Hidden in the Blood: A Novel of the Terribly Acronymed Detective Club (Book 5)

Chapter Fifty: Al, Sunday

Al never thought this would be the way he first met Agnes' parents: fourteen years too late, and with the purpose of asking them to leave their home.

Agnes, true to form, introduced him as a "friend from work," which was accurate but such a minuscule portion of the truth that it was almost a lie. Mr. and Mrs. Chu, understandably, had no idea why she was introducing him and why today, when they had two grieving grandchildren who needed them and a daughter who seemed to be everywhere but at home, where she was most needed.

"Al has offered us the use of his home," Agnes said.

"We have a home," Mrs. Chu said.

Mr. Chu gave Al a sour look and asked, "Why is this man offering his house to you? Are you going to live with him? Is he more than a friend?"

Agnes sputtered, "No! What do you think, I already went out looking for a new husband as soon as I got here?!" She was blushing, though, which didn't make her protest convincing.

Al tried to rescue her by saying, "Mr. and Mrs. Chu, Agnes and I are just friends. I myself am married with two children, and we currently live in another property. I've been apprised of Agnes' situation, and I'm offering her the use of our townhouse in Burnaby while the police investigate the circumstances of your son-in-law's death."

"But there's no reason for her to move into your place," Mrs. Chu, said, and Al could tell she was still unconvinced about the nature of their friendship. "She can stay here as long as she likes, and anyway, her ex-husband recently purchased a house in Queensborough. She and her children can move in there."

Agnes drew them into another room out of ear shot of her kids. "Look," she said, "we've learned that Patrick was most likely murdered, the explosion caused by a bomb planted somewhere on his truck. The people who did it are still out there, and there's a chance they also want to do me and the kids harm, because I know why they killed him. They might know where Patrick lived in Queensborough, and they might have even tracked us to this house. For our safety, I want us all to move to Al's townhouse, because it's not connected in any way with Patrick, at least until they're arrested."

Her parents stared at her in disbelief. "You want us to move?" Mr. Chu asked.

"Just for a little while."

Mrs. Chu crossed her arms and said, "No, absolutely not."

"Mom, please--"

"Take your children and go if you wish. You've always wanted to leave us anyway--"

"Mom!" Agnes yelped in hurt surprise, giving Al a sidelong glance. Al felt a little sorry for her. She'd probably never expected to be airing dirty laundry today.

"But we've lived here our entire married life, and we have no intention of leaving," Mrs. Chu went on.

Agnes turned to her father, as if hoping for a second opinion. "Aren't you worried about your safety?"

Mr. Chu smiled tenderly and placed a hand on Agnes' cheek. "We appreciate your concern, but a vague threat from people who were targeting your late husband is not enough incentive to make us leave everything we've ever known. It's easier when you're younger; you were right to leave Kelowna with your kids and come here, and they'll have an easier time adjusting. But us?" He shook his head sadly. "We're too old to uproot ourselves now. We'll take the risk that they won't see any value in threatening an elderly couple."

Agnes looked crestfallen. "What if they do? I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you."

Mrs. Chu sighed in resignation. "You forget, daughter, that we're adults, too. Maybe we failed to treat you like one while you were growing up, and maybe that's why you felt you had to go all the way to Kelowna to finally be one, but we learned our lesson missing you all these years. Learn from our mistake and treat us like adults now, and let us live with the consequences of our own choices."