?Chapter 2836:


    By dawn, when the first pale streaks of light crept across the sky, Ellis finally called Hadley.


    She answered at once.


    “Hello? Tell me you have something.” Her voice trembled with urgency.


    “I do.”


    Ellis said, “The ount traces back to someone named Carter Benson.”


    The name meant nothing to Hadley.


    “Carter Benson?” she repeated, searching her memory and finding no connection.


    But recognition struck elsewhere.


    “Carter Benson? Could it really be him?” Ernest’s voice cut into the silence.


    Perplexed, Hadley asked, “Who are you talking about?”


    “Andrea Benson,” Ernest answered without hesitation.


    “The woman you once asked me to look into—that name came up during the investigation.”


    “Andrea Benson?” Hadley echoed, her head snapping up as her eyes flew to Eric.


    Together, they said, “It has to be her!”


    Rushing to connect the dots, Eric added, “The surnames match. How are they connected?”


    “Carter is Andrea’s grand-uncle,” Ernest said without pause.


    He reminded them how Hadley and Eric had once traced Andrea to a remote town. Back then, Ernest had ordered Quentin to dig deeper into her movements.


    Andrea herself hadn’t surfaced again, but they discovered she owned property there—hidden under Carter’s name.


    Ellis, catching pieces of their exchange, raised his voice.


    “You actually know this woman?”


    “We do!” Hadley said quickly.


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    “And more than that—we know her hideout in Srixby, on Maze Street!”


    Ellis didn’t waste a second.


    “That settles it. We’re leaving for Maze Street right now!”


    “Stay in touch with us!” Hadley’s voice left no room for argument.


    Once the call ended, Hadley bit her lip as doubts churned inside her. She shook her head slowly.


    “Andrea won’t be at Maze Street. I just know it…”


    Her words met Eric’s eyes, and he understood at once.


    “You think she’s hiding in Stone Pond Town, don’t you?”


    “Exactly!” Hadley replied with conviction.


    “Ernest, Eric—we have to be ready. If necessary, we’ll hunt her down ourselves.”


    Eric and Ernest exchanged a silent look, then gave firm nods.


    “Got it,” Ernest said, already dialing Quentin to set things in motion.


    Momentster, Ellis’ number shed on Hadley’s screen again.


    “Hadley, Andrea hasn’t shown up at Maze Street. Neighbors swear she’s been gone for more than two weeks.”


    “I knew it!” Hadley blurted, her suspicion confirmed. She wasted no time telling him what they believed about Andrea’s whereabouts.


    Ellis replied without hesitation, “Understood. I’ll make some calls ande pick you up.”


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