NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: CHAPTER 4
Alexander spoke with quiet authority. "I caught a glimpse inside her car. Everything's top-of-the-line, and she might even have Skywrought—a rare material I've been hunting down for years."
Louis's eyes widened with disbelief. It would be remarkable if Avery genuinely possessed such a valuable resource and used it in an ordinary car.
Alexander continued, "She's also done a serious upgrade to the engine and tires. Her car's performance could easily match that of a luxury sports car."
Louis knew all too well how sharp Alexander was when it came to cars. He was amazed. "Incredible! It's crazy to see someone so young and so damn talented."
Alexander nodded. "The industry's still scratching their heads over how Isaac Murphy locked down that deal with V Group. Avery might be the missing piece to this whole puzzle.
"And then there's this strange connection between the Murphy family and Dr. Annie. From what I've heard, Isaac's mom is really fond of Avery. That girl could have some valuable intel on how to get to Dr. Annie."
Louis caught on quickly. "I'll arrange to dig into Avery."
Before long, they arrived at an upscale residential complex and watched as Avery drove inside. Although they could've followed her in, Louis chose to stay back, curious about what he was seeing.
Louis said, "Avery's biological parents are dirt poor, and Isaac Murphy is known to be a tight-fisted bastard. There's no way the Murphy family gave her much. Yet she's living in a luxury estate where apartments cost 40 grand a square foot and driving a beast of a car. She's definitely not hurting for cash."
Alexander, still cool and detached, instructed, "We'll keep a close watch on her tonight and pick up the trail tomorrow."
Louis, more intrigued by Avery than ever, answered with newfound energy, "Got it, Mr. Moran."
They then settled in for the night in their SUV.
---
Avery had noticed the unfamiliar car tailing her but chose to ignore it. She had nothing to hide since she was heading to her private apartment, not her secret lab.
Besides, Avery was confident no one could touch her, no matter what they found.
After arriving at her place, she freshened up, switched her phone to silent, and fell asleep almost immediately.
The next morning, Avery woke up to find two missed calls and several text messages from the same unknown number.
The tone of the messages was polite and respectful.
One read: [Hello, Avery. This is Wesley and Claire Carter. We tried calling earlier, but your phone seemed to be off. We thought you might still be resting, so we're sending this message instead.]
Another message followed: [We live quite far from you, and our place can be a little tricky to find. Would you like us to pick you up?]
Avery scrolled down to the last message: [Here's our address. But we'd be happy to pick you up if you'd prefer.]
Avery's expression softened as she felt the warmth in their words. She replied: [Thank you. I'll come on my own and should be there around noon.]
A quick reply came through: [Alright. We're making lunch now. Let us know if you have any preferences or dietary restrictions.]
Though not used to such warmth and typically avoiding small talk, Avery couldn't help but picture a sweet elderly couple bustling around the kitchen as she read the messages.
Surprisingly, she responded with a smiley emoji: [I'm not picky. Whatever you make will be great!]
After a brief pause, the reply came back, this time with two smiley emojis: [Perfect! We're excited to have you over.]
Avery chuckled, imagining them taking their time to craft that message. She set down her phone and headed for the shower.
---
About thirty minutes later, after getting ready, Avery grabbed her phone and bag and left her apartment. On her way out, she picked up a coffee and a sandwich from a nearby café before starting the long drive to the Carters' place, far from the new part of town where she lived.
As she followed the GPS's route, her phone buzzed with an important call.
It was Cora Ford on the other end.
"I haven't found everything yet, but I've uncovered most of it," Cora said.
"Go ahead, I'm listening," Avery replied, nodding.
Knowing Avery preferred straight talk, Cora dove right in. "Ten days ago, someone anonymously sent a letter to Isaac Murphy and his wife.
"The letter claimed that the twins they had eighteen years ago are still alive and that you're not their biological daughter. It included photos of the twins and a paternity test. After reading it, Murphy secretly took a blood sample from you for another test, which confirmed you're not their daughter."
Avery's mind flashed back to last week when Regina had insisted on trimming her nails. Regina had "accidentally" cut her and then cleaned the wound with a cotton swab before leaving. Avery had found it odd at the time—Regina was never that concerned before.
So that's how they got my blood, Avery thought.
When Avery didn't respond, Cora continued. "After confirming the truth, the Murphys received another letter with information and contact details for the twins."
"They reached out to them and also hired a private investigator to find your biological parents. That's when they told you everything and hurried to set things up for your departure."
Avery kept her composure as she drove, maintaining a steady speed.
"So, whoever sent those letters must be someone close to me and the Murphys."
"Exactly," Cora replied. "But they've been extremely careful. I haven't been able to trace them yet."
"Take your time. If they're that close, they'll slip up eventually," Avery said, her tone casual.
"Got it," Cora said. "I also found out that eighteen years ago, the Carters were doing well financially. Your birth mother and Isaac's wife both gave birth at St. Mary Hospital. Your mother was expecting twins too."
Avery gasped. "So… I might have a twin brother or sister?"