Friday, March 26th
Rosary Police Station, 8:30 a.m.
Neil was welcomed at the police station by Steve Ganderson, who summoned him upstairs to see what he had found out. He didn’t take off his jacket because the excitement on the face of his agents betrayed the importance of Steve’s discovery.
He waited until the large screen in front of him came to life.
Steve explained: “Last night, before leaving the police station, I had found some information that was really upsetting. This morning, I came here early to continue my research, and this is what I have found out.” At that moment, John entered the open space. Neil waved at him and silently invited him to watch the large screen.
Steve went on: “Little over four years ago, the police found the remains of a dead woman in her car that had fallen off a slope just outside Kelowna. The car had caught fire, and the woman was unrecognizable. Apparently, there was no other car involved. The victim had no relatives, and she was identified as Rebecca Blain, because she had her ID and her driving license in her bag. The bag had fallen off the car and was found among the rocks not far from it. I have searched the net for pictures of Rebecca Blain, and I have found two or three photos.” On the screen, they saw a photo of the woman they knew under the name of Barbara Davies Lewis. Neil looked at Steve, and he waited for him to go on, even if he was beginning to understand what had happened.
Steve projected another photo. This time, the woman was unknown to all of them.
He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Barbara Davies.”
Neil thought for a few moments. Then he commented: “Ok, the woman we know as Barbara Lewis is, in reality, Rebecca Blain. What do we know about this woman?” John was listening disbelievingly to the exchange.
“Oh, we have quite a record, Neil. That woman, Rebecca Blain, had been in prison in Victoria for theft, aggression and the attempted murder of an old lady, her grandmother. She served over seven years in prison. Then she came out. She earned a living doing odd jobs for some years and, after a while, was killed, or the police believed she was killed, in that car accident.”
Neil finished the sentence: “So that she could go on under another name, the name of a woman who had providentially died in that same car crash. At this point, we can think that it was not an accident. One thing remains constant in the life of this Rebecca Blain. She has a particular and dangerous hate for elderly women. Why? Did you find out anything about her past life?”
Bob intervened: “I am looking into it right now, Neil. She was born in Vancouver, and she is the daughter of a theatre actor and actress. They were constantly travelling around Canada, and they left their daughter with the maternal grandmother. When she was ten years old, both her parents died in a plane crash during one of their tours. It seems she had a difficult relationship with her grandma, and eventually, the elderly lady refused to raise her granddaughter. She was sent to a boarding school… One day, almost thirteen years ago, she attacked her grandmother and almost killed her. The old lady recovered, but she died a few years later, while Blain was in prison.”
Neil looked at John and said: “Now I want you to issue an arrest warrant for Barbara Davies, aka Rebecca Blain. Please, David, do it quickly.” David started to work with his computer and the telephone on his desk.
Neil said: “Bob, put me immediately in contact with Nolan Lewis, please. Steve, call the school and ask if Robin Lewis is there.”
Neil and John went to Neil’s office, and Neil told John: “We have to find this Rebecca Blain before she harms anyone else. Maybe she still doesn’t know that we have discovered the truth about her, and we have an advantage.”
John intervened: “But if Sawyer is her accomplice, she certainly knows that he has been arrested and ... What was their plan? Just to kill Stacey Lewis?”
Neil was shaking his head, and his face looked really worried. “I am afraid she wanted or still wants Lewis’s money. I don’t know if she is willing to renounce her plans. And I am still convinced Robin saw something when he found his grandmother. If it is something important, if it is a proof, his life is in danger, John.”
They were interrupted by Steve and David, who came into the office.
David said: “All the police stations around New Brunswick and in the surrounding provinces have been alerted, and also the police at the airports and the borders with the U.S. Nolan Lewis is not in Rosary. Bob has just tried to contact him, and the notary’s receptionist told him he had to go to St John on business. I told the receptionist to try to put him in contact with us. He asked about Margaret, too, and the receptionist said that she left last Wednesday after the funeral. She is on a trip with a friend, and she will come back home in two weeks.”
Steve intervened: “I called the school, and they confirmed Robin is there. This morning, he was driven to school by Tony.”
Neil said: “Ok, go on with your research, guys. We have to find that woman. Billy, John, let’s go to Lewis’s home.”
They left quickly.
***
Rosary, The Lewis villa, 9:30 a.m.
Neil arrived with Billy and John at the large and imposing villa belonging to the Lewis family.
