?Chapter 43:


    Increasing his speed, Eric made his way directly to Silver Vis.


    “Hadley!” he called out as he entered the foyer.


    The living room was shrouded in darkness, reminding him of the previous night. With those events in mind, he quickly moved toward the back of the house.


    Tonight, however, the light in the bathroom was off. Could Hadley have already gone to bed? He might need to wake her. If not for N’s insistence on a joint call, he might have refrained from disturbing her.


    “Which room is she using?” he wondered aloud.


    Uncertain, Eric proceeded to check each room, finding them all unupied. The guest rooms were untouched, the beds bare of fresh linens, showing no signs of recent use.


    How could this be? Where exactly had Hadley been staying these past nights?


    At the police station.


    “Name?” the officer asked.


    “Hadley Pearson.”


    “Age?”


    “24.”


    “Home address?”


    Hadley paused for a moment, then shook her head. “I don’t have one.”


    The officer looked up, his eyebrow arched in surprise. “Are you implying you’re homeless?”


    “Whatever fits,” Hadley replied with a slight nod.


    “Ridiculous!” the officer eximed. “Give me a proper answer!” He studied her appearance, noticing she didn’t look like someone who had been living on the streets.


    Exhaling deeply, Hadley remained firm. “Officer, I’m not lying. I don’t have a ce to stay. That’s the truth.” The officer was momentarily speechless. He could sense theplexity of the situation.


    Just then, another officer entered, escorting the biker. His injury had been attended to, and a bandage now wrapped around his head. He was directed to sit in a chair.


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    The biker shot a furious look at Hadley, then yelled, “Officer, this woman tried to murder me! I demand to press charges! I want her prosecuted!”


    “Settle down!” the officer snapped. “Why are you shouting? Do you think this is your house?”


    The officer then turned to Hadley. “Exin to us why you attacked him.”


    Remaining calm, Hadley answered clearly, “He attempted to assault me. I was just defending myself.”


    “Seriously?” The biker stood up abruptly, visibly angry. “Officer, look at her! She’s unharmed! Meanwhile, I have a serious head wound, and she’s acting like nothing’s wrong! How can that be? Who just carries a brick in their bag?”


    “Sit down and be quiet!” the officermanded, gesturing firmly at him. “We’ll sort this out.”


    The officers considered the possibility of retrieving surveince footage, but the area’s remoteness made it difficult. This wasn’t a main thoroughfare, and no cameras were present.


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