Inheritance Of Secrets

The start of the secrets

"Is that the way it is?" Jameson's eyes narrowed. "Want to wrestle for it?"

"Xander, your uncle and I know each other," Avery stated purposely trying to avoid any fighting. She seemed convinced that this story would greatly impact people. "I met Toby right after my mother died." She continued with the same story she had of her playing chess with him. It was confusing to me how she was so proud of it. There was happiness when she told the story. She loved that she did it with no knowledge of who he was. Who she thought he was.

"I should have seen it," Xander looked down fiddling with the hammer disappointment spread along his face.

"Seen what?" Avery blurted out immediately.

"You weren't just a part of their game," Xander replied finally looking up at her. "Of course you weren't. The old man's mind didn't operate that way. He didn't just choose you for them."

"Ok, we get it she's not just 'A very risky gamble', Avery was also stalked by your uncle. Can we break down the wall now?" I said looking around at everyone. The comment bugged Avery but Jameson and Xander seemed amused.

"Be patient Spots, it's still mine," Xander told me wagging an eyebrow.

"Hurry up with the explanations, then," I continued. "Tell us your deal, or give me the sledgehammer."

"Not much to tell!" Xander declared jollily a smile appearing on his face. "The old man left me a letter congratulating me for getting my hardheaded and much less handsome brothers to the end of their game. He signed the letter as Tobias Hawthorne, no middle initial, but when submerged in water, that signature became 'Find Tobias Hawthorne the Second.'"

The note had been something that Xander realised could have a hidden meaning. Something he could use.

"I guess that answers the question of whether the old man knew Toby was alive," Jameson murmured.

"If we have Toby's last known location," Xander mused, "perhaps a sledgehammering is unnecessary. I planned to search his room and see if any clues turned up, but..."

Avery looked slightly disappointed. "I have no idea how to find Toby. I asked Alisa to get the money to him right after I inherited it before I even knew who he was. He was already in the wind."

Jameson cocked his head to the side. "Interesting Annabelle isn't it?"

My gaze slips over to him, "Not really. We were going to win either way."

Jameson frowns, "Yes with the lead I found."

"Is Toby's wing the lead you mentioned earlier?" Avery asked Jameson quickly.

"Maybe it is," Jameson said, grinning eyes linked with hers. "Or maybe it isn't."

Jameson was taunting for a reason. The more he got out of Avery the more he wanted to win. No matter what he said I knew he liked her, if he could win this maybe he could admit it to himself.

"Far be it from me to interrupt banter," Xander interjected forcing their eyes to leave one another. "But this is my lead. And my sledgehammer!" He heaved it over his shoulder.

"Are you sure about this?" Avery asked Xander.

He took a deep breath. "As sure as anyone holding a sledgehammer has ever been."

The wall was rather easy to tear down, only taking a few hits from Xander to get a hold for the for of us to climb through.

The room looked exactly like it always had. There was a long hallway connecting the parts of his room lined with mirrors. I went for the bedroom first sliding past Avery as she checked out the wardrobe. There was an armoire in the corner of the room, I went for it first.