Chapter 28: Conflict

Hearing this, Jack couldn't help but take notice. This little girl was extraordinary. Not only was she calm and composed, but she also had a resilient and tenacious personality. Even in a place like the USA, not many adults could achieve what she did.

"Do you have any impression of where he lives?" Hannah asked.

Carla nodded. "I've been trying to remember details about the house. I know he has a girlfriend named Winnie. They occasionally call each other, and I heard them planning to go to Disneyland on the 20th. He wrote the hotel's name on the calendar. Oh, and I also remembered his family doctor's name and phone number, Greg Newblin, number 803-555-6714."

"But I was too scared when I escaped, I didn't dare to stay. I don't recognize that neighborhood. I only remember it was a gray bungalow with a red brick roof. I didn't see the house number."

"I was so terrified, constantly worried he'd find and shoot me. I just kept running. I'm sorry, sob, sob."

"It's okay, it's okay, dear. You've done incredibly well. You're an amazing girl, you know that?" Hannah hugged Carla and comforted her gently while exchanging a glance with Jack.

Jack nodded, his face serious, indicating he had recorded these details. Suddenly, the door to the hospital room was thrown open, and a furious shout came from outside: "Stay away from my daughter, you damn cops."

A well-dressed middle-aged couple burst into the room. The blonde middle-aged woman, who bore some resemblance to Carla, rushed to her daughter, hugging her and crying. The gray-haired father, however, was furious, pointing at the door and yelling at Jack and Hannah, "Get out of here. We don't need you damn cops here. Until my lawyer arrives, you have no right to harass my daughter."

Hannah tried to calm him down. "Sir, please, we just want to help Carla. There's another girl in danger. We need clues to find the kidnapper as soon as possible."

But the man continued to roar. "Clues? Now you care about clues? When we first came to you, giving you so many clues and begging for your help, you didn't even issue an Amber Alert."

"And now my daughter has been ruined, she's lost her innocence." He even turned to scold his daughter. "Damn it, Carla, I warned you to stay away from those slutty friends of yours. Look at you now..."

Before he could finish, Jack grabbed him by the throat, dragging him out of the room and pinning him against the wall. Staring into his eyes, Jack spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Sir, I understand your feelings, but Carla is a smart, brave girl. She's been doing everything she can to stay alive, just to see her family again."

"I don't care if you're from some conservative Catholic family valuing damn chastity, but she's still your daughter. If I hear you insult her again, don't blame me for what I might do."

The middle-aged man, nearly as tall and burly as Jack, was momentarily stunned, unsure how to react. Hannah stood by, watching coldly, ready to step in if necessary.

"Jack, that's enough." Commissioner Gray arrived with two unfamiliar detectives, followed by Dr. Garrick, who had seen everything. He only called out due to his position.

Dr. Garrick, his face frosty, spoke sharply, clearly displeased with the father's earlier comments. "Mr. Robinson, I warn you, this is a hospital. If you continue to cause a scene, I'll have security throw you out."

"And refrain from making any inappropriate remarks that might affect my patient's emotions. This child has endured inhumane abuse, but she has not..."

Realizing his slip, Dr. Garrick paused before continuing. "What she needs most now is her family's love, not your unreasonable accusations."

Commissioner Gray also looked displeased, his gaze filled with disdain as he addressed the father. "Mr. Robinson, I have a daughter your age. If this happened to me, I'd silently support her through this difficult time."

He paused before adding, "There's another set of parents outside, even more desperate than you. Their daughter is still missing. If you have any sense left, you'll cooperate with the police to find that monster. You seem like a respectable businessman; you surely want this resolved quickly, without attracting media attention, right?"

Jack silently praised the commissioner for his skilled approach, simultaneously moralizing and subtly threatening. As he thought this, he noticed something missing from Dr. Garrick's right hand, realizing the ring was gone.

Indeed, Mr. Robinson struggled to speak but said nothing more. Meanwhile, Mrs. Robinson, wiping her swollen eyes, stepped out to defuse the situation. "I'm sorry, everyone. My husband was just too emotional. We only have Carla, and we reported her missing as soon as it happened."

"But the two detectives behind you refused to investigate further, citing a lack of eyewitnesses. They claimed teenagers often run away. So please understand my husband's outburst."

Mrs. Robinson was clearly more tactful, expressing her dissatisfaction without being rude and shifting the blame to the newly arrived detectives.

Everyone fell silent. Dr. Garrick led the couple back into the room, while Commissioner Gray introduced the two detectives to his subordinates. "These are Detectives Mota and Peggy from the Major Crimes Unit."

Detective Mota was a short, stocky, balding white man with graying hair and a small mustache. His partner, Detective Peggy, was a mixed-race woman with a voluminous afro.

Hannah eagerly inquired, "Did you find out the identity of the girl named Emma?"

Detective Mota, clearly embarrassed by Mrs. Robinson's earlier remarks, retorted mockingly to Commissioner Gray, pointing at Hannah and Jack. "Are you just going to let your officers criticize our work?"

Commissioner Gray, protective of his subordinates, shot back. "I think they're doing their job well. If you'd done yours properly, maybe that child wouldn't have suffered for so long."

Feeling the tension, Detective Peggy quickly changed the subject.

Good news, the book started to appear intermittently on the new book charts yesterday.

Bad news, it's a fierce competition, fluctuating on and off the charts.

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