They saw Tony, who had stopped his car in front of the door to let Carmen out. Seeing the policemen who were approaching, he rolled down the window, while the maid remained standing with the keys in her hand, as if she didn’t know what to do. “Hello, Inspector. I was going to call you.”
“Why, Tony, what’s happened?” Neil asked, trying to conceal his apprehension, because he immediately thought of Robin.
“Last night Mr Lewis insisted I should stay with Robin, even if Mrs Lewis had told him she would be here. He was right, because Barbara didn’t show up all night. This morning, when Robin got up, Mr Lewis had already left.”
Neil and John were listening attentively. Carmen, in the meantime, had opened the door and she had gone into the house. Billy followed her silently.
Tony went on: “Robin was disappointed, because he wanted to talk to his father, but, when I left him at school, he made me promise to call you, Inspector, and to tell you that he wants to talk to you this afternoon after his lessons.”
“Tony, park the car in the garage, and then come into the house. I need to talk to you and Carmen.” He tried to keep his voice calm, but Tony could feel that something was wrong.
When the policemen went into the living room, they saw Carmen with an alarmed expression.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Carmen,” Neil started, “Do you still live here?”
“No, after the death of Mrs. Stacey, Mr. Lewis told me it was no longer necessary for me to live here, that I could come every day for the cleaning and then go home. I am living at my sister’s until I find accommodation.” While she was speaking, Tony came into the room.
“Tony,” Neil turned to him, “Do you live here?”
“No, I have an apartment near the center of the town. I used to come here every day for Mrs. Stacey and Robin, and I take care of the garden. Since Mrs. Lewis’s death, I have often stayed here until late in the evening to wait for someone to come home and not leave Robin alone.”
Neil and John exchanged a glance and Neil said: “Please, now go home, both of you. Don’t come back here for any reason.” Carmen and Tony were staring at him with wide eyes. Carmen objected: “But what will Mr. Lewis say? I have not finished my housework.” and Tony added: “And Robin? Who will go to pick him up at school? I don’t trust Mrs. Lewis anymore.”
Neil answered: “Don’t worry, we will take care of Robin. Oh, and if Barbara Lewis tries to contact you, please tell her you had a problem, and you had to go home. Both of you, please! Don’t tell her you talked to the police. And call us immediately if she contacts you!”
Tony and Carmen exchanged a startled glance, but they just nodded.
Neil said: “And, please, don’t tell anyone what we have told you, not even your sister, Carmen.” The serious countenance of the Inspector intimidated the maid, who nodded and went to take her things. After a few minutes, Tony and Carmen left.
Billy came back from his tour of the house and said: “Everything is in order. In the big wardrobe in the bedroom some clothes hangers are empty, as if some clothes had been taken. And the jewelry box in the bedroom has been overturned and all the jewels are scattered on the top of the chest of drawers.”
Neil asked John: “Please, try to find a bag and pack a pajama and a change of clothes for Robin. He certainly won’t come back here until he is safe.”
John went to the boy’s bedroom and, after some minutes, he came back with a sports bag. He smiled at Neil and said, “I found this with his volleyball clothing and I added pajamas and a change.”
Neil took the bag, but he didn’t smile back. He was really worried.
He asked John: “I would like this home surveilled non-stop, just in case Barbara tries to get back here.”
John nodded and dialed a number on his mobile phone. While the three policemen were preparing to drive away, Neil’s mobile phone rang.
Recognizing the ID, he put the phone on speaker and he said: “Hello, Steve, what’s up?”
“Neil, we are starting to think that Barbara Davies’ murder was premeditated. They - or she - had chosen the victim very carefully. Barbara Davies was born in Ireland, but she had lived and worked in Victoria alone until a few months before the accident. At the time of the accident, she had been living in Kelowna for a few weeks. She didn’t know anybody there. She had told her family in Ireland and her few friends in Victoria that she would move to the U.S. so they didn’t look for her in Canada.”
“Have you found out anything that connects Blaine to Sawyer?”
“Not yet, Neil, but Gordon called a few minutes ago to tell us they have shown Sawyer’s photo to the neighbors and friends of the victims all over Canada, but nobody has recognized him.”
“Ok. Go on looking into the life of Rebecca Blain. Send a photo of the woman to Gordon and explain what we suspect. She must have a place where she can go to hide, because she has disappeared, and last night she was not at home. We are fairly certain she knows we have discovered something, or she got frightened after Sawyer’s arrest. We MUST find her. Thank you, guys.”
This was another thing John was starting to appreciate of his superior: no matter how difficult the situation was, he was always kind to his agents. He always took time to thank them and encourage them. He was a really remarkable man.
