Chương 98: Chapter 97 – Yellow Bellied Creeper Crow

As Illianna and Roxie walked down the road toward Sheera and Rowan's house, a sense of dread crept up their spines. Something felt off. Roxie, fully in her Nessa persona, grabbed Illianna's arm and gave a firm squeeze, prompting the older woman to turn toward her. Illianna halted and looked sharply at Roxie.

"You feel it too?" she asked.

"Yes. With every fiber of my being. We're being watched." Roxie replied calmly, then gently nudged Illianna forward to avoid drawing attention.

"You okay, Auntie?" Roxie called out loudly, hoping any eyes lurking nearby also had ears.

"Just tired, love. It's been a long day," she said, matching Roxie's volume.

"These old bones aren't used to so much in one day. I'm not as young as I once was."

"I know, Auntie. Lean on me as long as you need. I can't wait to see Sheera and meet the baby," Roxie said, feigning excitement while scanning the woods for onlookers.

"Well, she's not a baby anymore," Illianna said, smiling.

"Sheera's going to be so surprised!" She continued loud enough for any onlookers to hear, but not so loud as to be obvious.

"I didn't tell her you were coming."

"I can't wait to see the look on her face. It's been so long, I'm not even sure she'll recognize me," Roxie said, spotting a glint in the trees to their right.

"Ill," Roxie whispered, giving the older woman a nudge.

"Eyes to the right, up in the tree," she moved in closer to Illianna.

"You sure have some pretty trees here, Auntie, and such interesting birds. Do you know what kind that one is?" she asked, raising her voice slightly as she pointed toward the glint.

"Good eye, Nessa!" she said, looking at the agent lurking in the tree.

"Yes, that's what they call a Yellow Bellied Creeper Crow." Illianna glanced at Roxie and nodded in acknowledgment.

"They're rare… very rare indeed." She smiled, looking back at the clueless agent.

"So rare, in fact, that I don't believe I've ever seen one quite like that out here before." The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

"Today must be our lucky day, then," Roxie said, scanning the woods for any other agents lurking nearby.

"Is it much further, Auntie?" she asked casually.

"No, just up around the corner," Illianna replied. The pair walked on in silence, careful not to alert anyone that they knew they were being watched. Roxie kept hold of Illianna's arm, her other hand resting over the knife concealed in her dress pocket. Illianna gasped as the house came into view. The front door was ripped off its hinges. Curtains billowed out the shattered windows. Personal items were scattered across the yard.

"Oh my!" she said, stepping forward with a calculated gasp.

"Sheera! Rowan! Thai!" Her voice carried just enough urgency to sell the act, and Roxie quickened her pace to catch up, trying to stop her before she ran inside. Suddenly, Illianna slowed, feigning being winded and gasping for breath. Illianna's performance had been so convincing that Roxie slid a protective arm around her. Her eyes remained sharp and alert, searching for any lingering threats.

"Auntie! Are you alright?" she called out, the panic genuine and heartfelt. Illianna nodded, catching her breath with just enough struggle to seem real.

"I just need a minute." She looked at Roxie and winked, letting her know it was all part of the act.

"We need to find them, Nessa! They could be hurt. I don't know what happened here, but it looks bad… really bad," Illianna said, pushing forward toward the seemingly empty house. Her steps were frantic, her eyes filled with bewildered panic.

"Auntie, stop!" Roxie yelled.

"We need to get the authorities! We don't know what happened… whoever did this could still be in there!" She called after Illianna who was feet from the front door.

"Sheera!" Illianna yelled.

"Where are you, honey?" she called entering the house.

"Rowan!" She called, her voice echoing back at her. Roxie walked in and took in the sheer devastation. The once tidy little house was upturned. She made her way through the devastation left behind in the house. Her heart sank as she surveyed the damage, no room was left untouched. Her fists clenched at her sides and her jaw tightened when she came to Thai's room. Thai's toys were smashed, her little bed flipped over, her clothes torn to ribbons. She made her way to the kitchen.

Pots and pans lay scattered, dishes broken, glassware smashed. They even had the audacity to smash the cake. Who smashes a five-year-old's birthday cake? Did they think someone was hiding in it? she thought sarcastically, continuing to survey the damage.

"Did you find anything, Auntie?" she called out to Illianna, who was searching another room.

"No, you?" Illianna called back.

"Auntie, we need to get the sheriff out here. It looks like they may have been kidnapped or something," Roxie said, doing her best to look afraid as she headed toward Illianna's voice.