Chapter 202


    After returning home from the dinner with my former coworkers, I felt a renewed sense of purpose.


    The information they had shared about Mr. Erickson’s behavior had been a significant step toward


    seeking justice.


    However, Linda would y a key role in it all.


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    I knew that Linda had been the most severely affected by Mr. Erickson’s harassment. Over time, the


    guilt of it had started to emerge. She’de to me, warned me about it, and I’d brushed her off.


    Now, here I was, faced


    with the same conflict.


    Her ount was crucial to building a strong case against him, and I’d listen to her every word this


    time around. However, the news that she had disappeared without a trace was deeply concerning. I


    couldn’t proceed without finding her first.


    I picked up my phone and dialed Penny’s number. I could trust her on any developments around the


    city. I needed to catch her up on everything that had happened and discuss my n to find Linda..


    Penny answered the call, her voice filled with curiosity. “Evie, it’s been a while! I’ve been waiting to


    hear from you. How have you been?”


    I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “Penny, it’s good to hear your voice. I have a lot to


    catch


    Pennyughed. “I can imagine. I heard about your case with Ste. Congrattions on winning it!”


    you up on.”


    I appreciated her kind words but quickly turned to the matter at hand. “Thanks, Penny, but there’s


    something. else I need your help with. I’m going after my old boss, Mr. Erickson.”


    Penny’s tone shifted to one of concern. “Mr. Erickson? How are you nning to do that, Evie?”


    I took a deep breath. “I need a key witness, someone who suffered previously from Mr. Erickson’s


    harassment. It’s Linda. She was the primary victim.”


    Penny fell silent for a moment, and when she spoke, her voice held a note of hesitation. “Evie, I


    haven’t heard anything about Linda for a while. She disappeared, and no one has mentioned her for


    a while now.”


    The news hit me like a weight in the chest. Linda’s disappearance was a significant obstacle in my


    pursuit of justice. I thanked Penny for the information and told her I’d keep her updated on any


    developments.


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    As I hung up the phone, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear. Linda’s testimony was vital, and


    without her, the case against Mr. Erickson could be in jeopardy. My case would be dismissed and


    Mr. Erickson and Jasper would have thestugh.


    I knew I had to find her, but I had no leads, no clues as t


    her whereabouts.


    With a determined resolve, I decided to pay a visit to Timothy. He’d had his own experience with


    her, and it wouldn’t hurt to see if she’d tried contacting him at all. All I could do was hope that he


    might have had some information of his own.


    I walked over to Timothy’s apartment and knocked lightly on the door, my thoughts racing as I


    considered how to approach the situation. After a few seconds, Timothy opened the door, a warm


    smile on his face.


    “Evie, hey!” He crossed his arms and leaned against the frame. He frowned upon taking in my


    expression. “What’s on your mind?”


    I returned his smile but got straight to the point. “Timothy, I need your help. I’m looking for Linda.


    She’s a key witness in the case against Mr. Erickson, and she’s gone missing evidently.”


    Timothy’s expression shifted to one of concern. “Linda? I haven’t heard from her in a while, either.”


    ‘Damn.” I sighed heavily. “Her story is crucial to building a case against Mr. Erickson. I can’t


    proceed without her testimony. We need to find her.”


    Timothy nodded, though with some hesitation. “That sounds intense. She wasn’t exactly civilst


    time.”


    He only knew about Linda taking those exploitative photos in his apartment. He wasn’t aware that


    she had been preparing to break into his apartment and forge a life with him in the most unstable


    way imaginable. Even the thought of her breaking into my own home and crushing the gift Timothy


    had given to me left me feeling more resentful than pitiful toward her sometimes.


    “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to call her directly. I’d be at a loss at what to say,” I said wearily,


    reaching


    I my phone. “Who knows if she’s even using the same number. She probably wouldn’t even answer


    if I called.”


    “Evie.” Timothy squinted as I began scrolling through my contacts. “I don’t know about this.”


    “Just back me up,” I told him, eyeing Linda’s name on the screen with slight apprehension. “It has to


    be done.”


    There was a mystery surrounding her, a shroud of secrecy that I couldn’t quite grasp. I couldn’t


    shake the feeling


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    that there was more to her story than she had revealed.


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    A determination stirred within me as I dialed her number, my fingers trembling as I held the phone


    to my ear. I hoped she would answer, yet I feared the conversation that awaited us. My heart


    pounded and I gnawed at my lip, the gravity of the situation settling upon me like a suffocating


    shroud.


    To my surprise, Linda picked up after a few rings, her voice almost unrecognizable, distant and


    guarded. “Who’s this?” she asked, her toneced with suspicion.


    “It’s Evie,” I replied, my voice quivering slightly.“I know it’s been a while, but I need to talk to you.


    Can we meet?”


    There was a long pause on the other end of the line, as if Linda was considering her options.


    Finally, she spoke, her voice gravelly. “I’m busy, I don’t have time for this.”


    I swallowed hard, steeling my resolve. “Please, Linda, I need to apologize. Face to face. I was


    wrong about Mr. Erickson, and I need you to know that. Can we meet? I’lle to you.”


    Another pause ensued, and I could almost hear the internal struggle in her voice. “Fine,” she said


    eventually, her tone softening ever so slightly. “I’ll text you my address. But make it quick.”


    Relief washed over me as she agreed to meet. I thanked her and ended the call, my hands still


    shaking. Turning to Timothy, I ryed the news, watching as concern etched lines on his face.


    “Are you sure about this, Evie?” he asked, his voiceced with worry. “It might not be safe.”


    I shook my


    head, determination ring in my eyes. “I have no choice, Timothy. I need to make this right. Linda


    deserves to hear the truth from me, face to face.”


    Timothy sighed, his concern evident. “I don’t like the idea of you going alone. Let mee with you,


    for your safety.”


    I nodded, and he followed me as I rushed to the elevator. “Okay, but let’s get there before she


    changes her mind.”


    We walked to Timothy’s car, and once we got in, I turned to him. “Timothy, I appreciate your


    support, but for this, I think it’s crucial that I speak to Linda. She might react negatively to you.”


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Timothy nodded, his expression serious. “I understand. I’ll stay behind and give you the space you


    need. But


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    please, be careful. We don’t know how she might react, and she didn’t exactly sound friendly over


    the phone.”


    “I will,” I told him, though I had my own reservations about the whole thing.


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