***
10:00 am
Things were getting more and more complicated. Rebecca was in her hiding place, but she was nervous because she didn’t know what the police had found out about her. The night before would have been the perfect chance for her to get rid of the child, because Nolan had a business dinner, and she had accepted to stay at home with Robin. She had arrived at the villa … Nolan’s car was not there …why hadn’t Tony parked the SUV in the garage as usual? Why hadn’t he gone home? She had waited and, after a while, she had seen Tony drive the car into the garage, but … Instead of going home he had gone back to Nolan’s apartment… Seeing she couldn’t be alone with Robin, she had gone back to her hiding place.
This morning she had gone back to the villa, she had hidden in a side street, where she could observe the movements to and from the house. She had seen Nolan leave early, then Tony with the child … She knew she had little time, because Tony would come back with Carmen. She had walked across the garden, she had cautiously opened the door and gone into the house, she had run upstairs, opened the jewelry box, emptied it, but … Oh, my God! Where was the bracelet? The child had taken it, she was sure. And now?
In her hiding place, she tried to think. But of course, the child would never give the bracelet to the police, because it was his mother’s and he didn’t want to incriminate her. Very well, as long as Robin thought the bracelet was his mother’s, she was safe, but she had to get rid of the child as soon as possible.
Yes, she had an idea. She knew where she could find the boy the following day. And maybe she could use him as a hostage …
***
Rosary police station, 11:00 a.m.
Neil had been in his office for a few minutes with John when Bob signaled to him that there was a phone call. Neil picked up the receiver and put the phone on speaker.
“McKinley,” he said curtly.
“Inspector, I am Nolan Lewis.” The voice of the notary didn’t sound arrogant at all this time. He even seemed worried.
Neil exchanged a glance with John and said: “Mr. Lewis, where are you now?”
“I am in St. John, in a hotel room. My receptionist was able to reach me, but I wanted to call you. Have you seen my wife Barbara recently?”
“She came to the police station yesterday afternoon”, Neil answered cautiously, without going into the details of his conversation with Barbara, “Why do you ask me?”
“Because I have not been able to reach her since yesterday morning. On Wednesday night she tried to tell me that Dana is responsible for my mother’s death. I immediately stopped her, but I didn’t like her behavior.”
Neil and John exchanged a glance, and Neil asked:
“Does your wife know where you are now?”
“No, because I decided this morning to drive to St John. I am coming home this evening.”
“No, Mr Lewis. We ask you not to come back to Rosary, at least until tomorrow. Is it a problem for you?”
At the other end of the line there was silence for a few moments, and then Nolan Lewis said:
“No, it isn’t. But what’s the matter, inspector?”
An anguished voice in the background said: “And Robin?”
Neil and John exchanged a glance, because they had both recognized the voice as Dana’s. Neil asked,
“Is Dana Morgan there with you? We have been trying to contact her for a while.”
“I know,” Dana answered, “and I can explain, but ... Is Robin in danger?”
“Don’t worry about Robin, Mrs. Morgan. I will take care personally of his safety. Please stay in St John until tomorrow. Both of you. We have reason to believe your life may be in danger. Before going home, contact the police station, please. We can’t tell you anything more at the moment. But, please, do what we tell you and trust us!”
After a few moments, he added: “And, please, don’t tell Barbara where you are, and if she contacts you, call me immediately. But don’t tell her for any reason that you talked to me.”
“Alright, inspector,” the notary had a submissive tone, unusual for him. “We’ll contact you tomorrow, and … thanks!”
When the call ended, Neil looked at John. “What do you think, John?”
John replied, stroking his chin: “I think that something is changing. If they are together, it means that maybe … Let’s wait until tomorrow, Neil.”
“Tomorrow, I intend to talk to them seriously … They have to promise they will take care of Robin, because he can’t be left alone at night. Luckily yesterday night Tony was with him. What would have happened if Barbara gas come back?”
“You are right, Neil. Things can’t go on like this, that’s for sure.”
Neil asked: “John, can you call Anna and tell her what has happened? I will pick up Robin from school and take him to the Trattoria. I want to know what he has been hiding all these days.”
John nodded approvingly.
***
Rosary school, 4:15 p.m.
Robin was desperate when he came out of school, because he didn’t know what to do. His father had already gone out when he got up in the morning. Tony was preparing breakfast for him, and he drove him to school. He hoped the chaffeur had talked to Neil and told him what he had asked him to.
