TWENTY NINE

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"I need all of your help guys," Mason said loudly and clearly, scanning his eyes over everyone. "Leia's mum has been taken by a few horrible people and we need to get her back before anything bad happens to her."

We were all sitting around a table in Mason's house. It was also the devil's house, which had my curiosity sparking up inside me. Was his office here? Because if so, I was definitely having a look. I didn't care if Mason said no. His office could have the answers I needed.

Holding my hands out in front of me, I nodded along with what Mason was saying. My bottom lip was sore from me nervously biting it and my eyes probably represented a person on crack.

All in all, I looked like an utter wreck sitting in front of all of my mates and Mason's mates.

Or shall I say mate for him, considering Kane was the only willing friend to help out.

Kane had brought his boyfriend, which I'd found out his name was Arthur, with him.

Arthur was an absolute sweetheart. I could tell he cared about Kane a lot. Gosh, and to think Arthur had to put up with Kane 'dating' Angela. I was glad both of them were happy.

"One question," Ashley scrunched up her nose, holding her hand up high in the air. "Where is her mum exactly?"

Pointing over at Arthur, Mason replied, "Arthur over here is our own little hacker. He is into computer science, which means he is very good with computers. Computer science may not mean hacking but it does involve computers."

Ashley rolled her eyes and remarked, "Duh, it wouldn't be called computer science. Seriously, I am starting to believe that you have as many brain cells as you do friends here."

"At least it's more than yours," Mason spat out.

"Oh, so you can't count now as well," Ashley chuckled bitterly.

I sighed at their bickering. It wasn't helping.

"Stop it!" I yelled out, shutting them up as hot tears began to overflow from my eyes in an instant. Thinking about my mum all alone had me weeping like a baby.

"Guys, I want my mum back. Please," I tearfully choked out in a cracked voice whilst pleading with my honey brown eyes.

"Sorry, Leia," Mason apologised, wrapping me up in a tight squeeze. "I promise you. We will get her back. Alive."

Closing my eyes briefly, I heaved out a heavy breath, "I want to see my mum again. I need to see her."

"I know," he whispered, stroking my brown hair back with his calloused, rough hands. "I know."

His calming touch had my scalp tingling. I loved the feeling it gave me. I felt eyes on me and I looked up to see everyone sending pity looks towards me.

Flaming up, I averted my eyes to the wooden table. Everyone consisted of, Kane, Arthur, Ashley, Abby, Sara and Ana. We had a lot of people on our side, but would it be enough? Would Arthur even track down Mason's father? Would we get there in time?

I watched as Arthur got his laptop out  from his bag and started switching it on. I smiled at him when he glanced my way. He grinned back whilst sliding on his black framed glasses.

"Right, this may take a while," Arthur told us, furrowing his dark brows at the screen.

"Ok. Ashley and Sara could you go grab everyone a pistol please," Mason ordered sternly.

"Why the hell do you have guns?" I screeched out in panic.

"They're not mine, Craze. They're my dad's guns," Mason responded.

"How do you know he hasn't taken them all?" I asked him, standing up and leaning against the kitchen counter with my arms crossed over my chest.

"I hid them from him. He doesn't know they're all there," Mask smiled cheekily, winking at me.

His happiness was rubbing off on me and I immediately felt a smile begin to tug on my face.

"Now, Abby and Kane. I want you two to go find everyone a black balaclava. You will find them in the living room. The first cupboard to your right," Mason informed them quickly.

"On it!" Abby saluted him, shoving Kane along with her to the living room.

"Ana and Leia you're with me," Mason announced. "What shall we do?"

"We need to search in your father's office," I mentioned.

"Alright, let's go," Mason agreed, hauling us over to the wide hallway.

Looking around, I stared at each photo frame nailed to the wall. They were all paintings. No family photos whatsoever. Mason's​ father must have not been a family type of man. He must have just saw pound signs everytime his eyes made contact with Mason. Everything was business and money for him.

"I haven't actually been in my father's office before. I was afraid that I would get caught snooping," Mason enlightened.

"But now, you won't get caught. He's too busy holding my mum hostage," I smiled sadly at him.

Nodding silently, Mason opened the door and pushed it lightly forwards. Excitement filled me and I almost screamed in happiness.I really hoped I would find the answers I desperately needed. The answers as to why my dad stole money from him.

Creeping inside, I scanned the room warily. If something jumped out at me, I needed to at least be prepared​ for it. Sprinting towards a few files, I began searching through them hastily. I couldn't let time be wasted. My mum could have been injured for all I knew.

"You're not just looking for clues about where your mother is, are you?" Ana stated, startling me as I went to open more files.

Shaking my head, I placed the file back onto the desk in shame. I should have been focusing on the task at hand; finding my mum. But I was spending too much time on trying to find out why my dad stole money.

"I need closure," I replied, lowering my head to the floor.

"For what?" Ana asked, leaning forward inquisitively​.

"A few weeks ago, my dad was murdered by your uncle," I answered, feeling tears prick my eyes. "And I have no idea what for. Apparently he stole some money from him, but why?"

Shaking my head, I planted my hands to my face to hide the tears that leaked from my eyes. Did someone just cut onions? My eyes were sweating like mad.

"You won't find why in any of these files. Sorry," Ana told me. "You'll have to ask the person who he stole from."

"You mean..." I gasped, not being able to finish my sentence.

"Yep," Ana answered, nodding slightly. "No-one knows the story except him. Sorry about that."

"It's ok. I mean it's not your fault," I shrugged, bringing my attention to Mason who was staring at something in his lap. It appeared to be a small box.

Walking over to him, I sat down next to him. Leaning over him, I tried to get a look at what he was looking at.

"What's that?"

"Oh um...nothing that's important," he mumbled, shutting the box and putting it back where he found it. In Mason's​ father's draws.

Standing up, Mason wandered back to Ana and spoke a few quick words to her before leaving.

I swear I saw tears in his eyes...

Ana took one glance at me and then left. What was in that box? I inched towards the drawers and slowly opened them to reveal the brown, wooden box.

Reaching for the box, I carefully rested it on my lap. I lifted the lid, finding out exactly what Mason had been staring at.

Gasping, I stared at the small pictures in astonishment. There was one picture of his parents side by side with his mother holding a tiny baby in her arms. Was that Mason? I chuckled at his chubby cheeks and brown tufts of hair. He was adorable.

Giggling quietly at Mason's outfit, I went onto the next photo. It was a photo of his beautiful mother. He must have got his muddy brown hair from her. Her long brown hair flowed down her back into small spirals. His mother looked so young.

Flipping the picture over, I saw a piece of handwriting scrawled on the back.

My Gracie.

With the woman being his mum, it must have been his dad that wrote it. If he supposedly killed her, then why would he even bother to take pictures of her. Something must have happened to him to want to kill her.

Hearing footsteps, I quickly put them back in the box. Placing the box into the draw, I stood up and sped to some of the files so that I didn't look suspicious.

"Leia?"

Spinning around, I raised my eyebrow up at him, "Yes?"

"We've found your mum!" Mason cheerfully said. "And it's close by."

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Gem Gems