"No way that happened!"

Nicholas exclaims in relation to my story as we got off the plane.

" Yes way it happened! And when I told the guy that I didn't really work there, he had already eaten half of the potato chips" I continued

"Did he pay for it?"

"Pay for what? Ha! Dude couldn't afford a belt to hold up his pants! He ran off and..."

"Excuse me" Nicholas says as he moves to answer his phone.

I whistle as we were screened. I can't believe we didn't carry any form of clothes

Right on cue, Nicholas emerges with a really really portable suitcase.

Well I guess it's just me who didn't bring a suitcase... Just my back pack.

"Alright Sam let's go" Nicholas says with a charming smile and I swear I felt my insides turn to melted butter.

I smile back and adjust my hair behind my left ear.
It's been like what... Four days since I cut my hair and boy has it grown back already!

"Why did you bring a suitcase?" I ask, loathing the short silence between us

"Why not?", He replies my question with another question.

I fold my lips together is exasperation and pinch the bridge of my nose to prevent me from giving a sarcastic reply.

"What I mean is we're not spending the night with Uncle Austin so definitely there's no need for the suitcase because once we're done, we're heading right back to my mama in Chicago... Right?"

"Oh! I didn't know you already had a full proof plan. I already made reservations at the Mandarin Oriental hotel"

For no reason, I choke on my spit and begin coughing uncontrollably. Nicholas quickly brings out a bottle of water and soothingly rubs my back.

Is this guy insane? Of course he's insane? Who makes reservations at the most expensive hotel in New York for just one night?

Um...a lot of people do that

"Yea I know a lot of people do that, it's just..."

"Excuse me?" Nicholas coughs out to bring me out of my little argument with myself

"Oh right... Are you insane? How could you make reservations at Mandarin hotel? Didn't you see a cheap, comfortable hotel? And how did you manage to make the reservation this festive period? Isn't like the entire hotel booked already?"

I vehemently ask so many questions all at once.

"Alright slow down..." He says as he places his hand across my shoulder and leads me to a limousine

"I just have one answer to your numerous questions... I am Nicholas Macaulay" He smirks and winks at me before opening the door for me to get inside.

I roll my eyes at his charming arrogance and give a little smile.
He gets in and signals for the driver to move.

"So what's the plan?" He asks casually and for a moment I loose my composure at our close proximity. The voice in my head begins to talk dirty and boy this is so not appropriate.

Calm down.

"Um Sam? You might want to close your mouth and answer my question"

"Hmm? Oh yeah uh... Why don't we go straight to Uncle Austin's place since he has no clue we're coming" I suggests with a shrug.

When he doesn't say anything, I continue.

"Here is the address, my mother wrote it down for me" I murmur as I search my backpack for it.
Panic immediately strikes me as I can't find it.

"Oh no! I can't find it"

"Relax check your pockets"

"Oh right... Here it is", I say with utmost relief and hand it over to him. He checks it and hands it over to the driver.

You need to get a grip on yourself lady.

"Can we go now?"

"Whatever you say Fox" he says with a smirk and wink and signals for the driver to move.

Why has be been smirking and winking at me continuously now?

Dear God! If only he knows how his actions affect me.

"Don't call me that" I say feeling my cheeks become flushed.
His smile becomes wider and he pulls me in closer to him.

I close my eyes and inhale his scent

Good God! Stop sniffing him you're not a dog are you?

"God no! I wasn't..."

I shut up and look at Nicholas who has that worried look on his face again.

Oh no! Please don't start with the medical lectures.
I close my eyes and cross my fingers, internally praying for him to just ignore me and concentrate on the ride.

"Look Sam, I'm not going to give you any of my 'boring' medical lectures, please just consider going to see a doctor... Please" he begs air quoting the boring with the most boyish look I've even seen which makes me giggle a little and nod sheepishly.

"But do you really think I have MPD?"

"That is not really my area of specialization but I know the symptoms when I see one"

"Oh..." I sadly state.

"I don't mean to make you sad Sam"

"No no it's not it. It's just, there's a voice in everyone's head right? I just thought that that's what mine is. I've always called it my subconsciousness so I don't see how that's a sign of multiple personality disorder" I say not so enthusiastically.

"Like I said before that is not my area of specialty. I just noticed some signs and as a medical practitioner I only did my best in advising you to see a doctor to confirm if truly you have MPD or not" he nonchalantly says as he checks his phone

Well that makes sense.

“Anyways, so what's your plan now?”, he asks while I admire my cuticles. Damn are they so beautiful now compared to how they were the last time.

That's because relaxation is the key to having a healthy and beautiful skin

Well I didn't ask you now did I?