He looked around as soon as he was out of the school door. He was ready to hide if he saw Barbara waiting for him, because now he was really afraid of her. In fact, he knew what maybe the police still didn’t, and in his school bag, he had something that could unmistakably link his stepmother to the murder of his grandma. Maybe Barbara had already seen that the bracelet was missing, and she was looking for him.
He tried to remain behind his schoolmates, and he searched among the cars parked in front of the school, ready to take the children home. He saw Jennifer, waiting for Alan. He saw the sisters waiting for the children from the orphanage. He saw Mark. But ... Who was next to Mark? Usually, Tony stopped to talk to Mark while they were waiting, but this time… Neil, his volleyball coach, the Inspector of Rosary, with his gun and his badge on his belt, was talking to Mark. Was he there for him? At that moment, the policeman saw him and, waving at him, he smiled encouragingly. The boy ran to him, afraid that Barbara may show up at that moment.
Yes, Neil was waiting for him. When he reached him, the policeman smiled and said simply: “Robin, what about going for a snack with Giulia and Mario at Anna’s?”
He looked into the blue eyes of the Inspector, and he asked timidly: “Isn’t Tony coming to drive me home?”
“No, Robin. Tony was busy today, and your father is away, so I offered to pick you up. Is it ok with you?”
Robin nodded, but he wasn’t able to speak, because he could see something was wrong, and he had a lump in his throat. Had something happened to his mum?
If he hadn’t been so anguished, he would have noticed the envious looks of his schoolmates, while he was getting into the car of the famous policeman.
While Neil was driving, Robin kept his eyes downcast because he didn’t want the policeman to see that tears were rolling down his cheeks. Neil didn’t say anything, but he put a hand on his shoulder.
When they arrived in front of the Trattoria, Robin began to relax. There was no sign of Barbara. Anna embraced him when he entered, but he saw that Mark and his schoolmates were not there.
Anna told him softly: “Robin, would you like something to eat? I have a piece of cake. An orange juice?” Robin put down his school bag and shook his head. He was looking around, and he began to feel scared. Why weren’t Giulia and Mario there? Silvia appeared in the kitchen doorway and asked Neil: “Neil, would you like a coffee?” Neil smiled at her and said kindly: “Thanks, Silvia, maybe later.”
Neil sat down at one of the tables and drew Robin near him. Robin had waited for a chance to talk to Neil for more than a week, and now… What would his volleyball coach think of him? Would he be angry with him? He knew he had done something wrong, he had hidden a piece of evidence. But this was his opportunity to talk, especially now that he knew his mum was not involved.
Neil was looking at him, but he didn’t look angry. He was looking worried. Worried about him? Nobody was ever worried about him in his family. He resisted the impulse he felt of throwing himself into the arms of the policeman and giving vent to all the apprehension, the fear, the sadness, the sense of solitude he had held back for too many days.
He remained standing in front of Neil, who had taken the boy’s hands into his. Oh, how warm those hands were… His father had never held his hands like this.
He locked eyes with the policeman. Anna was sitting next to him, but she didn’t speak.
Neil finally said: “Robin, Tony told me that you wanted to talk to me. What did you want to tell me?”
Robin lowered his gaze, and Neil encouraged him: “Don’t be afraid, Robin. Whatever it is, tell me. And don’t worry, we don’t believe your mum is guilty of anything. We know it was Barbara who hurt your grandma.”
Robin raised his hands to his face, trying to suppress the sobs that were shaking his body. Neil drew him closer and embraced him. For a few minutes, he just felt the strong arms of the policeman around his shoulders and the gentle hand of Anna stroking his hair affectionately. Their comforting presence was able to soothe him and, with eyes full of tears, he looked at the policeman. He freed himself from his embrace. He knew now he had to speak.
“Neil, I am sorry, but I have done a bad thing.”
Neil wiped away the tears from the boy’s cheeks and said: “Tell me what happened, Robin, nobody is judging or scolding you. I know you wanted to talk to me, but you were prevented from doing it …”
Robin went to take his school bag, and he opened the front pocket. He took out two little bundles made with a paper handkerchief, and he held them in his hands.
He began to talk, and he noticed it was not as difficult as he had expected.
“When I saw my grandma in her bed,” he couldn’t force himself to say the word ‘dead’, “I saw the pillow on the floor, and, next to it, there was this.” He opened the smallest bundle, and a precious stone, evidently belonging to a bracelet, appeared. Neil didn’t touch it and asked Silvia, who was standing behind Robin: “Have you got a freezer bag, Silvia?” The young woman nodded and went to the kitchen. She came back after a few moments with a freezer plastic bag. She opened it, and Neil, using the handkerchief, put the stone carefully into the bag.
