Chapter 67: Disappearance (Part 1)


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    Chapter 67: Disappearance (Part 1)


    When Finn Lewis returned home, Fishy Wells was not back yet. However, he didn’t have to wait long as she soon arrived, returning with the cash that Finn had asked for. He put the money in a paper bag and ced it at the door, preparing to visit the little girl the next day. Finn was no saviour, unable to help everyone, but he could at least assist this one girl.


    The next day, Finn got up early and drove straight to the girl’s house – the location of which he had memorized the previous day. He hadn’t decided how he would give the money yet, but considering that the girl and her grandmother were entirely dependant on each other, he felt that the money could, at least, provide some basic nutrition for the girl, and possibly even afford her school fee if she didn’t manage to attend school otherwise. If she couldn’t go to school, her future would likely mirror her grandmother’s fate.


    The difference was simply between a solitary individual or a family. Finn had woken upte, and by the time he arrived at the ce, it was almost noon. The girl should have been home by then, right? However, to his surprise, when he drove near the girl’s shantytown, he saw two police cars parked there.


    Finn paused for a while, then a realization hit him like a tidal wave. He parked his car and started running towards the shantytown. He remembered the middle-aged woman mentioning that the girl’s grandmother was sick and was already 78 years old. Could it be… A possibility shed through Finn’s mind, it would take something like that to involve the police since the people in this area would otherwise rarely have anything to do withw enforcement.


    Finn was swift. After rushing into the crowd, he elbowed his way to the front. Once there, he almost pped himself for not being there sooner. A stretcherid in the middle of the street, covered with a white cloth that hinted at the unmistakable shape of a body underneath. From the look of it, it was evident someone had died.


    Several police officers were questioning the middle-aged woman who ran the nearby store. When the woman saw Finn, she pointed at him, loudly proiming, “Yes, that’s him! He asked about this grandmother and granddaughter yesterday. I remember clearly, they don’t have any rtives, only neighbors around here, it’s impossible for others to ask about them.”


    The police officers immediately shifted their gaze towards Finn. Hearing the woman’s words, two officers approaching Finn quickly. Finn frowned but didn’t dodge, he walked out from the crowd and asked, “What’s going on?”


    Seeing Finn’s reaction, the officers exchanged looks but took no further action.


    The middle-aged officer who had been questioning the woman walked towards Finn and said, “Comrade, there’s been an incident here, and we need to understand the situation. Thisdy says you asked her about the grandmother and granddaughter who live in that house yesterday. Is that true?” “Yes. What happened to them?” Finn responded anxiously.


    “What’s your rtionship with them?” Instead of answering Finn’s question, the officer continued with his own.


    “Nothing, we’re strangers. I’m asking you, what has happened to them?!” Finn’s voice raised with frustration.


    “Comrade, don’t rush. You don’t look like a stranger to them. Why are you in such a hurry? And if you are not rted, why were you asking about them?” The middle-aged officer queried.


    “Answer my question first, what happened to them?” Finn persisted.


    “Watch your attitude, we’re police officers handling a case here! We are questioning you!” Another young police officer interjected sternly.


    “Are police so impressive? Is my question wrong? Shouldn’t I, at least, know what has happened?” Finn retorted without fear and stared back at the officer.


    “This is what happened: someone called the police this morning to report an incident concerning the grandmother and granddaughter. Last night, around midnight, people heard the little girl crying. As it waste, no one went out to check. However, at around 6 a.m. today, she opened the door, and by 9 a.m. when the little girl still hadn’t been seen, the woman grew suspicious. She checked their home and found that the old woman had passed away, and the little girl had disappeared. Their home, however, was not disturbed.” The middle-aged officer quickly briefed Finn on the situation.


    He continued, “Now, young man, can you tell me why you were inquiring about them yesterday?”


    Finn felt a surge of self-reproach. He wondered why he hadn’t visited them the day before and had to wait until today. Responding to the officer, he said with a wry smile, “Honestly, I don’t know them. But after a meal with my friend yesterday, I identally lost my wallet, and it was this little girl who found it. Imagine this: a little girl dressed in rags and carrying a waste collecting bag, yet she returned all of my lost 800 yuan without forfeiting a single cent.”


    “I was surprised and followed her out of curiosity, looking to see what she was up to. But I noticed she had no adults apanying her, so I trailed her all the way back to her home. We walked for almost an hour, from the street near F University to here. As I saw her enter the house, I asked thisdy here about them, wanting to offer them some help within my means.”


    Feeling a bitter sting, Finn continued, “However, I didn’t have enough money on me then, so I nned toe over today. I had withdrawn 50,000 yuan intending to give it to them, but who knew such a thing would happen. I me myself for not going in to check yesterday. Why did I have to wait a day?” Finn’s face bore the pain of his regret.


    It was just one night. Maybe, if he had checked on them yesterday, the olddy would still be alive. After listening to Finn’s exnation, the onlookers sighed in sympathy. Finn then opened the bag in his hand to reveal the 50,000 yuan inside for everyone to see. Seeing the money, one of the police officers gave him aforting pat on the shoulder, “You’re a good person. But there’s no need for you to feel guilty. We just had a medical examiner check, even if you hade yesterday, the olddy wouldn’t have made it. She was in thete stages of liver cancer, and it had spread throughout her organs. It’s a miracle she held on this long.”


    Final stages of liver cancer? Finn was stunned. Despite the officer’s reassurances, he couldn’t escape the sickening pang of guilt spreading through him..