Chapter 77 It’s Been Over 24 Hours


    "Someone has reported you for assault. The other party is pressing charges and will not ept private


    mediation." Before she could begin to protest, E was forced into the back of the police car.


    Twenty minutester, E''s belongings were likewise confiscated. Afterwards she was ced in a


    small, oddly TV-set-like, jail cell. A small room with iron bars.


    As E was pushed into the jail cell she noticed another woman, sitting on the floor squinting at the


    intrusion.


    E quickly surveyed the cell, her mind nk.


    Trying to keep herself calm, E squatted down in a corner of the room and ced her arms around


    her knees.


    30 minutester, a serious-looking policewoman opened the cell door and asked E toe out to,


    "record your confession."


    The policemen shuffled around the station busily, caught up in various matters. Several people, clearly


    injured through extortion, stood lifelessly around.


    The two women, sat face to face.


    "E." This serious, though undeniably beautiful policewoman said her name in a grave tone.


    Hum?"


    "Last night, do you admit that that in the alley adjacent to ''the Dominator'' on Shengli Road, you


    assaulted Miss Catherine and propositioned a man to rape her?"


    "I admit to the first part, but deny the second." E''s voice t and unemotional. She was good at


    hiding her feelings from others.


    The policewoman looked her over curiously, and said in an even more serious tone, "We show leniency


    to those who confess, and severity to those who refuse."


    "I refuse to admit to something I didn''t do." E was a firm believer in the value of chastity, she would


    never take part in thetter usation. Although she hated Catherine, beating her was enough.


    "Stop lying, only honesty can save you now." The policewoman, though young, was experienced. She


    had been through ''the run-around'' many times. She set down her pen and looked at E, who had


    wrapped her arms around her shoulders.


    E leaned forward and looked at the policewoman with a simr, solemn expression. "I''ll say it again. I


    admit to the first crime, but not to the second."


    After about half an hour, the policewoman grabbed her recording device and notebook and stood up.


    "Wait for thew-suit proceedings then.." With that, the policewoman stood up and left the room. "Take


    her back to her cell."


    Again imprisoned, E asked the guard, "How long will you keep me locked up?" "I have recorded the


    confession!" She asked the question with a weakening voice. She hated the cold, damp cell and


    wanted to go home.


    The guard frowned before answering, "It all depends on whether she presses charges or settles


    privately."


    "Catherine, Catherine, Catherine......" E repeated this name in her mind over and over again.


    The first person to notice E was gone was Melody. She had been concerned when E hadn''t


    returned the old house for several days.


    Melody had left countless messages on her phone, but E had kept it turned off the entire time. In the


    evening, when she still couldn''t get ahold of E, she had called to the Vi and asked both Joy and Liu


    if they had seen her.


    Melody had also tried Samuel''s phone, which was likewise kept off for the entire day. Upon further


    investigation, Anna had told Melody that Samuel hadn''te to work that day.


    ''What is wrong with these two kids?''


    At 10 p.m., with no other choice, Melody had called Eason. She had immediately asked him whether he


    had seen E.


    Eason having just arrived in France, had just finished handling the matter of his deceased parents''


    belonging.


    He was weary from travel and jetg when he answered the phone.


    "Hi, grandma." Eason''s voices crackled a bit due to his sleepless night.


    "Samuel and E are missing. Do you know where they might be?" Bing more and more worried


    about the two, Melody skipped all pleasantries and asked Eason abruptly.


    Sensing the urgency in her voice, Eason be confused. Samuel and E were missing? He was


    talking to his sister yesterday when he boarded the ne.


    "Grandma, calm down. I will call around and find them."


    "OK, call me backter." Melody hung up the phone and looked at baby Jerry, sleeping peacefully


    beside her. She said a quick prayer for the safety of the boy''s parents.


    Samuel and E were both missing. It was Eason, by way of Anna, who finally contacted Samuel.


    Samuel had been off-grid at his ind vi in County C. He had been out sailing his yacht.


    Returning to the vi that evening, he was shocked to see his satellite phone voicemail over-flowing


    with messages.


    He frowned, knowing that only Anna had ess to the number. He had warned her only to call in case


    of emergency!


    On his yacht, at sea, Samuel was alone. The vi and ind views were his own personal escape.


    He only came here when he really needed to be alone. And Anna had clearly disregarded this need of


    his.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    "Hi." Eason was surprised at the sudden answer after so many fruitless calls.


    "Samule, where are you?" Eason''s voice was saturated with worry and anxiety. He wanted to fly to


    Country C immediately to see Samuel with his own eyes.


    "What''s the matter?" Eason adjusted his posture in a stiff European-style leather sofa.


    "Have you seen E yet?"


    "Where is E? Is she with you now?"


    E? What was the matter now, Samuel thought to himself. Samuel sat bolt-upright and response


    firmly, "No."


    "Danm it, Samule! Where is E?" Hearing of their separation, Eason got mad.


    After Eason told Samuel of E going missing, he had a bad feeling in his stomach.


    This is bullshit, Eason thought. "It''s already been 24 hours. If you can''t get in touch with her ASAP, I will


    call the police." His parent were gone. E could now only rely on him and maybe Samuel.. Eason felt


    helpless. He was not even in Country C. How could he help her now?


    "Maybe he should ship his career back to Coungtry C for his little sister."


    They can''t get in touch with E? Samuel thought to himself. Had she run away from home? Quickly


    saying goodbye to Eason, Samuel turned his work cell phone on.


    Suddenly, hundreds of missed calls appeared. Some from Anna, some from Eason, some from clients


    and many from his grandmother.


    He immediately made a call to the home vi, where Joy Liu promptly answered. Joy gave him the


    same story she had given Melody and Eason: "Mrs. E''s car is still parked at the front door. I haven''t


    seen her since yesterday."


    At once Samuel was convinced that something bad had happened to E.


    Samuel went upstairs and changed out of his sailing attire. He grabbed a bag and headed out the door


    on his way to Country C.


    It was 12 p.m., when Samuel finally found E.


    The door of the detention room open, he saw a small, pitiful figure hunched in the corner of the cell.


    Consumed with feeling of pity and self-hate, Samuel felt his anger towards E evaporate.


    When she heard the sound of the cell door opening, E looked up suddenly.


    A tall man standing in the entrance blocked the light. So she closed her squinting eyes.


    Having been detained for over 24 hours, E felt broken.


    Her parents gone, her brother far away, E felt alone. Was there anyone left who cared about her?


    Samuel stooped lowly and picked up E. E pulled her eyes closed and tried in vain to fight back


    tears.


    Outside the station, E and Samuel climbed into the back seat of the porsche.


    Anna let out a long sigh in the front seat. Samuel had pulled many stings to find E.


    Having torn apart the whole country looking for her, he had never thought that she could possibly be in


    a cold, dark cell.