Then he smiled at Robin and asked: “Why didn’t you give it to me when I came upstairs, and you were still in your grandma’s bedroom?”
Robin sighed. He didn’t want to start crying once again. He said: “Because I had seen my mum wearing the bracelet that the stone belongs to. It was a gift from my father, and she always had it when she went out.” Neil and Anna exchanged a glance, and Neil said: “So you thought we would arrest your mum, and you hid the stone. You did it to protect your mother, didn’t you?” Robin nodded. Neil had understood his intentions, but was it enough to justify him?
He went on: “Yesterday I found a new photo of my dad with Barbara, a photo taken a few days ago, just before my grandma went to Heaven, and ... Barbara was wearing the bracelet. I went to her bedroom, and I took this.” He opened the largest bundle, and there was a bracelet. It was evident that a stone was missing and there were some scratches in the gold frame. Neil wrapped it in the handkerchief and put it into the same plastic bag.
Neil dialed a number on his mobile phone and, when he got an answer, he said: “Steve, please, come to Anna’s Trattoria. I have evidence connected to the case of Stacey Lewis that you should take to the lab immediately… Ok, thanks.”
He turned to Robin, and the boy said timidly: “I am afraid I touched the stone and the bracelet, Neil.”
Neil smiled and said: “Don’t worry, Robin. We will concentrate on the other fingerprints we find...”
Robin began to feel better, now that he had finally been able to say what he had done, also because he saw that Neil kept on smiling, so maybe he was not angry.
Neil looked at him with affection, and he said calmly: “Robin, I am not saying that what you did is right, because you should have given us the stone immediately...” Robin cast down his troubled face. Neil gently raised it to look at him. He continued: “But I think that you have done this to protect your mother.” Robin nodded, and Neil went on: “And I firmly believe that, if your mother and father had had time to listen to you, things would have been different. Robin, adults must take decisions and solve problems, not children!”
At that moment, Steve knocked on the door. Anna opened, and he entered, followed by Mark and the twins, who immediately went to hug Robin.
***
While the children were talking and helping Silvia prepare dishes and glasses for the snack, Neil talked to Steve: “This is a bracelet belonging to Rebecca Blain. The stone was found by Robin near his grandmother’s bed. Tell the lab I need the results tomorrow morning. Thanks, Steve!”
Steve left immediately, and Neil called the police station, asking for an agent to stand guard in front of Silvia and Mark’s home and an agent in front of the Trattoria until the following morning.
Anna heard and looked at Neil questioningly. He explained: “We still don’t know where Barbara is, and what she intends to do. She knows Robin likes staying with you, so I want to make sure she won’t try to do anything stupid or reckless.”
“But where will Robin stay tonight?”
Neil answered: “He will stay with me. It’s the safest solution for him and the only way I will not worry all night.” He smiled, and he added: “Don’t worry, it’s just a precaution. Maybe Barbara will be caught during the night. There are checkpoints everywhere.”
***
The atmosphere became visibly more relaxed when Silvia entered with the cake, orange juice for the kids and a cup of coffee for the adults. While they were finishing their snack, Neil turned to Robin, and he asked: “You have got a mobile phone, haven’t you?”
Robin answered: “Yes, I forgot to turn it on.”
“Can you check if you have missed calls, please?”
Robin took the cell phone from his school bag. He turned it on, but there were no missed phone calls. Neil told him to turn it off for the moment.
Then he said: “Robin, do you mind if you come to my home tonight?” Robin’s eyes widened. He would stay overnight at the home of a famous policeman? Certainly, he didn’t mind.
Neil went on: “This morning we went to your home to talk to Carmen and Tony, and John packed pajamas for you in your volleyball bag. I have it in my car. Is it ok with you? Tomorrow your parents will come back to Rosary, and you will be able to go back home, but I don’t want to leave you alone in that big house one more night.” Robin said: “Thank you, Neil.”
***
Rosary, Neil McKinley’s home, 8:30 p.m.
If he weren’t so worried for his mum and so scared of Barbara, this would have been one of the most pleasant evenings Robin had had so far.
They had ordered pizza, they had eaten together, and now they were on Neil’s sofa, and they were watching a volleyball game. Robin’s mobile phone was on, and Neil had instructed him on what he was to say in case Barbara called. It was strange, because when the agents talked to Neil on the phone, he didn’t call her Barbara.
