In about an hour, Ben arrives at the address.
The neighborhood consists of a row of brown buildings quite similar to each other with barely noticeable differences. Most of the buildings in that neighborhood seemed to be owned by the same person. A person rich enough to own a whole row of flats will definitely be a member of one of the most prominent families in the town.
"I guess business is still running smoothly" he thought as he walked closer to the buildings.
At the front of one of the doors, he sees Harriet who beckons on him and he follows.
They climb a few flights of stairs and arrive at a corridor with about 8 rooms.
She leads him to the room almost at the extreme, then takes out a bunch of keys from her coat's pocket and opens the door.
The room is filled with all sorts of things and just like she said, it was covered in newspapers all relating to a family he knew all too well.
"Jane Murphy?" Ben whispered to himself as he flipped through the paper.
"What did you say Mr. Harris?" Harriet asked, looking very keenly.
"You said her name was Jane right?" Ben asked.
"Yes, yes it is" Harriet replied as she leaned in wondering if Mr. Harris had found some sort of clue.
"Her full name is Jane Elizabeth Murphy. The only survivor of the Murphy family" Ben replied as he continued flipping through the newspaper.
"How do you know that Mr. Harris?" asked Harriet, still looking confused.
"It's all in the papers, 16 years ago the Murphy family had a clash with another family and it cost them their lives. All the members of the Murphy family were reported dead except their daughter who was only a few years old at the time and whose whereabouts is still unknown. She was declared missing after a series of searches were conducted by the police"
"Of course, she had foresight; that explains why she would leave her child with a random stranger"
"What did you say?"
"Oh! Nothing, it was just a thought"
"Okay. So based on everything you've said Jane is..."
"Yes. You said she had been going through old newspapers and acting secretively, she was probably looking for answers and found out something she shouldn't have. If the other family is behind all this then Jane could be in more danger than we think." Ben said as he flipped and scoured through the newspapers and sticky notes scattered all over the table and walls.
"Do you know the other family that the Murphy's had a feud with?" Harriet asked as she stared at Ben expecting a positive reply.
"I don't" replied Ben.
"You don't know as in you really don't know or it's not in the papers?"
"Both"
Harriet then stares at ben suspiciously, almost immediately breaking the silence within the room;
"You're a terrible liar, you know that Mr. Harris. You seem to know more than what is written on the papers. How can you know this much and not know the identity of the other family involved in this?"
There was a stern look on Ben's face, as though the question had triggered something important. Ben pondered in silence as he began to pace round the room. It was obvious that he wasn't being honest and was trying to avoid further questions. What was he not telling her?
I'm really sorry ma'am. I know you are worried and I know getting info on this would bring comfort to you. But withholding this information from you is in your best interest as knowing any further about this could put you in serious danger. I guarantee you that I will find Jane and bring her back, okay?
The lady nods in agreement.
"Do you have a picture of her I can use for reference?" Ben asked.
"Uh yes" replied Harriet as she grabs a framed picture from the reading table by the corner of the room then takes out the picture from the frame and hands it to him.
Ben takes the picture from her and stares down at.
I'll begin my search for her tomorrow, please get some rest".
Ben said as he approached the door.
"Oh! Mr. Harris, what about your pay?"
He smiles and turns. "Don't worry, I'll put it on your tab"
She smiles back at him as he walks out the door.
After about twenty minutes, Ben reaches his apartment. He slams the door behind him and heads straight into the living room. Dropping into a chair, he leans forward, bowing his head and clasping his hands together as if in prayer. Something is clearly weighing on him. After a long tense moment, he slowly looks up, brushes his face with the palm of his hands and sighs. "I guess it's time to go back" He says as he walks into the bedroom, and shuts the door.