Chapter 134

Darby had taken her to see doctors years ago, but they could never find a cause.

Her vocal cords were perfectly fine. After visiting multiple specialists, the diagnosis was always the same: there was nothing physically wrong with her; she simply couldn't speak. They had asked if she'd suffered some childhood trauma, but she had no memory of any such event. Some doctors had speculated that it was congenital.

Zadok read the words on her phone and nodded thoughtfully. "If it were congenital, they usually would have found a physical issue. I'm inclined to think it's acquired."

Latisha's eyes widened slightly. She didn't know if it was congenital or acquired. If it was the latter, did that mean it could be cured? And it wouldn't be passed down to the next generation.

At the thought of a next generation, her expression darkened once more.

They made small talk for a few more minutes until a message came through on Zadok's phone. He glanced at it and smiled. “Found him. Let's go."

Latisha quickly nodded, pushing aside her gloomy thoughts, and followed him out of the coffee shop.

Zadok drove them to Preston's address. It was an upscale apartment complex where units started at a staggering price. A lazy freeloader like Preston could only afford to live here by bleeding Mrs. Dashiell dry. After all, her salary from working at the Lambert estate had been substantial.

Instead of going directly to Preston's apartment, Zadok went to the next-door neighbor first to gather evidence.

No one was home next door, but the apartment across the hall was occupied. A woman with a small child answered, her expression wary.

Zadok handed her his business card. "Ma'am, hello. I'm a lawyer, and I'd like to ask you a few questions."

The woman took the card, her suspicion deepening. "We haven't broken any laws, have we?"

"No, no, not at all. We're here to ask about your neighbors across the hall."

The woman's posture relaxed, and she opened the door to let them in.

Latisha felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. She had no experience with the legal system, and while things sounded simple, she knew they were often much more complicated in practice.

Zadok asked for the woman's permission to record their conversation, and after she agreed, he took out a voice recorder. The woman told them everything she knew.

"They used to be a happy family, you know? A loving mother and a dutiful son. But a few years ago, Preston sajd his mother had gone back to her hometown to rethe. We never saw her again after that."

A few years ago. That would have been right after Darby died. Once the Lambert family cut off Mrs. Dashiell's income, Preston could no longer get money from her, so he threw her out.

"Anything else?" Zadok asked.

The woman thought for a moment. "I don't know much more, but they just brought the old lady back a few days ago. I've been hearing a lot of arguing from their apartment since then can't make out the words, I'm not sure if they're fighting wit her."

Zadok listened patiently, then nodded and stood up, turning off the recorder. "Thank

you for your time. We apologize for the disturbance."

He and Latisha left and proceeded to visit the other apartments on the floor. They spoke to everyone who

was home, and aside from a who

few

who declined to be recorded, their stones were all consistent, Preston

was not good to is pourer in the

past few days, several neighbors had seen him yelling at the old woman as he left the apartment, cursing at her with vile names.

“Old hag, useless old woman, old bitch"... The insults were as cruel as they could

be.

Latisha couldn't fathom how a child could be so selfish and cold-hearted. Her resolve to help Mrs. Dashiell hardened.

Just then, the door to Preston's apartment swung open. He stepped out and saw Latisha and Zadok. His face lit up, and he walked straight toward Zadok, mistaking him for Clifford.

"You must be the young master from the Lambert family! I can't believe you came in person!"