Vera rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. "With gambling under tight watch, dens wouldn''t hide anyone. Clubs are out since they''d be broke. Hospitals might work-they could get admitted first, payter, and have food and a ce


    to sleep."


    Randall got excited. "Exactly! I checked surveince for two days but found nothing."


    He followed the footage to a container yard, searched alleys with the police all night, but came up empty.


    He then explored nearby towns. "Even the vige dogs stopped barking at me."


    Vera and Mollyughed. "Why?"


    Randall grinned. "I went so often, the dogs thought I was a local."


    Theirughter filled the room as Patrick came home, his worries melting away at the sound.


    Shawn also heard theughter and smiled. Seeing Patrick, he pointed to the backyard. "Go ahead, Vera. Molly and Randall are chatting."


    Patrick headed to the backyard.


    "And then?" Vera asked eagerly.


    Randall said, "I didn''t find Dn and Joe, but I made friends with two dogs."


    He realized they had been outsmarted.


    It seemed that Dennis had anticipated they would only rely on surveince footage.


    Dn and Joe had no rtives; Randall was their closest connection.


    After investigating for a while, Randall calmed down and began to think about the ces Dn and Joe might go, especially those he might easily overlook.


    Eventually, he circled a suspicious location: the hospital.


    Dn and Joe might not have had many skills, but they sure knew how to fake an illness convincingly.


    Countless times when they were short on cash, they''d put on a show and call Cindy, asking her to bring money to the hospital for their "medical expenses."


    If it weren''t for the machines indicating that Dn and Joe were perfectly fine, the doctors would have beenpletely fooled.


    Randall had been in Silvershore City for several days now, but he hadn''t made any progress. He felt embarrassed to call home.


    With a mindset of just trying his luck, he crisscrossed the city, checking out every hospital in the area.


    But despite his efforts, he couldn''t find any information on Dn and Joe.


    Molly, engrossed, asked, "And then?"


    Randall said, "Hospitals need patient info, but one ce doesn''t because the people there might not know their own names." Molly and Vera were puzzled. "Why wouldn''t they know their own names?"


    Randall shrugged. "Because they''re idiots."


    "What?"


    Randall rified, "I found Dn and Joe in a mental hospital."


    Molly and Vera were shocked.


    Molly asked, "Are they really crazy or just pretending?"


    Randall said, "They seem genuinely crazy to me."


    Patrick, who had been listening from the living room, walked to the backyard. "Nice job."


    Randall looked up, pride all over his face. "Patrick, I''m back."


    Patrick nodded and pulled up a chair. Vera quickly patted the spot next to her. "Honey, sit here."


    Her actions resembled those of a schoolgirl reserving a seat and inviting someone close to sit beside her.


    Patrick obliged. As soon as he sat down, Vera stood up and moved her chair closer to Patrick, and their chairs were pressed together with no gap in between!


    Patrick''s affection for Vera knew no bounds. He cherished her open, tant dependence on him. He adored this side of her, felt utterly defenseless against her, and wished he could keep her close, carrying her wherever he went. Randall, back after days away, couldn''t keep quiet. "Can you be a bit more reserved? Clinging to him all day and night. When will your honeymoon phase end?"


    Vera red at Randall. "Say that one more time and see what happens! Maybe I''ve just forgotten to hit youtely?"


    She picked up a big apple and threw it at him. "Does it bother you when I cling to my husband? Are you jealous? We''re in love, and you don''t even have a wife. Typical jealousy. You think I won''t stand up to you just because I''m pregnant?" She reached for a nearby chair.


    Patrick chuckled, pulling Vera into hisp. "Come on, sit here."


    Randall fell silent.


    Patrick never wasted words; his actions spoke for him.


    Randall looked at Molly, who was resting her face on her hand, mocking, "You bring it on yourself."


    Randall predicted, "With your temper, Sebastian will have his hands full."


    "What does this have to do with Sebastian?" Molly asked, concerned.


    Randall simply replied, "I''m not telling."


    Molly responded by kicking Randall''s leg hard, showing no regard for family ties.


    Randall, back after many days, quickly lost his brief moment of elevated status.


    It was like a student on vacation, only cared for by parents for two days before being disliked on the third.


    Patrick held Vera,forting her, his other hand gently stroking her belly. "Once the baby is born, I won''t stop you from doing anything."


    "Okay." Vera''s gaze turned to Randall.


    Randall felt a chill down his spine.


    Patrick asked, "Where did you settle them?"


    Randall said, "I left them in the hospital. I''ll go tonight to keep an eye on them."


    Patrick nodded.


    Vera was still shocked. "Could they be faking it? How could both Dn and Joe go crazy?"


    Molly, always the "kind-hearted" one, suggested, "Randall, why don''t you catch a snake and throw it into their hospital room tomorrow? See how Dn and Joe react."