It was so pleasant to spend the evening with Neil. He was calm, reassuring. Robin felt safe next to him. Neil didn’t mention the bracelet any more. They talked about volleyball, about their favorite teams. Neil asked him something about his school.
Then Robin’s mobile phone rang. He picked it up from the coffee table. He saw he didn’t know the number. Neil told him: “Don’t worry, Robin. Answer and, if it is Barbara, tell her what I have told you. Robin, don’t be scared. You are here with me.” Neil smiled, and the boy felt reassured.
He said: “Hello”
“Hello, Robin!” He had never liked that woman who had taken his mother’s place. How many times his grandmother had told him to be kind to Barbara. But there was something that he had never been able to accept.
He put the phone on speaker, so that Neil could listen.
“Where are you, Robin?”
“I am at home, Barbara. Yesterday you didn’t come home. Are you coming tonight?”
The comforting presence of the policeman gave him a courage he didn’t believe he had. Neil gave him the thumbs up and smiled at him.
“No, I am with a friend of mine. I will come tomorrow, because your mum has asked me to take you to St. John.”
“Ok, Barbara.” He wanted to say that he didn’t believe a word but he just added: “When are you coming to pick me up?”
The call was interrupted. Neil called Bob, who was checking Robin’s phone, and he spoke to him. Robin heard just Neil’s part of the conversation.
“Have you been able to trace the call? …Ok ... Damn, evidently, she saw the police, and she ran away, but where ...Any news from the checkpoints?... Yes, she must be still in town. Ok, thanks, Bob. Call me any time if you have updates. Bye.”
He smiled at Robin and he said: “Robin, you have been amazing. What about going to bed now?”
Robin nodded and, before he knew what he was doing, he embraced that policeman, who was taking care of him. Neil gently freed himself from the embrace and looked at Robin: “Don’t worry, ok? As long as you are with me, you are absolutely safe.”
The boy went to have a shower and put on his pajamas, then he went to bed in Neil’s guest bedroom. Certainly, it was much smaller than his enormous room at home, but it was cozy and, for the first time in his life, someone was sitting on the edge of the bed to make sure that he was alright.
He was turning off his mobile, when it rang. He looked at the caller ID, and he told Neil, unable to hide his emotion: “It’s mum!”
“Answer, Robin.”
Robin put the phone on speaker and said: “Hi, Mum.”
A voice choked with emotion and worry answered: “Robin, darling, are you alright?”
“Yes, Mum!” he looked at Neil to ask for his permission to tell where he was, and Neil nodded. “I am at Inspector McKinley’s home. I am in bed. We ate pizza and watched volleyball on TV.”
Dana said: “Thank you, Inspector. Can we come home tomorrow?”
Neil answered: “You can come back, but not home for now. When you are approaching Rosary, please call the police station, and we will let you know what you can do, ok? Is Mr. Lewis still with you?” Robin couldn’t believe it. His mum and dad together?
He heard the voice of his father: “Yes, Inspector, I am here.”
Neil warned the notary: “Please, if Barbara calls you, don’t tell her where Robin is, ok?”
“Of course, inspector, but I have not heard from Barbara all day. Thank you for taking care of my son. Goodnight, Robin. See you tomorrow.”
Robin said: “Goodnight, dad, goodnight mum.”
Tears were running down his cheeks, but he was crying for joy. Maybe his mum and dad…He didn’t dare to hope, but maybe…
Neil tucked him in and ruffled his hair affectionately.
“Goodnight, Robin.” After many days, Robin fell asleep immediately.
***
Anna’s home, 11:00 p.m.
Anna was preparing to go to bed after a busy evening at the Trattoria. The events of the afternoon filled her mind and her heart. The more she got to know Neil, the more she appreciated him, both as a policeman and as a man. The way he had talked to Robin, the way he had been able to soothe his fears, the way he had encouraged him to talk, the way he had taken care of the poor boy, taking him into his home - she didn’t know how many policemen would have done this. He was really a caring, helpful and reliable man. And he had not hesitated to ask her for help. And he had worried about her and her daughter’s family’s safety. But ... The reaction he had had the day before. Why? Certainly, there was a reason, because he had been so considerate to her up to then. Her daughter had told her that maybe it was because he was an orphan, and he had never had a mother. She had advised her to leave him alone and to avoid trying to embrace him. But she had to know. Maybe she had hurt him. She felt that there was something else in his past life, something more tragic than being an orphan... She decided she would wait for a few days, and then she would try to talk to him.
ns216.73.216.134da2
and then Add to home screen.