"I just finished handling a case nearby and imdiately recognized you from behind."
Philip Paxton was tall, wearing a leather jacket and jeans, looking both upright and relaxed.
"Perfect timing, I have sothing for you. Shall I give you a ride ho?"
Jean Ellison nodded and got into the car with him.
Philip Paxton took a thin folder from the briefcase he carried.
"This is an internal supplentary report from our investigation of the personnel involved back then. Although on the surface there’s nothing wrong, there are so details regarding tilines and personnel shifts that seem odd. I’ve marked them for you. See if you can recall anything."
Jean Ellison took the folder, her fingertips slightly trembling: "Thank you, it’s too risky..."
"No worries, it’s just a copy, doesn’t matter."
Philip Paxton waved his hand, looking at her pale face, his tone showing concern.
"You don’t look too well. Is the pressure getting too much? You have work, caregiving for your aunt, and dealing with Justin Holden..."
"I’m fine."
Jean Ellison forced a smile and carefully placed the folder into her briefcase.
"How about we have dinner together? We can talk while we eat? I know a nice private restaurant nearby, the environnt is quiet too."
Philip Paxton suggested, with clear anticipation and care in his eyes.
Jean Ellison hesitated for a mont.
She indeed wanted to learn more about the case, and Philip Paxton was one of the few who knew her true identity and had been helping her selflessly over the years.
Both emotionally and rationally, she couldn’t refuse.
"...Alright," she nodded, "but I need to get back early, Jesse is still at ho."
"No problem."
Philip Paxton agreed readily.
Philip Paxton restarted the car, rged into the traffic, heading towards a nearby comrcial area.
He didn’t notice the black rcedes quietly pulling out from the street corner behind them, keeping a close yet not too distant follow.
Justin Holden sat in the driver’s seat, his face cold, the knuckles of his fingers gripped tightly on the steering wheel turning white.
He had just received a call; the detective told him Philip Paxton’s afternoon whereabouts ended up near this comrcial area. Mysteriously compelled, he drove over, only to see Philip Paxton getting into the passenger seat beside Jean Ellison.
The way they conversed side by side, the overly familiar and caring smile on Philip Paxton’s face, Jean Ellison’s apparent non-rejection...
He followed them all the way, watching as they parked at an elegant-looking restaurant and walked in side by side.
Justin Holden parked across the street in the shadows, with the window half down, simply watching the restaurant’s glass window with an expressionless face.
Through the distance, he couldn’t see the specific scene inside, only the blurry figures sitting opposite each other.
Ti passed by minute by minute.
Night slowly descended, lights began to illuminate.
Justin Holden maintained the sa position, like a silent statue, with increasingly deep ink swirling in his eyes. Countless thoughts uncontrollably flashed through his mind.
What exactly is their relationship? How long have they known each other?
Are Jean Ellison’s secrets, which he couldn’t uncover, related to this police captain?
Whenever they et, what are they discussing?
Or is it...more than just discussions.
A nearly violent restlessness combined with a cold fury at being wholly hidden and ostracized threatened to break his usual calm composure.
Finally, he saw the two co out of the restaurant.
Philip Paxton had a smile on his face, seemingly saying sothing.
Jean Ellison’s expression was unclear, but seemingly more relaxed than before.
Philip Paxton accompanied Jean Ellison to her car, chatted a bit, then helped her open the car door.
Jean Ellison sat in the passenger seat. Philip Paxton leaned down, resting a hand on the car window, said so advice, then stepped back, and got back into the car.
The two cars rged into the traffic.
Justin Holden abruptly started the car and followed Jean Ellison’s vehicle.
His face under the flickering streetlights seed increasingly complex and unfathomable.
Philip Paxton’s car drove all the way back to Sovera.
At the front gate, the vehicle recognition system didn’t raise the barrier, a man’s hand extended out of the car window, holding up an ID.
The bar raised steadily.
The guard stuck his head out as usual, smiling: "Mrs. Holden is back..."
He stopped midway, suddenly astonished by noticing the man returning with Mrs. Holden wasn’t Mr. Holden but a stranger.
He instinctively glanced over, not seeing the familiar black rcedes.
Jean Ellison got out of the car.
"Mrs. Holden, today...Mr. Holden didn’t co with you?"
The guard couldn’t help but ask.
Though the couple usually didn’t appear very close, they mostly arrived and left together. Particularly on weekends, scenes of Mr. Holden picking up Mrs. Holden had been seen several tis.
Jean Ellison was taken aback by the question, unsure how to respond.
At that mont, a beam of cold car lights approached, the black rcedes drove up, stopping precisely behind Jean Ellison’s car.
The car door opened, Justin Holden stepped out.
He wore his morning ho attire with a black windbreaker casually over it, tall and steady, walking to Jean Ellison’s side, naturally placing his hand on her waist.
Jean Ellison’s body montarily stiffened, instinctively trying to dodge but was held steady by the force subtly contained in his palm.
Justin Holden looked at the startled guard, Old Wang, with an expressionless face, voice calm and indifferent, even carrying a perfectly asured, seemingly like he thought the question was fussing.
"The one who just brought my wife back was my cousin, just gave her a ride along the way."
He paused, scanning Old Wang, his tone still ordinary but conveying an undeniable conclusion.
"We’re all family, just chatted so casual talk, our relationship is very good, you overthought."
Old Wang felt embarrassed and quickly smiled apologetically: "Oh, look at talking nonsense. So that’s how it is, Mr. and Mrs. Holden, please don’t mind. I was just asking casually, no other aning, good relationship, good relationship!"
Justin Holden no longer looked at him, slightly tightened his grip on Jean Ellison’s waist, turning her, heading toward the unit foyer, leaving the guard awkwardly smiling behind.
Once in the elevator, Justin Holden imdiately released his hand, as if he touched sothing distasteful, stepping aside, distancing himself from Jean Ellison.
The elevator’s reflective walls showed his extrely cold side profile and Jean Ellison’s slightly pale face.
Jean Ellison watched the floor numbers change, her fingers quietly curling, nails pressing into her palm.
She knew he saw it.
He was angry too.
She just wasn’t sure where his anger was coming from.
Was it rely because she returned in another man’s car, seen by the guard, possibly affecting Lawyer Holden’s ’dignity’?
Reviews
All reviews (0)