apter 206 An Earnest Plea


    Tears streamed down Caleb’s checks; he choked out again and again, “Thank you… thank you…”


    So far, she was the only person genuinely willing to help him.


    How could he feel anything but profound gratitude?


    Leaving the visitation room, Quinn spotted Julius waiting for her in the corridor.


    “All done talking?” he asked.


    She nodded. “He says the ze five years ago wasn’t caused by his dad’s smoking. His dad had a lung nodule and had promised to quit, so he believes there’s no way his father would have lit a cigarette, much less let one start the fire.”


    A subtle light flickered in Julius’s eyes. “So you mean to help him uncover the truth?”


    “Yes,” she replied. “Besides, I’ve always felt that ze was connected to Rowan’s disappearance; I was already thinking of reopening the investigation, so I can look into it for him at the same time.”


    “I’ll investigate with you,” Julius said.


    “Good.” Quinn didn’t refuse; on a matter like this, one more set of hands increased the odds of finding <i>a </i>useful lead.


    “Actually, let me help Quinnie,” Han’s voice suddenly echoed across the lobby.


    Quinn turned and saw that, at some unknown moment, Han had walked into the detention center’s lobby. “Why are you here? I thought we agreed to meet tomorrow so I could show you around?”


    “I had nothing else to do,” Han replied lightly. “When I heard you’de here, I figured I’d drop by. Whatever you’re investigating, let me handle it with you.”


    Because he’d only just arrived, he hadn’t caught the conversation Quinn and Julius had been having earlier.


    So, Quinn recounted her entire exchange with Caleb.


    Han pondered for a moment. “Digging into something from five years ago won’t be easy, but we can still hunt for clues. And… if Sidonie was at the co–pilot’s side when he died–if she witnessed everything yet chose not to help–then she might know something.”


    Quinn had considered the same possibility. “Even if she does know anything, I doubt she’ll talk.”


    After all, it was the co–pilot’s own son who had kidnapped Sidonie, forced her in front of a livestream, and pressured her into confessing–on camera–that she had stood by and watched someone die. With the whole inte now denouncing Sidonie, how could she possibly step forward and tell the real story that would clear the co–pilot’s name?


    “If that’s the case, dig deeper–investigate Sidonie right alongside him. Maybe we’ll turn up something useful,” Han suggested.


    “We really don’t have any better option than to start digging and see whether there’s anything we can use,” Quinn replied.


    “Quinn, you seem to feel sorry for Caleb. Why don’t I hire a defense attorney for him?” Han added.


    “Julius already found him awyer,” Quinn told him.


    “Quinn, have you forgotten what kind of family my grandfather’s side is? I can get him the very best. defense attorney in Jexburgh,” Han said breezily


    “The attorneys on the Whitethorn legal team already are the best Jexburgh has to offer,” Julius answered without the slightest courtesy.


    The two men locked horns again. Quinn rubbed her temples, wondering why Julius and Han simply could not get along.


    After they left the detention center, Quinn headed toward the old Bridger residence that had belonged to the fifth branch of the family.


    The Relocation Office had already transferred the title of the entire property to her name alone.


    She understood that the demolition was part of the city’s urban nning initiative.


    Still, the house held so many of her family’s belongings–each a piece of memory. She intended to sort and pack everything herself, then hire a movingpany to store the boxes temporarily at her ce in downtown Yarburn.


    Julius and Han insisted on apanying her to help with the packing.


    And so, in Quinn’s childhood home, two ordinarily aloof, impably dressed men shrugged off their jackets, rolled up their sleeves, and went to work like hired movers–lifting, wrapping, and taping boxes at her side.


    Watching the contents of the house disappear one item at a time into neatlybeled cartons, Quinn felt an ache of reluctance.


    Every other time she hade back here, there had been four of them–her whole family under one roof. Now she was the only one left.


    She picked up <i>a </i>framed family portrait that was lying on the table. Staring at the smiling faces, she felt her eyes sting and turn red.


    “Quinnie, are you all right?” Julius’s voice sounded behind her.


    “Oh, it’s nothing,” she answered quickly, drawing a deep breath so they wouldn’t see how much it hurt. “You’ve both been working awhile and must be thirsty. I’ll run to the corner shop and grab some water.”


    She slipped the frame containing the portrait into one of the packing boxes and hurried out of the house.


    The moment she was gone, only Julius and Han were left amid the half–packed rooms.


    They red at each other in silence.


    “Quinn is still the same as she was back then–hurting, yet refusing to let anyone see it. Julius, she was looking at her family photo. Couldn’t you tell she was upset?” Han asked irritably.


    Julius pressed his thin lips together and said nothing.


    “Of course, how long have you even known Quinn? Dating her doesn’t change the fact that you barely


    understand her. Give it time–she’ll probably grow tired of you. I’ve known her for years, liv with her in the military–I know exactly what she likes and what she can’t stand.”


    Han’s voice wasnguid, but the look he gave Julius seemed to say wordlessly that it was o time before Quinn discarded him.


    Julius’s gaze darkened; he was keenly aware that the man across from him had known Quin than he had.


    He even found himself resenting those years they had spent together on base–years he co touch.


    “Then do you also know,” Julius shot back coldly, “that Quinn is very fond of my body?”


    Chapter 207 A Fist Flies