Chapter 99
Theobald and Anna were still in Oakfield, so Nancy was the one to pick Marguerite up again the next morning.
“We’re going back to the slums,” Marguerite said, buckling her seatbelt.
“Did you find out where he is?” Nancy asked.
“Yes, we’re heading there now. He should still be there.” George had given her the information from the canvass over breakfast. The police had searched all night and finally located them, using the pretext of a census registration to find out where they were without raising alarm.
Her phone rang—an unknown number. Without a second thought, she declined the call. It rang again, and she declined it again.
“Why aren’t you answering?” Nancy asked, curious.
“It might be a scam call. Theobald said someone at your company got scammed out of ten grand by answering an unknown number p>
Nancy was surprised. “Really? That’s the first time I’ve heard about it p>
Marguerite nodded. “It’s better to be safe. I saw a video on Tik Tok yesterday about a guy who got scammed. They took every penny he had—all fifty-six dollars in his bank account p>
Nancy burst out laughing. “Ouch! That’s brutal p>
Joshua scowled as his call was declined for the second time. Had Theobald given Marguerite his number? He tried calling from his backup phone, but that too was immediately declined.
What was going on? Was this even her number? Had the private investigator scammed him?
[The calls aren’t going through. Are you sure you gave me the right number?] he texted.
The PI replied quickly: [It’s definitely the right one. Just keep trying p>
Joshua: [If I keep trying, she’ll just block me p>
PI: [Well, that’s a shame p>
Joshua’s nostrils flared in anger. He sent a message to his assistant.
[Why haven’t I seen anything trending online? What am I paying you for p>
The assistant replied promptly: [They won’t let us promote it. They’re refusing to take our money. There’s nothing I can do p>
It had to be George. He must have warned them in advance.
Joshua ran a hand through his hair in frustration, pulling out several strands. He had to see her in person.
Thanks to Nancy’s familiarity with the slums, they quickly found their way to an underpass. Aaron hadn’t found a new apartment; he was living under a bridge. The space was crowded with homeless people, and the stench was overpowering.
“Do you have a photo of him? I can go in and look. You should wait out here,” Nancy suggested.
Marguerite shook her head. She pulled a mask from her pocket, handed one to Nancy, and put one on herself. “We’ll go in together p>
The people living there were all homeless, and their stares were unnerving. Even Nancy, who had grown up here, felt a prickle of fear. Marguerite took her hand and walked forward calmly, her eyes scanning the people lying on the ground.
Finally, at the far end of the underpass, she saw him: a thin boy, kneeling on the ground, helping a middle-aged woman drink some water.
It had only been a day, but the once-clean boy was now filthy, his hair matted with dried blood.
She took a shallow breath against the stench, then walked over, squatted down, and gently touched his head. “Aaron p>
The soft voice and gentle touch
registered slowly in Aaron’s sleep-deprived mind. He turned his head, and his eyes widened. “Marguerite you.” He realized her hand was on his duty hair and
quickly pulled a tissue from his pocket. “My head’s dirty. Here, wipe your hand p>
Marguerite took the tissue, her heart aching with a mixture of anger and pity. She pinched his nose. “You really made me work to find you, you little brat. You’re coming with me now p>
The woman on the ground suddenly sat up and clung to Aaron. “No, we’re not going back! We’re not! Go away! Get out of here!” She grabbed a nearby water bottle and threw it at Marguerite.
Before Marguerite could react,
Aaron threw himself in front of her.
The bottle bit him squarely in the
back and he let out a pained grunt. His eyes, hidden behind his la bangs, were filled with guilt. You should go. I can’t go with you p>
Marguerite’s brow furrowed. She pulled Aaron aside and spoke to the woman in a Fresh chapters posted on
soft, gentle voice. “I’m not a bad person. I’m here to protect you p>
The woman’s frantic expression softened, and her eyes grew hazy. “Pro protect us p>
Marguerite’s words were like a knife twisting in Aaron’s heart. He bit his lip hard. “We p>
She shot him a glare. “Quiet. You’re coming with me. Now p>
The familiar, ingrained authority in her voice silenced any further protest. He shouldered his backpack and helped the woman to her feet. “Jenny, this is my sister. We’re going with her p>
The woman stood up and stared at Marguerite for a long moment. Her eyes, for
some reason, grew red. “So pretty,” she whispered.
The car couldn’t navigate the narrow slum roads, so they had to walk back to the entrance. Jenny’s condition was poor; she coughed up along the Nancy helped support her and the four of them made their way out.
blood severalort hey
When they reached the main road, they found Joshua waiting for them. He frowned
at the two disheveled figures with Marguerite but still stepped forward, offering his help. “Marguerite, do you need a hand p>