassidy with a new vigor of determination. "Let's move quickly,i believe we are running out of time and they will clear all their traces ans get away with what they have done. Wheeler has already been silenced."

Cassie was more that frustrated with all the unfolding events but still she kept her fire burning,her resolve hardening. She knew that had secrets that were deeper and darker than she imagined,but she was still determined to bring everything to light.

As they were regrouping, Cassidy's phone beeped with a message. She read the message and her heart sank.

Leave town. Tonigt,Or you are our next target.

She shivered,her throat immediately went dry. She knew that whoever was sending her these messages was somewhere close,monitoring her movements. For sure, Grace town had a way of getting back to whoever who dared to challenge their daily mantra.

Despite all these, Cassie still was determined to uncover all the truth. And nothing would be able to extinguish her determination. She was done being a prey. She was also ready to hunt!