“Do you want me to bring her in for interrogation?” Boyce asked, eager to find any clue about Dolores.
Matthew closed his eyes, looking a bit weary. “No need.”
This woman still served a purpose for him.
Understanding that Matthew had a plan, Boyce didn’t dwell on the matter. “This is clearly a massive conspiracy. First, Beulah, Maria, and now this fake Ms. Flores approaching you. They’ve gone through so much trouble just for this imposter to come to you? How does it benefit Maria?”
Matthew’s eyes shot open, quickly piecing together the events that had transpired. Beulah’s death might not have been directly linked to Maria, but she was willing to sacrifice herself because of Annabelle. Maria had never known freedom, so helping her daughter succeed seemed like a better option.
But what was the benefit for Maria?
She wasn’t the type to do things for others without expecting something in return.
Why would she help Annabelle without hesitation, risking her own safety?
The Herbert family had a strained relationship with her. The only one who had a good connection with her was Sampson, but he had already…
“This isn’t good,” Matthew suddenly stood up.
Unable to catch up with his thoughts, Boyce asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m afraid Sampson isn’t there anymore.” He moved forward, making his way to the door.
Boyce quickly followed, realizing that something was amiss. “Is it possible that he escaped from jail? It’s not something that can be easily accomplished…” Suddenly, he had a suspicion. “Could it be that the Herbert family didn’t keep their word?”
Matthew glanced at him. This might not have anything to do with the Herbert family, but rather with Maria.
As the door opened, Abbott stood on the other side, holding Samuel and raising his hand to knock.
Matthew halted and looked at Samuel in Abbott’s arms, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“Where’s Mommy?” Samuel asked, his gaze fixed on him.
Initially, Matthew had planned for Samuel to meet the impostor Dolores to put his mind at ease. But now, he couldn’t accept the idea of Samuel calling that woman “Mommy.”
With trembling fingers, he gently touched Samuel’s cheek. “You’re a young man now, and you should act like one.”
Samuel’s expression grew tense.
It was evident that Matthew’s words carried an ominous meaning.
“Your Mommy is missing,” he continued, taking Samuel into his arms. “Should we go find her together?”
Samuel didn’t reject Matthew and hugged him tightly, but he remained silent. His eyes were red, and he fought back tears. In a hoarse voice, he said, “I’m a man. I won’t cry. I want to find Mommy.”
Matthew held the little boy’s head close to his chest. The softness between Samuel’s eyebrows was something he had never witnessed before.
Samuel was well-behaved, quietly nestling against Matthew’s heart, listening to its steady beat and savoring his unique scent.
His small hands gripped Matthew’s collar tightly as he declared, “We’ll definitely find Mommy.”
Matthew responded with a soft hum.
He looked at Abbott and spoke in a deep voice, “Keep an eye on the woman inside.”
Abbott was bewildered. What woman? What was going on?
As Boyce passed by, he summed it up quickly. “Ms. Flores is missing. The one inside is a fake. She’s still useful for now, so don’t let her know that we’ve discovered her true identity.”
Abbott’s mind raced. Dolores had vanished, and an imposter had taken her place? What was happening?!!!
Boyce didn’t have time to explain further. He patted Abbott’s shoulder, following Matthew as they left the hotel.
Boyce drove while making a call to his subordinate to inquire about Sampson’s status in jail.
Half an hour later, they received the news that Sampson had been replaced. The person currently in jail resembled him but wasn’t him.
Boyce glanced at Matthew through the rearview mirror. “He’s gone.”
“What do we do now?” Boyce asked nervously.
“I want to see Maria,” Matthew’s voice resonated deeply, each word emanating from his chest.
Boyce acknowledged his request and accelerated. Soon, the car pulled up at the detention center.
Matthew stepped out of the car, still holding Samuel, and ruffled his hair. “You stay with Uncle Boyce for a while. I need to go inside for a bit.”
Samuel didn’t know what Matthew was about to do, but he understood that it wasn’t something he should witness. He nodded obediently.
Boyce held Samuel’s hand. “Let me take you to my office.”
Samuel nodded and followed him.
“Mr. Nelson,” Nick approached them.
Nick was Boyce’s subordinate and had taken care of all the arrangements.
Matthew nodded, and Nick led the way.
It was the same building he had visited at night, making his way through the corridor to the room at the end.
“It’s quiet here, no one will disturb you. I’ll wait outside,” Nick assured him.
Matthew nodded in acknowledgment and proceeded towards the room. At the end of the corridor, there was a solid wall with a small window above it, fitted with an electric anti-escape grid. The room’s entrance was adjacent to the wall.
He pushed open the door, revealing a small square room devoid of any windows. A white energy-saving bulb hung from the ceiling, illuminating an interrogation chair positioned directly beneath it. Maria sat on the chair, handcuffed to it.
She wore the same dress she had been caught in that night. The garment was torn and askew, exposing large patches of her skin.
Dried bloodstains clung to the corners of her mouth and her clothes. The wounds on her head and mouth remained uncleansed, forming hardened scabs.
Maria tilted her head, smiling at Matthew. “Came to see me again?”
Matthew closed the door behind him, approaching her with calm and steady steps. He stared down at her, his expression unwavering.
Meeting his gaze, Maria smiled back. “What’s with that look on your face? Missed me, huh?”
However, she sensed something amiss. By this time, he should have found ‘Dolores,’ so why was he here now?
“Aren’t you supposed to be enjoying yourself with Dolores, playing kiss me hug me? What made you think of coming to see me?” she taunted.
Matthew’s expression remained unchanged. His face betrayed no emotion, leaving her unable to discern his thoughts even the slightest bit.
Maria grew slightly uneasy, but she knew that, according to their plan, ‘Dolores’ must have reached him safely.
Sampson had also left the city with Dolores, who had lost her memory.
As for herself, Boyce couldn’t find any evidence linking her to the crime, and she had secured a lawyer.
This was a happy ending.
Though she had lost Matthew, she had successfully aided her brother.
Matthew had never truly cared for her.
The plan had unfolded flawlessly. It was perfect.
So why was he here now?
After finding ‘Dolores,’ shouldn’t he be at home with her?
Everything that transpired as Matthew appeared before her filled her with unease.
“Is Dolores not satisfying your desires enough…” Maria’s voice abruptly ceased.
Instead of tolerating her vulgar words, Matthew’s hand sliced through the air, delivering a powerful slap across her face. Caught off guard, Maria tumbled to the ground along with the chair, creating a loud thud that sent dust swirling into the air.
He knelt down before her, one knee touching the ground. “Don’t try to outsmart me. You have no idea how much evidence I have against you. And I know you think I’m oblivious to your true nature. Tell me honestly, if you don’t want to die, where is Dolores?”
Maria’s hearing was muffled, her mind buzzing, and her face felt numb to any sensation. Amidst her disheveled hair, she grinned with her bloodied mouth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really?” Matthew’s patience had worn thin. He rose to his feet, unbuttoning his suit jacket to reveal the pristine white shirt beneath.
Maria, still reeling from the earlier slap, was unsure of his intentions. “You… What are you doing?”
Matthew smirked wickedly. “If you won’t tell me, then we’ll have to try a different approach.”
Maria’s eyes widened. Before she could utter a word, he raised his leg, and she felt a rush of air against her chest. The world turned upside down as she was propelled into the air, crashing against the wall. The impact shattered her spine, inflicting excruciating pain that felt as if her flesh was being torn from her bones.
She convulsed as she hit the ground.
Gasping in horror at the furious man standing before her, she managed to choke out, “You… Do you know?”