Katelyn had never meant for this to happen. She had only intended for Fiona to take her father away. She hadn’t expected this tragic outcome.
For a brief moment, Katelyn allowed herself a weary sigh, the weight of the situation sinking in.
Karma, she thought. In the end, everyone answers for their deeds, the ledger of life demanding its due.
Katelyn’s gaze swept over the lifeless forms of father and daughter, her voice taking on a somber cadence. “Burn the bodies.”
Chester wasn’t killed by her, yet he had still drawn his last breath before her eyes. The weight of it settled heavily in her chest like a stone, unyielding and suffocating.
“Yes, ma’am!” a voice answered from behind her.
Just then, Katelyn’s phone pierced the silence with its shrill ring.
Katelyn’s phone buzzed, drawing her attention to the caller ID. A flicker of surprise crossed her face. It was Bernie. Memories of his peculiar behavior at the hospital instantly flooded her mind. She hesitated for a moment, weighing her options before answering.
“Mr. Norris, hello. Is there something I can help you with?” she asked, her voice gentle as a whisper.
A warm, kindly voice drifted through the speaker. “Miss Bailey, I really appreciate you taking care of Alfy while she was sick. If possible, I would like to invite you to dinner as a token of gratitude.”
His tone carried an unexpected gentleness, almost excessively polite, which caught Katelyn completely off guard. She had initially planned to decline, but the unsettling images from Bernie’s estate and his strange reaction at the hospital made her reconsider.
Instead of refusing outright, she accepted. “You’re too kind, Mr. Norris. Alfy is my closest friend. It’s only natural for me to look after her. I’d be happy to have dinner together.”
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This would provide the perfect opportunity to investigate the mysteries lurking within Bernie’s estate. Something about Bernie sent warning signals through her intuition. And given his relationship to Alfy, she needed to tread carefully.
Upon hearing her acceptance, Bernie’s voice brightened with undisguised pleasure. “Great! Let’s do it tonight then. Alfy is out of the hospital, so we can all gather together.”
Katelyn didn’t refuse, responding with a light, musical chuckle. “Alright.”
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the call ended. The moment the connection broke, however, the smile slipped from Katelyn’s face like a mask, replaced by a pensive, calculating expression.
She immediately sent a message to Vincent. “Everything’s settled on my end. I won’t be returning just yet. I have to attend a dinner at Alfy’s uncle’s place.”
Vincent’s response came with lightning speed—less than a minute later, her phone rang again. Casting a glance at her subordinates, still busily managing the aftermath of the situation, Katelyn stepped outside to take the call.
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