The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 30
At the same time, Callahan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, an unlit cigarette between his fingers, his gaze dark as he looked outside. The night was black as ink. The city’s neon lights cast mottled shadows on the glass, but they couldn’t penetrate the chill in his eyes.
Thinking of his grandfather’s recent condition, which was indeed much healthier than before-healthy enough to start rushing him into marriage-Callahan’s expression softened slightly. Marlon hadn’t lied. This girl’s medical skills were truly remarkable.
His phone vibrated. His special assistant, Lennox, sent a message.
[Mr. Langley, there’s activity on the dark web. Someone suspected to be Paulina’s descendant seems to be investigating a crescent jade pendant and included a string of numbers.”
“What numbers?”
“9582831.”
Callahan raised an eyebrow. A pendant? Numbers? He had little interest in these underground secrets, but recalling that Marlon and his grandfather both seemed to know Paulina’s identity, Callahan felt a spark of interest.
Since someone was investigating Paulina-related items on the dark web, this information must be quite important to Paulina’s granddaughter. In that case, he didn’t mind helping her investigate. After all, Dante’s improvement meant he owed her a favor.
He called Lennox, his voice low. “Look into the pendant and that string of numbers. Find out what you can, but remember not to tip anyone off.”
Lennox hesitated. “Mr. Langley, this pendant seems related to the ‘Phantom Doctor’ Paulina. People in the underworld are already making moves. If we interfere, will it…”
“Just do your best. It’s just returning a favor,” Callahan said indifferently. “Paulina’s granddaughter is currently treating my grandfather. If she needs it, we can provide the information to her appropriately.”
“Understood.”
Hanging up, Callahan tapped his finger lightly on the window frame, lost in thought. What exactly was Paulina’s granddaughter looking for? What secret was hidden in those numbers?
Three days ago, when Tamara and Clive were “escorted” out of Celestial Heights by security, it was noon. The scorching sun cast their shadows long and pathetic.
“Clive, your hand…” Tamara’s eyes were red as she carefully held Clive’s wrist, which was covered in a red rash. Her voice choked up. “How could Leilani do this to you…”
She lowered her head, tears crashing to the ground. “It’s all my fault… If I hadn’t told you about Leilani buying the house, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
Clive’s face was dark. The burning itch on the back of his hand made him irritable, but seeing Tamara
11:23
on the verge of tears, he suppressed his anger to comfort her. “It’s fine. I don’t blame you. You were just worried she’d go down the wrong path.”
Tamara sniffled, her voice barely audible. “But… Leilani seems to really hate me.”
“Someone like her isn’t worth your sadness,” Clive scoffed, putting an arm around her shoulder. “Come on, let’s go home. I want to see if Mom and Dad will still tolerate her when they find out she’s selling herself to men!”
When the two returned home, Hackett was sitting in the living room reading the newspaper. Zadie came out of the kitchen with coffee. Seeing them enter, she greeted them with a smile. “You’re back! Just in time…”
Before she could finish, she noticed the rash on Clive’s hand and gasped. “Clive! What happened to your hand?”
Tamara’s eyes instantly reddened. She threw herself into Zadie’s arms, sobbing. “Mom, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let Clive go find Leilani.”
11:23
admin