“Why? Plan for what?”

“Oh I don't know, plan to rob a bank?", I say exasperatedly as I face palm.

“Sheesh! Calm down no need to be so ballsy", he says with an eye roll

Is he fucking kidding me right now?

“I'm being ballsy? Really now Macaulay"

He heaves out a slow but steady breath, obviously trying to calm himself down before slowly replying

“Do you have any plans though?"

“Yes, since we are already showing up unannounced at Uncle Austin's what kind of questions do you want to ask him? And I should also let you know, mother told me that he was involved in an accident and he can't talk anymore"

“Woah! What happened? Can he at least hear? And do you understand sign language just in case?"

“I don't know hamster. I didn't ask for details and yes I understand and can do sign language in fact"

The car comes to a halt in front of a stop sign and I suddenly begin to have a migraine. I touch my forehead and close my eyes as I wince in pain.

I think I need an Advil.

“Are you okay fox?"

"If you probably just tell me the kind of questions you're going to ask him I'll be better", I muse with and stare at him with the most Charming smile I could possibly muster

"Well I'm going to go straight to the point you know, just hit the nail on the head"

"That's not specific enough but okay and just to be sure you don't do anything dumb I'm coming with you"

"No way! Are you insane? You're going to sit put in this car. What if he recognizes you?"

"Okay first off last time I checked, you're not my dad and you can't tell me what and what not to do. Secondly, I'm coming wit. I'm not asking so there's no room for argument".
I say stiffly as I fold my arms and glare at him with an eyebrow raised daring him to say other wise.

"Fine ", he mutters and opens a cabinet or whatever it is and brings out a recorder.

"Do you plan on recording the entire conversation?"

"Yeah why?"

"He's dumb remember?"

"Right" he says and drops it back

"Um Sam there's something I want to say and it's um… "

"We're here", the driver announces

We silently alight from the car and stand in front of the mighty edifice.

How loaded is Uncle Austin?

"What were you trying to tell me Nich?" I ask as we enter the house.

"Later" he whispers and slowly breathes in and out shakily.

"Good morning, how may I help y'all" a lovely but slightly old lady says in a very thick southern accent as she descends the stairs.

"I can bet you a hundred bucks that she is from Texas" I whisper to Nicholas and he smiles.

"200 bucks says she's from North Dakota" Nicholas says with a smug smile on his face

Oh it's on hamster! I smile as I know I'm about to make cool clean cash off of Nicholas Macaulay

"Ahem! I asked y'all what y'all needed?" The lovely lady says but this time in a very stern voice but somehow sweet voice.

"'Scuse me ma'am but I was wondering if you could be so nice as to tell me where Mr Austin" I say in my own southern accent and give a very sweet and shy smile.

"Oh my goodness! You from Texas too?" She asks in a very happy tone and I see Nicholas from my peripheral vision wipe the slowly wipe the smug look off his face

"Too? You been up there or you from there?"

"Girl I'm from Texas! Born and bred. It's so good to see someone from there. It's been so long y'all. What part are you from?" She asks as she directs us to the living room and points for us to have a sit.

"Alabama ma'am" I say and seeing Nicholas get uncomfortable makes me squirm with joy.

Looks like I should stop.

Oh but you're not... Keep going!

"Alabama! Wow that's great! But I'm from Georgia and Jesus that's an amazing place. You know the churches there are really amazing. You should visit some time"

"Alright are we going to see Austin or what?" Nicholas says with his mouth pursed in a thin line and his gaze meeting mine.

I wink at him and subtly blow him a kiss.

"Sorry 'bout that ma'am but yes we'd like to see Austin. Austin Waverly" I say and she heaves a heavy sigh and slowly stands up.

"Whatever for... He can't talk", she plainly states and vanishes from our sight like she was never there.

"Well looks like you owe me two hundred bucks mate" I say in an Australian accent this time obviously enjoy myself

"B...b...but... How? Like I don't understand? How?", Nicholas stammers looking very bewildered

"Well hamster... If you toured the world at an my age you'd learn to adapt very fast", I say in a very matter of fact tone.

He opens up his mouth to say something before we see Austin ascend the stairs with the lovely, old lady.

"Sylvie please get a pack of pineapple juice for me and whatever they'll have", Austin signs to Sylvie who just nods her head and leaves.

"Hi nice to meet you sir", I sign and give him a curt smile.

"Nice to meet you too lady and you Nicholas", he says giving a nod towards Nicholas' direction.

Nicholas immediately becomes self aware and his cheeks fluster. I try to stop myself from laughing.

"Well my name is Janine and I'm a lawyer. I with the help of Nicholas here, am trying to work on Samantha Montero's case", I sign

This is bullshit!

