Orphanage?
Blanche remembered that Healy had mentioned the orphanage last night as well.
“Aunt Blanche, Healy is so miserable.” Tia’s voice trembled as she sobbed, reaching for Blanche’s lowered hand.
Her small palm was soft and warm. Blanche instinctively clasped Tia’s fingers in her own.
“Aunt Blanche, will you come with us to see Healy? Please?”
“He’s staying right here in this hospital.”
“It’s really not appropriate to be in contact with the suspect’s family. Let’s wait until
the case is closed,” the male assistant interjected, seeing that Chief Ablett’s
expression hadn’t changed.
Blanche gently withdrew her hand and patted Tia’s head. “Another time, sweetheart.”
Those three words drained the last of her resolve–what little strength she’d still been able to muster for Healy.
At the entrance, plainclothes officers had set up a temporary passageway. Without a word, Ablett swept Blanche up in his arms and strode away.
Tia chased after Blanche, sobbing her name, but no matter how desperately she called, Blanche never looked back.
She collapsed into Hedwig’s embrace, crying, “Mom, why doesn’t Aunt Blanche want Healy? Why doesn’t she want Uncle anymore?”
Hedwig knelt down to gently wipe away Tia’s tears. “You’ll understand when you’re older, darling. Your aunt had no choice. It’s not her fault.”
She remembered how Vincent Yates had betrayed her; her heart still ached from that wound.
But compared to Blanche, she was a little stronger–if only because of Tia.
Tia would always be by her side, loyal and loving. She would never turn her never cause her pain.
But Healy…
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Chapter
Hedwig let out a long sigh.
That man–so cold and unyielding–had sent her brother straight in. There was no way he’d allow his sister–in–law and Healy to see each other,
Her brother had finally met his match this time.
In the backseat of the car, Blanche sat lost in thought, watching the torrential rain blur the world outside the window.
Ablett’s calm voice broke through her reverie. “Look into what happened to Healy over the past three years.”
Blanche listened as the assistant answered, then turned to Ablett in surprise.
“Director, that’s not necessary.”
Ablett didn’t respond to her. In a low voice, he added, “Mr. Jordan is waiting for you
at home.”
Blanche suddenly remembered her real reason for coming. She was genuinely grateful for the Director’s thoughtfulness. “Thank you.”
Back at the McCarthy estate, Blanche shared her findings and plans with Mr. Jordan, and he exchanged the intel he’d uncovered as well.
“If Carney really is the one pulling the strings behind all this…” Mr. Jordan raised his brows at Ablett. “You’re not going to interfere, are you?”
Ablett flipped through a stack of files, not quite catching his meaning.
“She’s waited twenty years for you. Would marry no one else. She even saved your
life.”
“Just don’t go meddling in my case if she comes begging for your help. I won’t let it slide if you ruin my investigation.”
“The Harvey girl’s always been stubborn. She’s turned down suitor after suitor over the years–even my own son. She’s waited so long for you she’s nearly an old maid.” “It’s rather pitiful.”
“Guess it’s your fault for/favoring her when you were younger. No wonder she’s so hopelessly devoted.”
Mr. Jordan rambled on, then caught Ablett’s eye and realized he was talking too
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much. “That’s enough for today. We’ll discuss the rest when there’s progress.”
“Take care, Mr. Jordan.” Blanche stood to see him out, then returned to her computer, fully focused.
Ablett’s voice drifted over from the side. “She was my fiancée back then. Of course! treated her well.”
“You treat me the same way, don’t you?”
Blanche had noticed the Director’s recent kindness and assumed it was just because of their official connection.
He really was a responsible man.
Blanche made a mental note of it. “You’re a good man, Director.”
A good man?
The male assistant, shuffling files nearby, snorted with laughter–rare for someone usually so composed. He just couldn’t hold it in.
Miss Griffiths, if only you’d seen the Director at his coldest–you’d never call him a good man.
Catching Ablett’s icy glare, the assistant quickly gathered up his files and slipped
out.
With only the two of them left, the office felt unusually quiet.
“How exactly have I treated you?“!
“You’ve saved me more than once. You trust me and even show me favoritism at work. And just now…you carried me because you were worried I’d get tired.” Blanche spoke plainly, her thoughts clear. “I’ll repay you by working hard, Director. I hope you’ll get your promotion soon.”
Later, she thought to herself: Ablett is a dragon biding his time–sooner or later,
he’ll soar.
When that day comes, she and Mamie will wish him well from afar.
Ablett walked to the desk, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface. “I don’t treat her like this.”
“What do you mean?”
Blanche looked up at him, puzzled.
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Chapte 49
He said, “I only do this for you.”
“For me?” Blanche didn’t quite understand, but then Ablett’s large, dry hand slid beneath her arm, pressing against her ribs as he lifted her from her office chair.
She wasn’t exactly petite, so she let out a startled gasp. “Director!”
He carried her from the work area straight over to the bed, depositing her gently but firmly before scolding her, “You’re not allowed to call me that anymore.”
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