CHAPTER 6: CHAPTER 6: YOU’RE TOO LATE, SHE’S DEAD

Samuel Pryce took a step forward and didn’t forget to pick up the coffee cup on the table. He was so drowsy that he wouldn’t have forgotten something so important otherwise.

"I heard that Claire Caldwell was behaving well in prison and has been released early."

Several wrinkles appeared between Justin Holden’s brows, the lines were so subtle that he didn’t even notice them himself.

"When did this happen?"

As he spoke, he lowered his eyes, pointlessly adjusting the suit jacket draped over his arm, only making it messier.

Samuel Pryce only heard about it in passing while two judges were chatting, rumors floated past his ears, but he didn’t catch specifics.

"Not sure exactly when, but it’s within the past ten days to two weeks."

"You mentioned you encountered a client who looks a lot like her, could it be Claire Caldwell?"

"It’s not her."

Justin Holden interrupted, the usually calm man showing a trace of impatience when saying this.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Once you’ve seen her, you’ll understand."

Justin Holden didn’t continue explaining and turned to push the door open as he walked out.

"Hey, you haven’t told me how I can meet her, so I can help you check if it’s really Claire Caldwell."

Samuel Pryce shouted towards the door.

He was joking; he didn’t have much impression of Claire Caldwell, only saw a back view once. Even if he bumped into her, he could hardly recognize her.

Back then, Justin Holden dated the young woman hurriedly, without even a formal confession.

He never introduced Claire Caldwell to their group of close friends either.

He used to say that dating anyone was the same, it was all to satisfy physical needs anyway.

Pretty scummy, pretty heartless.

If he hadn’t seen Justin Holden refuse the school beauty’s confession with his own eyes, he might have believed his words.

If it was for physical needs, the school beauty was a hundred times better than Claire Caldwell in bed, prettier face, better figure.

Crestwell Women’s Penitentiary.

Outside the iron gate was an open field, roadside overgrown with weeds, and a low-profile black Mercedes parked there.

Justin Holden got out of the car, carrying a briefcase, his dark gray suit crisp and clean, customized thin-soled leather shoes polished to a shine.

The officer on duty at the gate recognized him; several of his handled cases involved prisoners held in this pen.

Today’s duty in the records room was a fresh-faced young officer.

He was sitting at the table sorting through some old, damaged prisoner documents, looked up, put down the files in hand, and asked, "And you are?"

"I’m Justin Holden from Keystone Law, here to find someone."

The young officer pushed back his chair and stood up, proper and stern, "Please show your legal investigation documents, your lawyer’s license, and the law firm’s proof."

Justin Holden’s gaze was calm, his jaw tight, "I’m not here for evidence gathering, just finding a person."

The young officer sat back down again, continuing to sort the materials at hand, "This is a prison, not a police station. How can I just find someone at your word? You’re a lawyer, you should know about following procedures."

Justin Holden took out twenty thousand in cash from his briefcase, placing it in front of him, speaking plainly, "Just a little help."

The young officer looked at the stack of money, instinctively backing away, not daring to take it.

"It’s not about convenience, without proof documentation, I can’t show you the files."

"Take your money back quickly, if my superior sees it... they might think I’m abusing my power."

The young officer stuffed the money back into his bag, refusing to pull any files for him.

"I’m not asking for files, just some information."

Justin Holden was solemn-faced.

Young officer: "Go ahead then."

"There’s a woman named Claire Caldwell, did she get released early?"

"Where did she go, who picked her up?"

He asked three questions in a row, and the young officer couldn’t answer a single one.

"Haven’t heard of a prisoner by that name..."

"She was imprisoned here five years ago, sentenced to six years." Justin Holden added.

The young officer thought carefully, affirming, "I’ve been transferred here for over half a year, never heard that name. Recently, though, there have been early releases, but no one with the last name Caldwell."

"What’s the last name?" Justin Holden pressed.

The young officer opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a female officer passing by the door stopped and called out, "Officer Lewis, who is inside?"

The young officer hurriedly replied, truthfully saying, "A lawyer named Zhao, here to inquire about someone."

The female officer entered, with short black hair curling at her chin, bright black eyes, well-defined features, a prominent nose, with a tanned complexion clearly indicating a habit of outdoor exercise.

"Please show your credentials."

The room went silent, her gaze briefly assessing Justin Holden, her voice cool.

Justin Holden took out his credentials and handed them to her. The young female officer’s lips slightly rose, after checking his credentials, she proactively extended her hand.

"Hello Lawyer Holden, I’m Officer Isabel Dalton, newly transferred Officer Lewis is not familiar with many things, feel free to ask me any questions you have."

"Officer Dalton, I’m here looking for someone, a female prisoner held in this prison."

"May I ask her name?"

Isabel Dalton remained kindly; Senior Counselor Holden was well-known, though she hadn’t met him, she’d heard of him.

His mentor is a globally renowned top lawyer at the largest law firm in the United States, he is an elite himself, exceptionally talented, never lost a case in his past career.

She was curious, with such a promising future, did someone like him find the prospect too bright to sleep at night?

"Claire Caldwell."

Upon hearing those three words,

Isabel Dalton’s playful smile immediately halted, as if her entire face froze, her eyes turned numb and vacant.

"Does Officer Dalton also not have an impression of this prisoner?"

Justin Holden spoke with measured insouciance, his deep black gaze falling on her face, filled with scrutiny and questioning.

Isabel Dalton bowed and smiled, nonchalantly saying, "I just didn’t expect, after all these years, someone would inquire about her."

"Where is she?" Justin Holden interrupted, glad for the recognition, he didn’t want to hear any more drivel.

Isabel Dalton’s cold eyes glanced over his face, recognizing his urgency, realizing he was Claire Caldwell’s ex-boyfriend.

Truly handsome, his looks rivaling movie stars, no wonder Claire Caldwell risked life to give birth to his daughter even though she loathed him.

And truly, upon closer inspection, little Jesse really did resemble this heartless father, their brows were practically from the same mold.

"You’re too late, she’s dead."

Isabel Dalton’s lips twitched, a sourness overcame her heart, containing countless bitter pains.

"Impossible, her health was immaculate, even better than most."

Justin Holden’s tall frame collided with the file cabinet by the wall with a "clatter," the corners of his eyes reddened, containing emotions on the brink of losing control.

"You’re describing the Claire Caldwell from before, not the one imprisoned here. She couldn’t adjust to life in the pen, her body and spirit endured tremendous torture, and moreover..."

Isabel Dalton paused, looked at Justin Holden again, calmly continuing.

"Two months into her confinement, they discovered she had an ectopic pregnancy, but it was detected too late. The limited medical facilities couldn’t save her before she could be sent to a hospital."

"The cell she stayed in, there was still a pool of blood on the ground, after all these years it had turned black, if you like you can go see for yourself?"

Justin Holden froze.

Two months... that was the night before the police took her away, they had booked a room outside the school.

"Who are you to her?"

Justin Holden didn’t know how he left the prison, with the female officer chasing after him, persistently questioning like a sharp dagger, stabbing into his heart.

He remained silent, what should he say he was to Claire Caldwell?

The man she loved deeply, the father of the child in her womb, or the murderer who caused her death.