The Twisted Obsession
Chapter 144: Dead

Chapter 144: Dead

As the evening wore on, the tension in the house grew palpable. Abby paced the living room, her heart heavy with worry as they awaited Tony’s arrival. Remo sat beside her, his expression grim as he checked his phone for any updates.

Finally, there was a knock on the door, and Tony entered, his face etched with sorrow. Abby’s heart sank at the sight of him, knowing that his news couldn’t be good.

"I’m sorry, Remo," Tony began, his voice heavy with regret. "We found Martha, but..." He trailed off, unable to bring himself to say the words.

Abby’s breath caught in her throat, her worst fears realized in an instant. She reached out and clutched Remo’s hand, her grip tight with fear.

"What happened?" Remo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tony took a deep breath, steeling himself to deliver the devastating news. "I’m afraid Martha is dead," he said solemnly. "It looks like she’s been gone for about two days. There are signs of decomposition, and... maggots were feeding on her body."

Abby felt a wave of nausea wash over her at the gruesome image Tony’s words conjured. Martha, once vibrant and full of life, now reduced to a lifeless shell.

Remo’s grip on Abby’s hand tightened, his expression a mask of grief and shock. "How... how could this have happened?" he asked, his voice choked with emotion.

Tony shook his head, his own anguish mirrored in his eyes. "We’re still investigating, but it looks like foul play may be involved," he said gravely. "We’ll do everything we can to find out what happened."

The news of Martha’s death hit Abby like a punch to the gut. Despite the suspicions surrounding her involvement in her father’s death, Martha had always been a constant presence in Abby’s life, a maternal figure who had cared for her since childhood.

Abby felt a surge of conflicting emotions—grief for Martha’s passing, confusion over her possible role in her father’s death, and a deep sense of loss for the woman who had been like a second mother to her.

How could someone she had trusted and relied on for so long be capable of such a heinous act?

Remo’s hand tightened around Abby’s, offering silent comfort and support as they processed the devastating news.

He too was grappling with the realization that someone they had known and trusted could be involved in such a tragedy.

As they sat in stunned silence, Abby couldn’t help but wonder what secrets Martha had been hiding, what demons had led her down such a dark path.

Abby felt tears welling up in her eyes as the weight of Martha’s death settled over them. The world seemed to spin around her, everything suddenly tinged with a sense of darkness and despair.

Remo’s brow furrowed with frustration as he grappled with the magnitude of the situation.

The uncertainty surrounding Martha’s death had thrown them into a sea of confusion, leaving them to grapple with the daunting task of unraveling the mystery that lay before them.

"So we’re dealing with an unknown enemy here?" Remo asked, his voice tinged with concern. "And we have no idea what their motive is? Whether Martha was working for them or not?"

Tony nodded grimly, his expression mirroring Remo’s frustration.

"We’re back to square one," he confirmed. "We don’t know if Abby was the target or if her father was. That’s what makes all of this dangerous."

Abby felt a chill run down her spine at Tony’s words.

The thought that she or her father could have been targeted by an unknown adversary sent a shiver of fear coursing through her veins. Who could possibly want to harm them, and why?

"You don’t think it’s my uncle?" Abby asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Tony shook his head solemnly. "I paid his secretary to plant a bug and seduce him," he explained. "While the seduction was fruitless because his wife came, we got to know that they know nothing about the shooting. On the contrary, they were mad because they needed your father to transfer things to them before he dies."

Abby’s mind reeled at the implications of Tony’s words. If her uncle wasn’t behind her father’s shooting, then who was? And what did they stand to gain from her father’s death?

"Why don’t we ask Cage?" Tony suggested, his voice infused with determination. "He managed your father’s legal affairs. I’m sure he would have an idea of someone who might want him dead."

Abby’s eyes widened at Tony’s suggestion, a flicker of hope igniting within her at the prospect of gaining insight from Cage. As her father’s trusted legal representative, he would undoubtedly have valuable information that could shed light on their predicament.

Remo nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "I will speak to him about this," he said firmly. "But for now, there’s nothing we can do. We just have to wait for the snake to shed its skin."

Abby felt a surge of frustration at the notion of waiting passively for answers, but she knew that Remo was right. Rushing headlong into the unknown could prove disastrous, and they needed to proceed with caution if they were to uncover the truth.

Tony’s somber tone shifted as he turned to address Abby and Remo directly. "Have you two finalized the funeral date?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "I know it’s difficult to think about, but we need to be prepared. We don’t know if the enemy will strike again, but we have to anticipate every possibility."

Abby nodded silently, her mind swirling with a whirlwind of emotions. The thought of laying her father to rest felt like another heavy blow, but she knew that they couldn’t afford to delay the inevitable. "We have" she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Next week"

Remo placed a comforting hand on Abby’s shoulder, offering her silent support. "Tony’s right," he agreed, his expression grave. "We can’t afford to wait. We need to make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible."

Tony nodded in agreement, his gaze flickering between Abby and Remo. "I’ll help you with whatever you need," he assured them. "We’ll make sure your father receives the farewell he deserves."