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Chapter b41 /b

bChapter /bb41 /b

The next day, Jessica officially started at her new kindergarten.

Coincidentally, it was also the day Cleo and Maxine had agreed on–when Cleo would tell her the results of the investigation into Nathan’s identity.

Maxine didn’t rush Cleo. She waited until that evening, after picking Jessica up from school, when her phone finally brang /b

The two met at Maxine’s ce. Maxine led Cleo into the study, barely able to wait. “So? What did you find?”

Cleo looked more exhausted than she had three days ago. Before saying a word, she lit a cigarette and pulled a thick erivelope from her bagb, /bhanding bit /b

over.

The envelope was stuffed full. Maxine opened it–inside were nothing but photos of Nathan.

Flipping through them one by one, Maxine couldn’t find anything useful. Frustration kicked in. She asked, “Do these… mean anything?b” /b

Cleo’s eyes were dull with fatigue. “They don’t mean a thing. This is everything I got after three straight days of digging. Nathan’s blike /ba ghost. Couldn’t find a single solid lead.”

As she spoke, Cleo pointed at one of the pictures. She continued, “That one. Some students took it when he was teaching art at an adult center.

“It’s the only halfway useful one. But when I went to check out the ce yesterday, it was already deserted.”

Maxine frowned, rubbing her temple as she kept looking through the stack. Her fingers stopped on one bphoto /bthat looked pretty ordinary at first nce.

“This one…” Hesitation crept into Maxine’s voice. “He looks like he’s going somewhere. Where did you get bthis/bb?/bb” /b

Cleo nced over without much interest. She replied, “Oh, that one came from a street cam. I had someone pull ball /bsurveince footage within bfive /bkilometers of Ivanna’s old apartment, then got a specialist to clean them up. A bunch of these came from that.”

The way Cleo investigated felt more like something out of a crime drama. But Maxine had no time to be amazed. She brought bthe /bphoto closer, examining every detail. Then she caught something.

Maxine said, “Look at his right hand–doesn’t it look like he’s holding something? Maybe one of those folders they use for ultrasound scansb?/bb” /b

33

Cleo immediately leaned in, staring at it for a good while. “Damn… it kinda does! But I can’t tell which hospital it’s fromb./bb” /b

Maxine’s eyes lit up. “That shouldn’t be too hard! You already checked cams within five kilometers. bIf /bwe just go through bthe /bhospitals bin /bthat areab, /bmaybe we’ll find a medical record on Nathan or someone connected to him. That would be a solid lead!”

Cleo frowned, thinking it through. “That could work. But I’m worried someone’s already wiped his tracks. If that’s the case, even hospital records might be gone. What if we stille up empty–handed?”

Maxine replied firmly, “Even if it’s just a thread, it’s something. We can follow it. I believe we’ll find something eventually. And you don’t need to get involved anymore. Your job puts you in the spotlight–if you’re seen at too many hospitalsb, /bbit /bcould cause trouble. I’ll take it from here.”

Maxine and Cleo had known each other for over a decade. There was no need to argue over something like this.

Cleo nodded. “Alright. If you need anything, just let me know.b“/b.

After Cleo left, Maxine immediately made a phone call.

The other side picked up fast. The guy’s voice was smooth and a little groggy, butced with curiosity. “Well, well, my favorite junior. bWhat’s /bbthe /basion? Calling me thiste at night… sounds kind of flirty, huh?”

Maxineughed, shaking her head. “Lucas, don’t tease me. I actually need your help with something.”

bwe /b

“bWhat /bbis /bbit/bb?/b” Lucas teased again. “Don’t tell me you and Sebastian didn’t go through with the divorce and now you’re calling to ask for bpoison /bbto /boff, yout husband. bGotta /bwarn you, I don’t do illegal stuff!”

AD