With money on the table, Henry felt relieved. The worst fear of any employee is an empty promise from the boss; they need something tangible.
“Alright, one week it is.” Now that they had a lead, with enough people on the job, he believed it wouldn’t take long to find Winifred Dawson.
“If there’s nothing else… Boss, shall we go?” Henry gestured to Wesley to follow him as he walked ahead.
“Wait, don’t rush off yet,” Leland Burns called them back.
“Boss, is there something else?”
Leland leaned back in his chair, his gaze deep and unfathomable. He twirled a pen twice before putting it down and lighting a cigarette.
He knew Winifred Dawson disliked the smell of smoke and alcohol, so he used to avoid them. Later, knowing she still disliked it, he began to indulge, especially enjoying blowing smoke in her face just to see her discomfort.
Leland Burns wasn’t addicted to smoking or drinking; sometimes he did it just to bully Winifred Dawson. Now that she was gone, why did he continue? He couldn’t quite explain it himself-perhaps it was just to stay alert.
“Let’s do it today. Find me a doctor and make another trip to the hospital. Find someone reliable to handle that matter.”
What?! Henry was shocked. He knew exactly what Leland meant. Even at this point, Leland still wanted a child with Winifred Dawson? Wasn’t he afraid the child would inherit her personality? Besides, with Leland’s status, many women would be eager to have his child; why insist on using Winifred Dawson’s egg cells?
To take it further, they were about to find Winifred Dawson soon. They could bring her back and have her bear the child…
Could it be that Leland Burns didn’t want Winifred Dawson to suffer through pregnancy?
This…
After a few puffs of smoke, Leland’s muddled mind began to clear. He frowned at Henry’s prolonged silence and emphasized, “Did you hear me?”
Henry snapped back to reality. “Yes, I heard you.”
“Then get going.”
Henry had initially wanted to leave but now was curious and reluctant after Leland’s interruption.
He couldn’t help but ask, “Boss, may I ask why?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Henry gave an awkward smile and was dragged away by Wesley.
Why…
Leland Burns knew exactly what Henry wanted to ask: Why now? Why insist on Winifred Dawson? Why not find another woman? And why not force Winifred Dawson?
Some things are deeply ingrained and not easily changed. He felt that only Winifred Dawson would do; no one else seemed right. He didn’t want to sleep with other women-call it dysfunction or a peculiar cleanliness about intimacy-he seemed genuinely only interested in Winifred Dawson. As for children, he hadn’t been interested before but now wanted them-two of them, gender didn’t matter as long as they were related to Winifred Dawson and him.
Henry followed Wesley down three flights of stairs, filled with questions he couldn’t ask Leland Burns but could ask Wesley.
“What do you think the boss is thinking? Why does it have to be Winifred Dawson? If the child’s personality is inherited from her, won’t they suffer when they grow up?”
“We can’t fathom the boss’s thoughts. Just do what he asks.”
“Sigh… I don’t know if we can find Winifred Dawson within a week. If we do, I’ll be happy since we’ll get more money. But if we don’t…” What then… Henry shuddered at the thought of Leland’s gaze earlier.
Winifred Dawson had caused much trouble; Leland Burns used to be somewhat normal but now had unpredictable moods and temper.
Wesley paused; he wasn’t entirely sure either but always tried to reassure Henry.
“There shouldn’t be any problems. We already have a lead; following it should quickly lead us to her.” They had enough people on the task; it was like following a vine to find the melon.
But they forgot that melons don’t have legs to run away. Moreover… life is full of unpredictability; many things can’t be foreseen and changes often occur midway.
Even if you follow the vine, someone might pick the melon first or it might rot if you’re too late.
Unexpected events happen suddenly and quickly. On August 1st, Leland Burns’ birthday, Henry and Wesley rushed in with two pieces of news: one good and one bad. The good news was they found Winifred Dawson; the bad news was she had died in an accident.