CHAPTER EIGHT: UNCLE VICTOR (Draft 1)

James sat restlessly at the desk in his and Tim's bedroom. His hands were held together, palm-to-palm, with his fingers interlaced. He stared at the wall in front of him and frowned intensely. He shook his leg violently and attempted to steady his breathing. 

He hated having to sit still and do nothing, absolutely nothing. 

He sighed and turned to look at Tim, who was sitting on his bed, lost in a book. Tim was always reading something, James noticed. He always had a book in his hands during his free time. Oh, how James wished he could sit quietly and read something. Nevertheless, he lacked the one quality required in the activity; patience. 

He thought about what he could do. Fencing? Where would he even find the equipment? Maybe he could teach Tim some self-defense. He glanced back at Tim once more as he flipped the page of his probably captivating book. He wondered if he'd be up to it. Probably not. 

After growing up with six sisters, he had always wanted a brother, and now he had one. At least he thought he did. He and Tim barely spoke since they went shopping for groceries together, where James almost lost it. James took his hands and covered his face. Perhaps that was why Tim rarely spoke to him. Perhaps he thought James was some sort of lunatic with anger issues. He smiled. He did have anger issues, but the role of being a lunatic was gifted to Cherry. 

His thoughts wandered back to fencing. His father had taught him and his sisters all sorts of self-defense, armed and unarmed. Be that as it may, his twin sister didn't share his passion. 

Cherry was more enthralled by art and fashion. She would have rather spent her time, hidden away in her room, sketching away on her notepads and experimenting with different designs. 

Speaking of which, James didn't recall her doing so after they'd arrived in the city, probably because she'd left all her stuff in their old home. He eyed a jar full of pocket money he had received from Richard for helping him out in the bakery twice every week. Perchance, he could buy a new sketchbook for his sister. After all, their sixteenth birthday was approaching, be it in December, but it was still approaching. 

He grabbed the jar and stuffed the money into his pocket. He sped out the door as he bid Tim goodbye. 

 

Silver gently walked through the vast and stupendous library as she thought back to a conversation that occurred during breakfast that morning... 

Silver was sitting at her designated seat on the large, circular, wooden table – big enough to fit all 10 members of the family and still have room for more – with a tremendous clear glass window, that had sunlight pouring through it, behind her. Cherry sat to her right, rolling her eyes as James sat on Cherry's other side, eager for the food to be set down so he could devour it like a hungry animal. Tim sat on Silver's left and curiously eyed the commotion the Gemstones had been causing. Scarlet and Blue were arguing about whether to switch seats while Violet tried to calm them down. Sage merely sat down and looked out the window behind Silver, marveling at the greenery she saw outside. Richard had gone to the bakery earlier than usual because of a customer's request. 

"You know Silver, your Uncle Victor called this morning," Lucinda had said while she was setting some plates down on the table. 

The Gemstones quieted down and looked curious as they sat in their designated seat. James raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Silver, "Uncle Victor?" 

"He's our mother's older brother. A private investigator who operates in New York with a very busy schedule, much like our parents." Tim clarified. 

Silver smiled widely, Uncle Vic was probably her favourite person ever! Lucinda continued, "He wanted to apologise for being unable to attend the funeral. Apparently, something had come up." 

"Well, that's alright," Silver replied, "Uncle Vic is often on the job after all. I didn't really mind when he missed it." 

"But still," Lucinda smiled, "He wanted to make it up to you and Tim. He said he wanted to make a portrait just for you two." 

"A portrait?" Cherry asked. 

"Uncle Vic paints as a hobby," Tim explained with an awkward smile, turning to Silver, wondering why she didn't answer. 

But Silver was not in a state to answer. 'A portrait...' she thought. Uncle Vic was extremely gifted at painting; he even had a beautiful portrait hung up in the city library. She thought of what her mother always said about it whenever they'd visit the library together, "One day, after I'm long gone, this painting will help you see the world more clearly. With more clarity. If you ever have any doubt and neither one of your parents, or your Uncle Victor, is there, that very portrait will help you answer all your unresolved questions." 

Her mother said the same thing so often that Silver had memorised it, word for word. 

'After I'm long gone,' did her mother predict her own death? 'That very portrait will help you answer all your unresolved questions,' Silver frowned, maybe she had. And maybe, just maybe, her uncle's painting might help her understand her parents' death better and give her a clue to solving this mystery. 

"You should call him back," Tim said as he put his hand on Silver's shoulder to bring her back into the conversation. 

Silver laughed nervously, "Yes, of course! I'll call him tonight." 'After I find that clue,' she had thought to herself... 

Silver smiled as she walked past the tall, dark bookshelves. Now where was that painting? 

Uncle Vic was one of the best detectives she knew. Whenever he'd visit, he would tell her and Tim all sorts of stories about the cases he'd solve, he would play detective games with her (even helping her to create their own secret code), and he even secretly taught them both how to shoot targets without their parents ever finding out! 

She stopped when she arrived at the crime section. She smiled as she admired her uncle's painting, that was hanging in the midsection. 

It was a beautiful portrait of a man reading a book, seated on a comfortable armchair. He wore a business suit and black sunglasses. His face appeared grim, as though something was on his mind. The room was dark, but moonlight poured in through an open window next to him. The entire painting had a colour palette of blue and black, except for– 

Silver frowned when she noticed red writing that unmistakably belong to her Uncle Vic reflected in the man's sunglasses. She knew that the sunglasses did not belong in the illustration as it was nighttime and the man was indoors – nevertheless she always assumed they were there for effect, considering this was the crime section. But now she noticed tiny writing, which could easily be distinguished by a magnifying glass. Luckily, she had one in her bag. 

Silver looked around and was relieved to know there was no one watching. Luckily, she didn't need to check for any CCTV cameras because she had a habit of making note of every camera she eyed whenever she entered any building. Fortunately, there were no cameras in that area. Silver would normally find that strange, and yet, as this tangled web of secrets surrounding her parents' death slowly began to unravel itself; she doesn't. 

She pulled out her magnifying glass and held it against the sunglasses in the image, which read: 

"Press the button on the side of my sunglasses Silver. - Uncle V-" 

She sighed, grateful of her random ability to read backwards. She scanned the sunglasses the man wore. There was no button. 

She groaned and directed her gaze hopelessly to the shelf on her right, full of thick, dusty books. She eyed a dark blue hardcover book that matched the aesthetic of the illustration and grimaced. 

"My Sunglasses." she read, "(A detailed and informative guide for stumped intelligencers who require enlightenment) by Gianna C.F. Scott." 

She raised an eyebrow, "Who's Gianna C.F. Scott?" She shrugged and tried to take the book, which refused to budge. Something was wrong. She read the title again, "My Sunglasses." 

She gasped silently, "The button on the side of MY SUNGLASSES!" 

She gently pressed the full stop, from which she heard clicks from behind the frame as it slightly opened ajar. 

She treaded towards the portrait and opened it entirely. Inside was a pen drive and a note. She smiled, satisfied she accomplished something. She reached out and grabbed the note and pen drive. 

She heard footsteps heading in her direction. She gasped and quickly set the portrait back in its position before she stuffed the pen drive and note in her backpack. 

She swung her bag over her shoulders and grabbed the book next to My Sunglasses before turning around hastily and bumping into Alexandra Speed. 

She gasped, "Ms. Speed." 

Alexandra smiled, "What brings you here Silver?" 

"Just, looking for a book to read!" She smiled nervously before greeting her goodbye and leaving. 

Alexandra turned and watched Silver leave hastily, "What on earth is she up to?" She laughed and shook her head, turning towards the portrait. Her smile faded away, "What if..."