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Chapter 159 - Duvall Family's Secrets
Their flight to Santa Barbara was calm and quiet. Mary's sleeping on Mason's shoulder, Sophia was deep in her thoughts, and CC Capwell was with his head in the business papers, angrily correcting these.
The pilot warned that they're going to land, and Mason gently shakes Mary to wake up. She rubbed her cheeks by her palms and stretching.
"Feeling better?" Sophia leaned toward her. "Look, I'm very, very sorry about it happened."
Mary shook her head.
"It's fine. And I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry that my memories turned out to be useless for you," she bit her lip guiltily.
"So you shouldn't be," Mason put his arm around her shoulders again. "You've been very helpful".
"You gave me an invaluable gift, Mary," Sophia said quietly. "You found out (and recorded earlier) the voice of my father... You have no idea how much this means to me."
"Well, it had at least some benefits," Mary smiled faintly, and they fell silent again.
After jet's landing CC drove to his office, and Mary, Mason and Sophia drove to Theda Duvall's house, just stopping by Mason and Mary's place to make sure that the children are okay.
Mary opened the door with her own key and went into her childhood home. Theda was sitting on the couch in the living room and watching some black-and-white Hitchcock horror. She turned her head to the sound of footsteps.
"Mary! How good to have you back! Your sister's wedding requires so many preparations..." Theda suddenly stopped seeing more two guests who's following Mary. "Something happened? Is something wrong with the children?"
"No, no, Mom. The children are all right. But we need to talk to you."
"About what?" Her mother's face seems genuine surprised. "About Christy's wedding?"
"No. About it." Mary looked at Mason who squatting on the arm of the couch and Sophia who standing nearby, and then pulled out Sophia's family photograph and handed it to Theda.
Theda Duvall's face briefly flashed with a strange expression - a mixture of pain, frustration and guilt - and then it immediately replaced by the expression of some confusion.
"Honey, I've already said you I do not..."
"Don't, Mom! I know that you're lying!"
Theda angry blushed.
"How dare you! I'll never..."
"Stop," Mason suddenly interrupted them. "Theda, this is really important case. We must know the truth."
"What for?" Mary's mother stared up him.
"For me," Sophia said quietly but firmly. "Please, tell me! This is very important!"
Theda stared at her in amazement.
"But what do you care about that old photo?"
"It's me and my parents on it," Sophia said simply.
"It's ridiculous..." Theda started but then stopped. "It's impossible," she said after a pause.
"These are my parents!" Sophia cannot help but raised her voice. "For God's sake, I have an entire album of their photos. And I have exactly the same among them!"
Theda's face turned hard and Mary cannot help but groaned. She knew that expression. Appearing it on the face of her mother meant that it's useless for anyone to demand, beg and plead her.
Mason glanced at her and then focused on his mother-in. But before he could say something Sophia interrupted.
"Theda, I do not know what makes you hide the truth, but believe me, this is really the picture of my family. These are Elizabeth and Bernard Wayne. My parents."
Theda turned pale and closed her eyes for a moment. She pressed her fingers on her mouth.
"It's not... but... Phia, she's died."
The short name did bombshell. Except the person who said it, all of them just felt that they're back into the house near the lake.
Sophia came to her senses first.
"I was presumed dead... but I was able to return to my family. Theda, do you believe me now? You're already heard these names earlier, were you?"
Theda Duvall looked at Sophia as if she's saw her for the first time in her life.
"Mom." Mary took her hand. "Explain us. Please..."
"What exactly?" Theda asked some toneless. "You already aware who they are. But... God, the daughter of Bernie and..."
"How do you know my father? How this photo did hit your album?" Sophia's voice sounded strained. It seemed to her that the conversation has been going on for ages. Like running in the place.
"We'd better have some tea." Theda's face suddenly softened. "These questions are not as easy as you think."
By the time when the four cups filled with tea, it seemed the tension in the room reached its peak.
"What ties our families?" Sophia finally asked.
"Kinship", Theda Duvall simply said.
Mary softly gasped and grabbed Mason's hand without looking up.
"What kind of?" The latter quietly asked and quickly looked up his stunned stepmother.
Theda picked up the picture from the table.
"Bernie gave me it... He did not have another and gave the picture he used to carry. He knew that I'm..." Theda suddenly bucked up. "I just say stupid things. Mason, you asked me something?"
"I asked what kind of relationship is between your and Sophia's families."
"My mother and mother of... Sophia were the sisters. My mother died young so Aunt Lizzie practically raised me. Until something's happened."
"So... you and me are cousins? First cousins?" Sophia slowly asked trying to understand these words.
"What exactly was happened?" Mason asked. "What's required of such secrecy?"
"The brutal murder", Theda Duvall sighed. "The whole family was killed... the close friends of Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Bernie. And they suddenly got in danger because they knew these people. I was a girl back then and do not know the details. I just know that the case was connected to some secret plans or military developments... Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Bernie had to leave for ever. To change of their identities as you say. The government helped them. Unofficially, of course. At least they did this... but for me it meant that I would never see Aunt Lizzie, Uncle Bernie and my cousin. That's all."
"But now so many years passed since then. Mom, why you ever never told us?" Mary clenched and unclenched her fingers. "And why you did not tell the truth when I showed this picture to you?"
"Sweetie, you just showed me the photo and asked who is on it. I did not want to be questioned by you. I would able to tell you nothing."
"But why?" Mason frowned. "Those people and any military development surely are no longer relevant."
Theda shook her head.
"I am not qualified in this field. But I know that the danger is still exists."
"What makes you think so?"
"I have reasons, Mason. Once Bernie almost paid with his life when I succumbed to my emotions and ventured to visit him. Back then I also had told to myself that everything's over."
"Do you mean the journey when I ride with you?" Mary asked.
"If by "ride with me" you mean "hiding in the back seat without my knowledge" so my answer is yes." Theda pursed her lips. "And how did you even get to that!"
"Dad would have understood me!" Mary snapped.
"As usual", Theda agreed with tired voice. "You always have been idolized your father. And let's be honest, you inherited a lot of him".
"It's a compliment for me, Mom. Though you did not mean it."
"Theda, you said that you never met with your Aunt and Uncle again", Mason interrupted them, partly wanting to stop the hard talk between the mother and the daughter, and partly to return to the first case that led all of them to the house of Duvall family. "But you're aware where you can find them, right?"
"Yes, I had the address and the telephone number. But that's all".
"And you never wrote letters? No phone calls?"
"Of course, I did not. The possibility of communicating was remained for some extreme situations only: if we were in need to warn of the danger. Although I hoped if something would wrong with anyone of them I'll be informed too. A waste hope".
"Why?" Mason asked.
"Because during my last and only visit to Bernie I learned that Aunt Lizzie dead a long time ago. As well as my cousin", Theda gave a strange look to Sophia. "So this is all you wanted to know?"
"No." Sophia took a deep breath. "I have a lot more questions but first I want to know where the grave of my father is. Do you know where he was buried?"
"The grave?" Surprised Theda Duvall slowly asked. "What's a grave? What are you speaking about? Bernie... Uncle Bernie is quite alive and well. At least he was last week."
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