“Eddy, what’s wrong?” Rebekah’s voice brimmed with concern as she looked over at him, only to find him staring after Blanche, unable to tear his gaze away from her retreating silhouette.
“It’s nothing,” Eddy finally said, pulling his eyes away and leaving with the head of his security detail.
“Eddy, let me call the family physician to take a look at you!” Rebekah hurried after him, but no matter how she called out, Eddy ignored her completely.
Those two crimson marks–barely hidden beneath the crisp white dress shirt–were unmistakably bite marks.
A hundred questions pressed at her: Why had he and her sister–in–law taken the same helicopter? How had they both ended up in the ocean together?
But Eddy gave her no chance to ask.
A wave of dread crashed over Rebekah. Deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something secret–something unspoken–existed between Eddy and Blanche.
Behind her, Wendy’s voice broke the silence. “Rebekah, have you ever met Mr. Simmons’s wife?”
Of course, Rebekah had never met Eddy’s wife.
Three years ago, the woman had vanished without a trace–her entire existence erased, not a single photo left online.
Rebekah had once caught a fleeting glimpse of a woman’s photo on Eddy’s phone–so quick and distant, she couldn’t make out the face.
Suddenly, a suspicion flickered in her mind. She glanced at Wendy.
No. That’s impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Still, she forced herself to answer, “No, I haven’t.”
“Someone must have, though.”
With that, Wendy moved to follow the others, her heels clicking softly on the floor.
Her position forbade her from revealing any of the organization’s secrets. She couldn’t tell Rebekah anything about Blanche.
1/2
But what if she wasn’t the one who’d said it?
Rebekah quickly dialed an international number.
“Hedwig, summer break’s almost here, right?”
“Why don’t you and Tia come visit for a while?”
After showering and changing into a fresh dress, Blanche emerged from the bathroom, towel drying her damp hair, to find Caleb waiting for her, his brow furrowed with concern.
“I’m fine,” she reassured him.
“Blanche…” Caleb’s voice was tight, edged with worry. “I saw the man who was at Professor Reese’s place today.”
“Who?”
“The man who got off the helicopter just now–sharp features, intense eyes. He looked… íntimidating. He kept staring at you.”
At Caleb’s words, the towel slipped from Blanche’s fingers and fell to the floor.
She grabbed her suitcase, told Wendy she needed to leave early, and headed for the
door.
Wendy, understanding, arranged a car for them and let them go ahead. The moment Blanche left, Wendy quickly called Eddy.
“Why did Laney leave first?” Wilhelmina Lopez appeared just in time to see Blanche’s hurried departure.
“She’s probably worried about Professor Reese and Terrell,” Wendy answered.
“She’s certainly devoted to her godson,” Wilhelmina muttered under her breath.
“You’re right, ma’am. Every year, Miss Griffiths goes with Professor Reese and Terrell to visit Terrell’s parents‘ graves. She stays for several days. Even after she started seeing the Director–General, she still…” Noticing Wilhelmina’s shlook, Wendy cut herself off, realizing she’d said too much. She quickly changeu the subject. “Ma’am, shall we head back to Capítol City now?”
Wilhelmina’s expression soured. She’d originally wanted to ask Blanche about sharing a helicopter with Eddy and how they’d both ended up stranded at sea. But now, she simply said, “Let’s go back for now.”
312
09:54
Chapter 223
The black sedan sped down the highway. Blanche dialed Fernando’s number over
and over–no answer.
Caleb, thinking back, said, “Professor Reese’s phone was with Mr. Simmons the whole time.”
“He answered several calls himself.”
“Blanche, the night you came to pick me up, the house was full of men in black suits. They kept calling him ‘sir.”
A shiver ran through Blanche.
Could it be that the man standing in the center of the living room that night hadn’t been Fernando at all–but Eddy?
What had he done to Fernando and Terrell?
“Miss Griffiths, there’s a car following us. I’ll call Wendy and have her send backup,” the driver announced, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.
Blanche turned to look. The Rolls Royce was now driving parallel to their sedan.
The back window lowered, revealing Eddy’s pale, cold face–his dark eyes unfathomable, like a shadowy net closing in around her.
Blanche’s slender fingers ended the call and immediately dialed 911. When the call connected, her voice was steady and clear. “Hello, officer? I’d like to report a crime. I believe my friend and his child are being held against their will.”
Chapter 224
