Chapter 285
A coworker glanced at the photo on the computer screen and leaned in, making a curious noise. “Hey, isn’t this the woman who used to be Kelly’s daughter–in–law? I heard there was this massive fire back then. The house totally burned down and she barely made it out. They opened a criminal investigation, but about six months ago, someone from Patricia’s family came in and closed the case themselves.”
“They never figured out what happened?” Brandon asked.
She shook her head. “Nope. You were working down in the city at the time, so you probably missed all the drama.”
“It was a huge deal. Everyone was watching. The bosses were freaking out, worried people would accuse them of not caring.”
“And now, the ex–mother–in–law gets arrested for murder? Talk about karma, right?”
Brandon stared at the photo, his brow furrowed. He rubbed his jaw, lost in thought.
His coworker shot him a look. “Since when are you interested in her, anyway?”
In the courtyard at Cloud Peak, a cool autumn breeze swept through the maple trees, sending a few broad leaves drifting down to the ground.
Patricia bent to pick one up, rolling it thoughtfully between her hands.
Jackson stood nearby. “The detective on this case is named King.”
“What kind of person is he?” she asked.
“Pretty typical. He’ll feel bad for someone who’s down on their luck, but if his boss tells him to let something slide, he’ll do it.”
That’s just how people work, especially in the system. In a world like this, everyone’s just trying to get by.
Patricia nodded, studying the pattern of veins on the maple leaf. No matter which path you take, everything always seems to lead back to the same root. Everything in her life clung tight to that one
spot.
“Look into it,” she said.
But before Jackson could dig up anything, Brandon reached out to her first.
That night, Sara and the others came home and instantly started bugging Patricia for details. She sat on the couch, walking them through the twists and turns of her plan.
Her phone lit up on the coffee table, ringing.
When she saw the caller ID, she hesitated for a second, surprised. “I need to take this,” she said.
Oliver watched as she picked up her phone and walked over to the big window.
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Chapter 285
She answered quietly, “Hello?” The room fell silent as her conversation stretched out for a few
minutes.
When she came back, she stood behind Oliver, resting her fingers gently on his shoulder. “I need to go out for a bit,” she said softly, giving his shoulder a light squeeze.
Mr. Padilla covered her hand with his, standing up to face her. “Who was that?”
“Brandon. The detective on Kelly’s case.”
“Do you need to help with the investigation?”
Patricia shook her head. “It’s personal.”
“I was just about to have Jackson reach out to him, but I guess he beat us to it.”
At the word “personal,” Oliver’s eyebrows drew together, just barely.
Sara, sprawled on the couch across from them, caught the weird tension in the air. She rolled her eyes. “What is this, a soap opera? Are you two going to start doubting each other now? If you’re so worried, just go together. It’s not like she’s sneaking off to see someone else.”
Colton:
Roger:
Patricia:
Sara kept going. “Uncle Oliver, you’re not a teenager. Stop making Aunt Patricia guess what you’re thinking. If you want something, just say it. You’ve got a voice, use it. Why can’t you just be direct for once?”
Patricia could see Oliver’s face getting darker by the second. And Sara just wouldn’t quit.
Finally, Patricia cut in. “Do you want to come with me?”
Chapter 286
Chapter 286
