Chapter 36: The Culprit.

CALEB. I watched as Helena walked into her house, a small sense of belonging washing over me. I remained parked there for a little over twenty minutes, just basking in the silence and safety of the place. Eventually, I turned on the engine and drove back to my apartment. I needed someone like her to help me with the library, since she knew it better than anyone else. I went to bed that night, a little hope brewing in my chest. The next morning, I got an early start and decided to go to Saint Matthew's church on the east-west side. I would visit the library later today, and see what I could find alone. The church was big, but its walls spoke of its ancestry. As I walked towards the pew, I was met with several weird stares from the women. I got to the altar, and placed a flower on the mantle. Then, I turned around and saw a familiar figure. A slightly old woman, trodding with her little cane and a flask in her hands. She held someone's picture in one of them. She saw me from afar, confusion and recognition flashing in her eyes. I recognized her too. What was she doing in Henley? I had totally forgotten about Aunt Georgina. She was Uncle Kelly's wife, and she ran away two years ago. The reason still remained unknown, although a few of us could guess it all too well. Every morning, she'd come to our house with large mugs of hot chocolate. I still didn't understand her obsession with the food drink, but we all loved her hot chocolate so, who cared? Back then, she was always paranoid. She never stayed at our house for too long, always rambling on about how Uncle Kelly wouldn't like it. Our guess was he was maltreating her, and she couldn't take it anymore. I'd do the same. But now, she looked full of life, radiant. She looked happy, fulfilled. I admired her. Her face had paled completely when she saw me, and her steps were slow and controlled. I walked over to her. 'Aunt Georgina…" I helped her with the cane. She looked at me, her eyes narrowed with scrutiny. 'Caleb…it's really you." I saw a small tear streak down her face. 'Yes aunt, it's me. Where have you been?" My voice was soft, the church was very quiet. 'Oh my dear." She caressed my face. 'I have missed you all, but I couldn't return. I…" Her voice trailed off. 'It's fine ma. How are you? Your radiance is enchanting." I teased. She smiled at me, her eyes crinkling around the edges. Aunt Georgina was very beautiful and homely. She was endearing, and very kind. I don't know how she ended up with Uncle Kelly, but she didn't need that sort of a man in her life. 'I'm doing very well. I've even got big muscles now. You should see where I work." She made an effort to raise her biceps. Indeed, she had a bit of muscle. I chuckled. 'You work? I thought you'd be in one of those nursing homes by now." Aunt Georgina working sounded very…absurd. I wonder if Uncle knew she was here. She smacked me in the chest. 'You're still as loose mouthed as I remembered." She sneered. 'I'm sorry ma." I said, smiling with amusement. 'Of course I work, Caleb. Who would take care of me? I don't know anyone here. So I had to work." She placed the picture in her hands inside her left pocket. 'I understand ma." 'Why are you here Caleb? Did you run too? I know you were doing so well with your…er… real estate?" I nodded. 'Ah yes. Real estate. What is that anyways? You were making some big bucks back then." She shook her head, smiling. 'Uncle sent me on a mission." I said simply. She looked at me sharply, probably wondering whether to ask or not. She chose the latter. We walked outside, and I offered to take her to work. 'Working at the banks is easy, you know, just a lot of numbers. I'm good with numbers." She beamed. She had aged a little since I last saw her, but she still had her charm and grace. I stopped her in front of the Central Bank, and she left me with, of course, a mug of hot chocolate. It still tasted as good as I remembered. She always said, 'Why have talent when you can't share it?" I loved how pure she was. I took her phone number and address in case I wanted to see her again before I left. I turned to reverse and spotted Helena rushing to the same building. I froze in my position. She was running a little too fast. I paused and got out of the car, just as she tripped on a stone and lost her balance. She yelped. I caught her just in time. HELENA. Last night was as rough as it was intriguing. Vee came into my room, demanding to know what had happened, but I brushed it off with just a little problem at work. If she knew Caleb was back in town, she'd tell Luna and Aaron, and I wasn't ready for the barrage of questions that would follow. That morning, I woke up late, so I had to rush down to the office. I remembered that I had a meeting with Mr James concerning the theft case, and I wasn't ready to look like a truant. I ran through the sidewalks, cutting through pedestrians and navigating the thick traffic. Jeez everyone remembered to go out today. I was a few paces to the bank when I tripped on a dislodged stone and found myself falling. I closed my eyes, wrapping my arms around my chest and prepared for impact. It didn't happen. Instead, I was met with a familiar scent, and shallow breaths. I opened my eyes, and my heart jumped into my throat. 'You gotta be more careful Helena." His voice drummed in my ears. His arms were wrapped around my waist, and his eyes pierced into mine. I propped myself up and shifted away from him. 'What are you doing here?" He wasn't stalking me, was he? I wouldn't hesitate to file a restraining order. That's just crazy. 'I came to drop off my aunt. You work at the bank? Why were you running?" He looked over my shoulder. 'No one's chasing me. I have something important to get to. Thanks for the save." I said, walking past him. He pulled me by the arm. 'Can we talk later today? Please?" 'Caleb, if this is about us.." 'No, it's not. Just erase it off your mind. I won't try to pressure you more than you can handle." His words surprised me, and his eyes softened. 'What time?" I said, my voice low. He took out a piece of paper and scribbled on it. He handed it to me. 'See you there." He tipped his hat and walked to his car, which was still steaming. I stood there for a while, before reality slapped me in the face and I rushed inside the bank. It was exactly 8:00am when I walked into Mr James' office. Julia sat beside him, shooting me an annoying smirk. This bitch. I shot her a cold glare, arranging my files before smiling even colder. I used Luna's help last night to find out exactly what Julia did, and I was gonna take her down. Forcefully. 'Okay Miss Lawson, what do you have for me today? The Leroy family aren't taking this business lightly. They want all the information they can get their hands on." Mr James said, peering at me through his rimmed glasses. I nodded. 'They've been threatening us to withdraw their shares here, and you know what that means." Julia added, with a smug smile. I ignored her. I had enough evidence already. 'Yes sir. I did my calculations last week and I was indeed correct. I found out something though, something you'd want to hear." Julia shifted in her seat. I took out a flashdrive, and placed two sets of papers on his desk. 'Here are the figures you gave me last weekend." I pointed to a particular set of papers. 'And here are the ones that got sent to your office." I pointed to the other set. Mr James went through the piles, focusing on the numbers. He shot his eyebrows up, and furrowed them. 'And what does this mean? You were the one who made these calculations." 'Yes, but these aren't mine. Someone altered the figures." Julia went pale. 'Oh please, you had the papers to yourself throughout the day. What's to say that you're not the one who altered them?" She said, trying to hide the unease that was evident in her voice. 'I didn't alter anything. But I'll show you who did." I got up and walked towards the projector in his office. I plugged in the drive, and displayed the contents from my laptop. It was footage of Julia entering my office, rummaging through my papers. I had left the office for my lunch break and she decided to use that chance. The footage clearly showed where she exchanged the papers I had already worked on, and her triumphant dance as she walked out. She gasped audibly. 'That's not me! There's no way I would do such a thing. And there are no cameras in your office. Where did that come from?" 'Why don't you tell me, Julia?" I crossed my arms.