The Case of the Forgotten Path & Invisible Thief

Chapter 12: Unmasking the Thieves

Max clenched his fists, but Mallory placed a hand on his arm, stopping him from doing something rash. This was bigger than any of them had realized. They were in over their heads.

"So... what now?" Max asked, his voice low but steady. "You just leave us hanging here? And what about Mr. Brown? He trusted you both."

"Mr. Brown?" Mrs. Robb sneered. "He's just another pawn in our game. Everything he lost was part of the plan. All we need is the next thing to steal." She let out a sharp laugh, as if this entire ordeal was some twisted joke.

Elliot, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, shrugged. "But that's the thing, Max. You were never really part of the plan. We needed to make it look like you were the one stealing, to cover up the bigger picture. The real game is just beginning."

Max's face darkened. "You two are sick," he muttered.

Mallory couldn't bring herself to speak. Everything she thought she knew about the people she cared for—her dad, her house, her friends—had just been shattered in one fell swoop.

Mrs. Robb stepped toward the door, a sinister smile curling on her lips. "Don't worry, Mallory. Everything's already set into motion. You'll understand soon enough."

As the door clicked shut behind them, Mallory and Max were left standing in the dimly lit room, their minds reeling from the truth that had just been unveiled.

The night air was still, but the silence was shattered by the screech of tires as a black van sped around the corner. Mallory's heart raced in her chest as the van came to a sudden stop right in front of them. Before either of them could react, the side door flung open with an unsettling thud.

Two figures emerged from the shadows: Elliot and Mrs. Robb. They moved toward them with unsettling confidence, their faces cold and unreadable.

Elliot grinned, his eyes gleaming with a mix of superiority and something darker. "Well, well, well. Look whose out past curfew," he said, his voice dripping with mock amusement.

Max took a step back, his eyes narrowed. "What the heck is going on, Elliot? Mrs. Robb? What do you want from us?"

Before Mallory or Max could make a move, strong hands grabbed them roughly by the arms. They were shoved into the van with surprising force, the door slamming shut behind them. The sudden motion threw Mallory off balance, and she stumbled against Max.

The van rumbled to life, and they were speeding away before Mallory had a chance to catch her breath. She could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on her. This wasn't just some prank anymore.

"What's going on?!" Max demanded, trying to shake free from the grip of the men holding him down.

Mrs. Robb's eyes locked onto Mallory as she casually crossed her arms. "We've been playing you, Mallory. And I'm afraid you're about to find out just how deep this game goes."

Mallory felt a shiver run down her spine. "What do you mean? What do you want from us?"

Elliot leaned forward, his smirk widening. "You know, I was hoping we wouldn't have to do this, but you're just too curious for your own good."

Then, with a dramatic pause, he added, "I'm the one who stole your grandmother's locket. Not Max. He was just the perfect scapegoat. And the best part? You believed it."

Mallory's blood ran cold. "What?" She gasped, staring at him in shock. "You framed Max? Why would you do that?"

Mrs. Robb chuckled, as though enjoying the chaos. "Elliot's just the beginning of the story, dear. The truth is, I've been stealing from your father for months. The maid? She was just a cover—another perfect way to sneak in and take what I wanted."

Mallory's mind was reeling, trying to process it all. "You've been stealing from my father?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

Mrs. Robb leaned closer, a cold smile on her face. "Oh, yes. His company, his personal things. You see, I'll never get blamed for it. I'll never go to jail for it. Your father, though? He's going to take the fall. He'll never suspect me, and no one will ever suspect you either, Mallory."

Max, still seething with anger, pulled out his phone and began recording the entire conversation, his hands shaking slightly. "I'm recording everything," he muttered under his breath, making sure the camera was capturing the scene clearly.

But as he did, he caught the flash of Mrs. Robb's eyes darting to the phone. She narrowed her gaze, but it was too late—Max had already done it. She clenched her fists, her smile slipping just for a second before she regained her composure.

"You really think you can stop this, Max?" Elliot asked, his voice growing colder. "What makes you think your little phone recordings will help you? I wouldn't get too confident."

Max didn't flinch, but Mallory could see the worry in his eyes. She could feel the weight of their situation pressing in on them from all sides. This wasn't just about some stolen items anymore. They were in real danger.

"So... what now?" Mallory asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mrs. Robb looked out the van window, as though she was already thinking of her next move. "Now, we take what we came for. And we make sure your father gets what's coming to him. The perfect setup. No one will suspect a thing."

Max's fingers hovered nervously over his phone, his eyes never leaving Mrs. Robb's cold, calculating face. He knew he had to be careful. If they caught on, they might not let him record anything else.

Mallory turned to Max, her stomach in knots. She didn't know how they were going to get out of this. But one thing was certain—she had to stop Mrs. Robb before it was too late. Before her father's entire life came crashing down because of this woman's greed.

But for now, she had to play it safe. She couldn't let them know they had a recording.

"Max," Mallory whispered urgently, "don't do anything yet. Wait for the right moment."

Max nodded; his jaw clenched. But Mallory could see the fear in his eyes, and she shared it.