Chapter 135: Rick's father is suspicious?
Chapter - 135
This time, when the officers turned to leave, no one stopped them. As the officers made their exit, a heavy silence enveloped the room. They didn't have much to say on their way out, rather, their heads were hung low as they exited with Rick glaring at their backs.
Once the door closed behind the officers, Olivia's voice quivered with uncertainty as she turned to Rick, seeking confirmation. "Is what you said about the boy's father true?"
Rick's father, sensing the tension in the room, exchanged a concerned glance with Olivia. Rick, however, maintained a calm exterior. "Yes, he is the mayor's son. But it doesn't mean we won't get justice for Emily."
Olivia pressed for more. "But what if they try to cover this up? What if we can't fight against their influence?"
Rick's gaze softened, and he approached Olivia, his touch a comforting anchor on her shoulder. "We won't let that happen, Mrs. Clarke. I may not have all the answers right now, but together, we will figure it all outr. We won't let anyone sweep Emily's case under the rug."
Rick's father wore a concerned expression, his brows furrowed in deep contemplation. "Son, we really don't want to stir up trouble. This situation is already difficult, and considering their high-profile status, involving them could potentially make things worse. Are you absolutely certain it's necessary?"
"So what if Roy's father is the Mayor?" His tone carried a touch of cockiness, but as he noticed his father's surprised gaze, he quickly sought to reassure him, "Look, I get it. It sounds extreme, and I know Roy's father is a powerful man. But if there is any chance they are trying to cover something up, we shouldn't be the one rolling in front of them.
I don't want Emily's case to be dismissed just like that."
Olivia heaved a weary sigh, her shoulders bearing the weight of tension. "Rick, this town is small, and we are not someone to take on someone as powerful as the mayor. It could all blow up in our faces. All I want is for Emily to get better. After that... After that..." Her words trailed off as a lump formed in her throat, stifling further expression.
Rick's father interjected, injecting a note of caution into the conversation. "I get your concern, Rick. But we have got to be strategic about this. We don't want to make enemies we can't handle. There is got to be a better way to ensure justice for Emily."
Rick's gaze shifted from his father to Olivia. With a measure of gentleness in his eyes, he spoke, "I understand where you're both coming from, and I don't want to escalate things unnecessarily. But trust me, I know what I am doing. I won't do anything stupid."
Unease lingered in the air as Olivia and Rick's father exchanged glances. The tension, evident, but unspoken, hung between them like a heavy fog. Despite the discomfort, they did not speak further into the matter.
Suddenly, Olivia jolted, breaking the silence that had settled in the room. Her gaze fixed on Rick, a mix of concern and curiosity in her eyes. "Don't you have classes to attend? You should get going."
He just blinked at her, ignoring the frown on his father's face.
Olivia's voice was gentle but firm as she looked at Rick. "Rick, you should go. We will handle things here. There is not much you can do right now."
Rick hesitated, his eyes searching Olivia's for a moment before glancing at his father. "I understand, but I think it is in everyone's interest for me to stay. Call it a gut feeling, but I can't shake the sense that those officers might make an unwelcome return."
His father nudged him towards the door. "Son, Olivia is right. You need to focus on your studies. I am already here if they show up here. I was already taking care of everything before."
Rick let out a heavy sigh, his thoughts consumed by anything but university. Especially now that he got it confirmed that Roy motherfucking Kent was involved in this. But there is also an opportunity for him to stalk Roy and find out why Roy or maybe someone at the party would actually do that to Emily.
"Alright, I will go, but promise me call if anything comes up," Rick said as he gently put his hand on Olivia's arm and squeezed her arm tight.
"We will. I will text if there is anything I need your help with," Olivia said as she hesitatingly and slowly pushed Rick's hand away, her gaze momentarily flickering towards Rick's father, who observed the scene with a stern expression. Rick's touch on Olivia's arm didn't go unnoticed, prompting an uneasy pause.
"Rick, you should leave before it gets too late," Rick's father interjected, his voice carrying a tone of edginess.
"I am going. You take care as well dad. And tell me what that important matter is when you have time," Rick smiled at his father, but still did not let go of Olivia's arm. He softly squeezed her arm again one last time before he finally turned around and walked out of the room.
Rick jogged down the hospital steps and gave one last long look at the hospital building. He shook his head and walked to the parking lot.
The engine gave a sharp whir as he started the car, and soon, he was merging in with the other vehicles on the road. When he was gliding on the highway, his phone buzzed, and he saw Amanda's name flashing on the screen. With a casual flip of his wrist, he answered, "Hey."
"Rick, where are you? You're not at the hospital, are you?" Amanda's voice poured through the phone.
Rick smirked, "No, not at —"
Amanda's curiosity knew no bounds. "Is it a friend? Or family? I don't remember you mentioning it. Did you mention it?"
Rick tried to answer. "Oh, it's a—"
Amanda, undeterred, fired off another question, "Is it serious? Can I help in any way? I know some doctors. Specialists. If you need their numbers, let me know."
"I will, I will. Thank yo—"
Amanda persisted, "By the way, if it's a friend, do I know him. Or is it a…" Amanda's voice turned low and serious. "...her?"
Rick sighed, and stopped trying altogether.
But Amanda, the relentless interrogator, didn't quite get the hint, "Oh, don't worry about that last question. I was just testing the waters. So spill it."
Amanda kept firing questions like a rapid-fire quiz show host, blissfully unaware that Rick had thrown in the towel on responses. When finally, she needed to take a breather, it hit her, "Rick? Rick, are you there?"
With a grin, Rick confessed, "I am here."
"Then why the radio silence? Cat got your tongue?"
"Nah," Rick chuckled. "You've got it on loan right now. I'm just here for moral support."
Amanda snorted, and Rick's face lit up with a fond smile.
"Such a smart-ass," she said.
"Don't worry you can do all the talking right now. When we meet, I will show you how to plug that chatty mouth of yours. Will see how much talking you can do with my big hard cock inside your mouth." he tacked on with a salacious tone.
Amanda's face turned beet red as she absorbed Rick's words, and stuttered a bit when she spoke next, "If you're cocky attitude is still intact, then everything's probably okay." A long and tired yawn followed after.
"Night shift again?" Rick asked.
"Yeah. It's fucking brutal, I swear."
"Take it easy, girl. Why work so hard?"
"Yeah, I'll manage. I will be home in about an hour, and then it's home and straight to bed," Amanda replied, her tone laced with exhaustion. "So, what's going on with you?"
"Nothing much. On my way to my university. I have been away for a week, so that was nice, now it's back to the usual routine." He did appreciate the break. It was nice to break the montonity for once. Speaking of university, he had almost forgotten about Megan. There was a quest he'd gotten just before he left.
Now, was the perfect time to crack that mystery and also it would get his mind off of Emily and Olivia for sometime.
"Yeah tell me about that spontaneous trip of yours," Amanda said. "Alright, I'll leave you to it. Catch you later!"
Rick ended the call, and flung his phone on the passenger seat.
~
About an hour after she had ended the call, Amanda walked out of the elevator and walked to her apartment. Just as she was fumbling to enter the pass code, she heard a thud from inside her apartment. It was a faint sound, almost like a whisper.
Her heart quickened its pace as she stepped cautiously opened the door a smidge and peeked in, her gaze swept across the doorway, trying to see if the sound was coming from inside.
With slow movements, she slipped a hand inside and towards the stand placed right beside the door. Her fingers curled around the handle of an umbrella and with a deep breath, she pushed open the door and took a step in.
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