Chapter 23
“Now that we’re divorced, it’s best if we don’t see each other from now on. We shouldn’t even have anything to do with each other. It’s the only way for you to make Ms. Dalton feel secure.” Angeline still held some hope for Ned’s conscience. “It’s the best for you, for me, and for Ms. Dalton.”
Ned hung up without another word. Angeline put down the phone, feeling empty inside. She could only hope Anne’s matter would end here.
Now that she could relax, she ate something before calling Zachary and asking him whether he could get Anne out of the police station.
“Things aren’t going too well, Angie,” Zachary said grimly. “I don’t know what the guy who pushed Anne said to the police, but I’m thinking of something. Don’t panic, okay?”
Angeline tightened her grip on her glass of water. “Okay. Thanks for this.”
As soon as she hung up, her phone started vibrating again. She hurriedly answered it and said, “Hello?”
“Angeline Emmerson?” The voice sounded familiar.
“This is she,” she answered.
“Come to Regalia Hotel at 7:00 pm tonight. If you don’t, you can watch that York woman end up in jail!” It was Tommy.
Angeline connected the dots when she thought about Zachary saying that things weren’t going well. She clutched the phone tightly. “We live in a civilized society; things like this require evidence.
“The surveillance footage from the airport is enough to prove Anne’s innocence. No one can turn lies into the truth and accuse her of something she didn’t do.”
“Ha. Is that really what you think? Give it a try, then.” Tommy sneered. “Anyway, that York woman seems to have adopted a 14–year–old mute last year. If you don’t come … I’ll have no choice but to go after her.”
Angeline tensed. Tommy continued nonchalantly, “I know you know your rights; you also love teaching others about theirs. Don’t worry–I won’t go after her in person and leave any traces behind.
“If I’m not mistaken, she’s in middle school now, right? Do you think she’d be afraid of being bullied at school? I heard many people have taken their lives over that in recent years. Maybe …”
1/2
The angrier Angeline was, the calmer she became. Her hand trembled as she held her phone up, though. “Did Ned ask you to call me?”
“Where else do you think I would’ve gotten your number from? I’ll see you at 7: 00 pm at Regalia Hotel, at Room 3020, the Seacloud Pavilion. You have less than two hours to go, and Oceanford’s traffic is at its worse now. Let’s hope you make it here on time.” Tommy hung up.
Angeline’s throat was dry. Her chest heaved, taking a while for her to calm down. After going through bullying herself, there was no way she would allow Henrietta York to go through what she’d experienced.
She gritted her teeth at the thought of Henrietta’s bright smile. Then, she quickly put on her coat, wrapped her scarf around her, and grabbed her phone and identification. She hailed a cab to Regalia Hotel.
“You can’t listen to everything Ingrid says, Ned! Look–it wasn’t easy for me to get you these drugs. Once Angeline has them in her system, we can record a video of her to prove your innocence to Ingrid-”
The room’s doors flew open. Angeline stood there. At the same time, the
grandfather clock placed in a corner of the room started chiming, stopping after seven chimes.
Ned looked up, seemingly surprised by Angeline’s appearance.
“You’re pretty punctual, Ms. Emmerson!” Tommy nudged Ned with his elbow. He lowered his voice and said, “This is the perfect chance to prove yourself to Ingrid, Ned. Don’t let my drugs go to waste!”
He turned to Angeline and said at a normal volume, “I don’t mean anything else by inviting you here today, Ms. Emmerson.”
He flipped his messy hair as he stood up and smiled. “Since you and Ned have already divorced, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind drinking a few drinks with all of us acting as witnesses.
“At the same time, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind swearing that you won’t pester Ned anymore. Gotta put an end to the things you’ve started, right?”