"Getting down to business I see?", Austin signs back a little less excited.

Sylvie arrives with the pineapple juice and three glass cups

"Thank you" I mutter and give her a smile. She nods curtly and smiles before finally vanishing again.

"Whatever you want to know I don't have the answers to it" Austin signs rather viciously.

I look at Nicholas and he just seems very intent.

"Hey! You trying to help me or what?", I ask as I tap him on his elbow.
He doesn't even flinch or blink and just keeps on staring intently, really intently at Austin with his hand on his jaw, slightly stroking it.

Ughh!!!! I internally groan and try to pull my hair from its root.

"Listen Mr Austin Waverly. A young girl's life is on the line and you were her lawyer seven years back. We need the information we can to save her" I sign furiously this time as tears threaten to spill from my eyes.

Austin doesn't say anything and keeps mute

You're just weak and pathetic!

I close my eyes and slowly breathe in and out just not to have a panic attack or a nervous breakdown.

Why isn't Nicholas saying or doing anything?

I slowly and dramatically stand up.

"Let's go Nicholas" I say as I grab his hand to actually leave the room.

He stands up with me and smiles.

This is just fifty shades of weird

Just as we reach the front door, Nicholas puts his hands on my shoulder and smiles.

I really don't understand what is going on

"He's neither deaf nor dumb Samantha! He's under duress and strict warning from a superior body", Nicholas whispers

"How do you know that?", I ask with a raised eyebrow as I fold my arms underneath my boobs

"You don't know everything fox", Nicholas says with a pretty, smug smirk on his face as he looks straight into my confused eyes.

"I never said I did", I state

"Well just watch, maybe you might learn something too"

Is he seriously still salty from earlier?

I close my eyes and ball my fist as we turn around

"Well listen Austin"
Nicholas begins and stares right into Austin clear brown eyes and I notice a flash of fear in them before it vanishes like it was never there.

"You and I both know that you're not deaf or dumb. Even if you are deaf at least you're not dumb and that I know for sure. And I can give three reasons why you're not saying anything. One, you are either being threatened, two, they're paying you loads of money to put on this dumb act and three, they cut off your tongue to actually keep you quite but that doesn't mean you can't write though"

Nicholas pauses for effect and looks at me.

How can he tell?

"C'mon Nicholas how can you be so sure he faking it? I mean all he done since we arrive is breathe and sign. Now let's scram and get our asses off of here" I say still in the southern accent

"Now hold on Janine I'm not quite done"

Fuck! Why does that sound so kinky?"

"Now you see Austin, I don't mean to brag but there's a reason why I'm not just the most famous but also the best Neurosurgeon in the world. I took psychology and human behavioral studies as a minor in College..."

"Go straight to the point boy" Austin signs

Oh he can hear?

"He says you should go straight to the point"I quickly tell Nicholas

"Right! Well my point is, you may not know who murdered Asher but I will bet half my ass that you do have a clue or an incline about that fateful day or at least Samantha's case. You are a very experienced lawyer who is very talented and respected in your right. My question now is you've read the books and you know family don't try cases of each other so why'd you still go ahead to do it ? No just hold up...  You tried Samantha's case quite alright, did a good job defending her but not quite the best. You could have pleaded guilty in the name of self defense because every other sane lawyer would do that but noooo you insisted on the not guilty part with no solid proof or alibi. Well Mr Austin, you may not be entirely the reason why Samantha is on the run but you sure are the reason why her killer is roaming across the face of the earth not bothered and free. Now if you'd do something even remotely as minute as a good deed, it'd be nice to save poor Sam who has been nothing but a sweet kid from the very first day she was born", Nicholas says and as he says the last sentence he looks me straight in the eyes and I swear to God I felt my heart pop out of my mouth and fly in small circles around my head.

I just give a tight lipped smile and nod.

We both look at Austin and his eyes soften a bit but after what seems like hours of a stare down, It seems maybe he's truly dumb.

I look at the ceiling and finally find interest in the chandelier emitting golden lights making it bounce off the white walls and giving the entire living area a sunset kinda theme.

"If this was your child Mr Austin, how would you feel?", I ask that question and look him straight in his eyes.

"Let's go Nich", I say giving Austin a death glare.

"I'm sorry, I thought if I made him feel guilty he'd budge", Nicholas whispers as he puts his hand on my shoulder

I just keep mute as my lips shiver with threatening tears

"Wait!"

A/N:
Author: Dun! Dun!! Dun!!!
Is uncle Austin really hiding something? If yes, why? Well I guess you'd just have to tap on the vote button and comment section then scroll up to read the next chapter.

Love ya❤️