Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 263

Before dawn could even hint at its arrival, the streetlights outside were a dim glow against the pervasive darkness.

Elliot scanned the area, but the enigmatic figure he was certain had crossed paths with him and Evan before was nowhere in sight.

He was convinced it was the same masked figure they had encountered before. Downstairs, hidden in the shadows, the figure had let out a chilling, sinister laugh directed at him. It was clear the man knew Elliot would come.

For days, Elliot had been on the hunt for clues about him but to no avail. Yet, today, the man had appeared near Elijah's home, of all places.

Elliot was here to prepare the speech for the ceremony.

Anticipating security in the area, Elliot had crafted a plan to avoid drawing attention from Tarquin's security team. His efforts seemed unnecessary, though, as the masked figure had inadvertently distracted the guards, almost as if aiding Elliot in his secretive endeavor.

What was the masked figure's game? Did he know about Elliot's plan to impersonate Elijah in tomorrow's ceremony? Why encourage him and Evan towards violence while simultaneously aiding his stealthy approach to Tarquin?

And then, there was the matter of the dead cat.

It was exactly as Evan had described - a cat brutally killed by having its neck twisted. This meant the local "psycho" Evan mentioned was none other than the masked figure, who seemed to know not only where they lived but also personal details about them. Who was he, and what were his intentions with them?

Lost in thought, Elliot closed the curtains and sat down at Elijah's desk, booting up the computer. He intended to use Elijah's computer for research but was met with a password prompt and additional security measures. Despite being 'Baby ET's Support One' - a hacker of considerable renown - he couldn't crack Elijah's security.

This was telling.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Tarquin eagerly questioned Elysia as she emerged from Elijah's room.

"Did Elijah say anything?"

Elysia played dumb, "Nope."

"Nothing at all?"

"Uh-huh."

Then, she remembered Elliot was still in the room and quickly added, "And don't bother him either, he's resting! He's not in the mood to talk!"

Tarquin immediately asked, "Why isn't he in the mood?"

"I don't know!"

"You didn't notice he was in a bad mood?"

"I did, but he's only in a bad mood when he sees you. When he sees me, he's fine. Who knows what you did to upset him. Instead of interrogating me here, why don't you reflect on your own behavior?"

Tarquin paused.

Just then, Lowell came back in, looking serious, "There's a call from Gideon. They said they've been trying to reach you, but you're not answering."