Chapter 566
“You know what? Not long ago, I was at an art exhibition and accidentally saw a painting. The woman in it looked strikingly like my mother. So, I made the effort to track down the artist.
“After speaking with him, he recalled that he saw the woman in the painting three years ago in Country A. So, I followed that lead and went to Country A. Guess what I found?”
Black Hawk listened with a deepening frown, unable to deny that Caitlin was the most cunning, meticulous, and determined woman he had ever encountered.
Her persistence, patience, and sheer tenacity exceeded anything he’d imagined. For a single person, a single answer, she would go to any lengths. That kind of obsession was terrifying.
Now, he was genuinely on edge, wondering–what exactly had she uncovered?
“I found the place from the painting. It’s called Flowerstone Tower.”
Caitlin continued speaking while carefully observing his expression. But Black Hawk remained motionless, like a dark, brooding
statue.
“Unfortunately, Flowerstone Tower was demolished earlier this year. It’s nothing but rubble now.
“I found out the property was acquired by ScandBuild Group in Sanctis as part of an urban development project.
“So I reached out to Mikkel to get the building’s records, but he died in an accident before he could help.”
Black Hawk’s expression remained calm, as if he had never heard of Mikkel, or as though none of this had anything to do with him.
“That didn’t stop us. We traced the building’s original owner and learned that Flowerstone Tower used to be a convalescent home. The institution has since relocated.
“Following that lead, we tracked down the new facility and its director–Tobias. Do you know him?”
“I don’t,” Black Hawk answered flatly,
“I figured as much. Tobias seemed like a decent man. When we arrived, something unexpected happened.”
Black Hawk’s face shifted slightly with irritation,
“Are you done yet? Your whole tragic mommy–hunt story doesn’t interest me. If you’ve got no real questions, I’m done here.”
“Fine, fine, I’ll keep it short. When we arrived, a girl named Ida attempted to jump off the roof. That part’s not important. Anyway, we spoke to Tobias-”
“What did you say? Who jumped?”
For the first time, Black Hawk interrupted, his voice laced with tension.
The once–disinterested man suddenly leaned forward, visibly shaken.
“A girl named Ida. She was a patient at the center. Why? Do you know her?”
Caitlin noticed the shift immediately. He hadn’t reacted to anything–until she mentioned Ida. Only then did he seem truly rattled.
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His guard returned just as quickly. “No. Never heard of her. Go on.”
“She’s a poor girl. Lost her parents, lost an arm, and suffers from a rare disease. Her brother–her only family–never came to see her. She was heartbroken, which is why she tried to take her life.”
“Did she… die?”
His voice was even, but the fists clenched in his lap gave him away.
“No. She’s alive. We happened to be there and I pulled her back in time.”
Black Hawk looked away, silent for several seconds before finally turning back to Caitlin.
“And then?”
Caitlin, sensing his interest, continued.
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“She’s safe now. After learning her story, I promised to help her find her brother. She gave me a photo of them from when they were kids.”
Caitlin took out the photo and held it up.
“See? I’m not lying.”
Black Hawk stared at the photo in silence, his face unreadable, as still as a statue.
Caitlin put the phone away and pressed on.
“Later, we got more info from Tobias. We found someone named Ellie. Her timeline and symptoms matched my mother’s exactly. But before Flowerstone Tower was sold, she was taken away by a man named Parker. Do you know him?”
“I don’t. I’ve never heard any of this. I’ve never even been to Country A.”
He denied everything.
Caitlin nodded. “Alright then. If you say so.”
She ended the call and stood up to leave.
Black Hawk remained seated, eyes fixed on her retreating figure. No one could tell what he was really thinking.
Outside the visitation room, Zinnia waited for Caitlin to come out. She immediately stepped forward.
“How did it go? Did he say anything?”
“Of course not. That guy’s tougher than concrete in a sewer.”
The two of them walked out together. Zinnia sounded frustrated.
“You were so close to finding your mother. Just a little more… If only Black Hawk would talk, it’d be so much easier.”
“He’s not the kind of person you
can bribe or threaten. His willpower is terrifying. But getting through to him isn’t impossible–l
think I’ve found a crack.”
15:17 Tue, 2 Sept
“A crack?” Zinnia looked at her, intrigued.
Caitlin smiled confidently. “Give it time. Once I find the right leverage, he’ll talk.”
<
Zinnia didn’t know what leverage Caitlin had in mind, but she believed her. If anyone could crack Black Hawk, it was Caitlin.
On the way back from the prison, Caitlin received a call from Wendy. They agreed to meet at a local coffee shop.
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At Orange Grove Café, Wendy had been working there for a while. After being constantly harassed by Benjamin, she’d changed jobs several times.
Now that Benjamin was supposedly on a business trip abroad, she could finally breathe.
Hopefully that jerk had a terrible trip and stayed overseas for a long while.
Today, she was looking forward to seeing Caitlin. She’d been working hard to lose weight and couldn’t wait to show off her
progress.
When the front bell jingled, Wendy looked up with a smile, thinking Caitlin had arrived.
But the smile froze on her face as soon as she saw who it really was.
No.
Of all the people she didn’t want to see today…
She had half a mind to turn around and leave. But then she paused.
Why should she run?
She had nothing to be afraid of.
Let’s see what they’re up to now.