Lucas tried once more, stretching the limits of his strange gift. Again and again, he pressed inward, searching his uncle's expressions, his tone, the faintest tremor in his breath—anything that might betray knowledge about his mother. Nothing surfaced. Only silence, like a locked door he could not break through.
Lowering his gaze, Lucas spoke in a softer voice. "Uncle, I've never been able to trust my father. From as far back as I can remember, I watched him hurt both Mom and me. The shouting, the cruelty… and all those affairs. I don't want to relive that right now. But there's one thing you can help me with."
His uncle leaned forward slightly. "Tell me, Lucas. What is it?"
Lucas hesitated, then asked, "Can you give me the address of Mom's grandmother's house?"
For a moment, his uncle said nothing. A shadow passed over his tired eyes. Finally, he nodded. "Yes, of course. I'll send it to you. But don't expect much—you won't find anyone there. That house has been empty for years."
Lucas's heart quickened. An empty property might still hold secrets. Just as he opened his mouth to ask more, his phone buzzed sharply against the table. The name flashing across the screen made him straighten.
Marcus.
Lucas answered. "What's wrong?"
On the other end, Marcus's voice was urgent, low. "Bro, can you come right now? A new case just landed on my desk. I could really use your help."
Lucas frowned. "But Marcus, I'm in the middle of—"
Before he could finish, his uncle cut in gently, almost as if he'd been expecting this interruption. "Go, Lucas. Work is work. I'll send you the address by message. Don't worry."
Lucas studied his uncle for a brief moment, sensing something unspoken beneath those words. But there was no time. He ended the call, pushed back his chair, and hurried out of the café.
The night air was cool against his face as he climbed into his car. The engine roared to life, and the city lights streaked past in a blur. His thoughts spun between two worlds—the mystery of his mother, buried in the silence of an abandoned house, and the urgency of the case awaiting him with Marcus.
Somewhere between the past and the present, Lucas knew: one way or another, the truth would catch up to him.
To be Continued...