Chapter 28 - Conflict

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Chapter 28 - Conflict

Upon hearing this, Jack couldn't help but look at the little girl in amazement. She's extraordinary, not only calm-minded but also resilient and tough. In this eerie place, only a few adults can match her level.

"Do you have any impressions of him?" Hannah asked, pressing further.

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

"But when I escaped, I was too scared to stop. I didn't recognize the neighborhood, but I remember it was a gray bungalow with a red-brick roof. I didn't see the house number."

"I was just so terrified, constantly fearing he'd catch up and shoot me. I could only keep running. I'm sorry, sob."

"It's okay, it's okay, dear. You've done an amazing job. You're an incredible girl, you know," Hannah comforted Carla softly, exchanging a glance with Jack.

Jack nodded, his expression heavy, indicating he had noted down all these details. Suddenly, the door to the ward swung open, and a furious shout echoed from outside, "Stay away from my daughter, you damn cops!"

A middle-aged couple dressed brightly burst into the room. The blonde middle-aged woman, bearing some resemblance to Carla, rushed to her daughter, holding her head and crying. The slightly graying father, however, stormed in angrily, pointing at the door and yelling at Jack and Hannah, "Get out of here! We don't need you damn cops. You have no right to harass my daughter before my lawyer arrives!"

Hannah tried to calm him down, "Sir, please calm down. We're just trying to help Carla. Another girl is in danger, and we need leads to find the kidnapper."

But he continued to roar, "Leads? Do you even know what the hell leads you need now? We came to you with so many leads, begged for your help, and you couldn't even issue an Amber Alert."

"Now my daughter's been violated like this, she's lost her innocence," he even turned to complain to the girl, "Damn it, Carla, I warned you long ago, stay away from those slutty friends of yours. Look at you now."

Jack didn't let him finish. He grabbed the jerk by the neck, dragged him out of the room, and pinned him against the wall outside, staring into his eyes, and said each word deliberately.

"Respected sir, I understand your feelings right now. But Carla is a smart and good girl. She's been doing everything she can to survive, just to see her loved ones again."

"I don't care if you're some conservative religious family, valuing damn chastity, but she's still your daughter. If I hear a single word insulting your daughter from your mouth again, don't blame me for being impolite."

This middle-aged man was quite burly, standing about the same height as Jack. At this moment, he was unexpectedly lifted by Jack with one hand and pressed against the wall. He seemed somewhat at a loss, and Hannah watched coldly from the side, as if ready to intervene personally at any moment.

"Jack, that's enough." Chief Gray arrived hastily with two unfamiliar detectives, following Dr. Clarice. They witnessed the scene that had just occurred, prompting Chief Gray to intervene, mostly due to his status.

Dr. Clarice had a frosty demeanor, her words were blunt, showing clear displeasure towards the father's previous remarks.

"Mr. Robinson, I warn you, this is a hospital. If I hear you causing a commotion here again, I will immediately notify the hospital security to throw you out."

"Furthermore, please refrain from making any inappropriate comments that might affect my patient's emotions. This child has suffered inhuman abuse, yet she hasn't..."

Dr. Clarice seemed to realize her slip and paused before continuing.

"What she needs most now is her family's care, not your baseless accusations."

Chief Gray's expression was equally grim, and he looked at the father with a scornful gaze.

"Mr. Robinson, I also have a daughter of the same age as yours. If something like this happened to me, I would simply be there for her, helping her through this difficult time."

He paused and continued, "There are parents outside who are even more anxious than you. Their beloved daughter's fate is still unknown. If you have a shred of reason left, you should wholeheartedly assist the police in finding that animal. You seem like a respectable businessman; I'm sure you'd want to resolve this matter quickly, rather than attracting the media and causing a public uproar."

Jack thought to himself that the chief certainly lived up to his title. He managed to simultaneously use moral persuasion and veiled threats. With this in mind, he casually glanced at Dr. Clarice' right hand and noticed something missing from her ring finger.

Indeed, Mr. Robinson struggled to find words, and at the same time, Mrs. Robinson wiped her swollen eyes and stepped forward to defuse the situation for her husband.

"I apologize, everyone. My husband was just a bit impulsive. He's just very concerned about Carla. She's our only daughter, and we reported her missing as soon as it happened."

"But your two detectives behind you refused further investigation earlier, citing lack of witnesses, and insinuating this age group running away from home. So, I hope you can understand my husband's frustration."

Clearly, Mrs. Robinson had much higher emotional intelligence than her husband. Despite her dissatisfaction, her tone was neither submissive nor domineering, and she redirected her criticism towards the two newly arrived detectives.

The group fell silent. Dr. Clarice led the couple back into the ward, while Chief Gray introduced the two detectives behind him with a somewhat resigned expression.

"These two are Detectives Mason and Paige from the Major Crimes Unit."

Detective Mason was a middle-aged balding white man with a slightly graying beard, while Detective Paige had an explosive hairstyle and was of mixed African descent.

Hannah couldn't wait and inquired, "Have you found out anything about the girl named Emma?"

Clearly, Detective Mason felt his face had been somewhat tarnished by Mrs. Robinson's accusations. For some reason, he pointed at Hannah and Jack, wearing a mocking expression, and turned to Chief Gray to express his dissatisfaction.

"Sorry, are your subordinates here to comment on our work?"

Misjudging Chief Gray's protective attitude towards his subordinates, he continued, "I think they've been very diligent. In fact, if you had done your job properly from the start, that child inside wouldn't have had to suffer so much."

Seeing Chief Gray hit back directly and making the atmosphere awkward, Detective Paige, the female detective, looked at her partner and quickly changed the subject.

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