Chapter 14 Is She
Homeless
At the hospital.
Eric’s phone buzzed once more; it was Nyla calling.
“Grandma…” Anticipating the topic, Eric preferred not to engage in a debate, quickly saying, “We’re almost
home.”
“Are you really?” Nyla responded with a skeptical chuckle, “Then put Hadley on the phone.”
“Um…”
“I thought as much!” Nyla interjected sharply. “You can’t managed it, can you? You’re not even with her, are
you?”
Nyla’s voice grew tense with irritation. “I’ve been trying to get ahold of her. She’s not answering. Did you leave
her to fend for herself?”
“Grandma…”
“For four years, I’ve neglected her for your sake! Is it so hard for you to look out for her just this once?” Her voice conveyed mounting stress. “I’m about to undergo surgery, and you’re leaving me worried?”
“Don’t worry. Everything will be alright.” Eric reassured her.
With no alternatives left, Eric conceded.
“She headed out a bit ago. I’m going after her now, okay?”
“Excellent!” Nyla replied without hesitation. “Call me when you both get back.”
“Understood,” Eric responded, though his voice lacked enthusiasm.
After ending the call, he turned to Linda. “I need to leave.”
“Understandable.”
Linda, who had been by his side and heard the entire exchange, nodded. “Your grandmother is just looking after your best interests. It’s best you go now. I’ll manage here.”
Linda then looked through the window, adding, “This place is too remote. It’s not right for Hadley to be cul
there alone.”
“Both you and Grandma are so caring.” He got to his feet. “Okay, I’m off. Don’t overdo it and exhaust yourself.”
“I know. Get going.”
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“Alright.”
As Eric turned to leave, Linda’s demeanor changed. Her face took on a solemn tok, and the writed her mps, concealing her thoughts.
Eric exited the hospital room and dialed Hadley’s number
This time, the call didn’t go to voicemail.
Yet, there was no response.
Despite his repeated attempts, she did not pick up.
“What is happening?”
Driving out of the hospital’s parking lot, Eric kept an eye out for her, suspecting she hadn’t made it very te
In this neighborhood, catching a taxi was notoriously difficult.
After some time, there was still no sign of her.
Perhaps she had managed to find a ride back to Silver Villas.
That seemed likely,
Accelerating, Eric made his way directly to Silver Villas.
“Hadley!”
Upon entering the foyer, he found the living room shrouded in darkness, reminiscent of the previous night. With the prior events in mind, he quickly headed toward the rear of the house.
Tonight, however, the light in the bathroom was off.
Could Hadley have retired for the evening? He might need to rouse her.
If not for Nyla’s insistence on a joint call, he might have refrained from disturbing her.
“Which room is she using?”
Uncertain, Eric proceeded to check each room, finding none occupied.
He noted that the guest rooms appeared untouched; the beds were bare of fresh linens, showing no signs of
recent use.
How could this be?
Where exactly had Hadley been staying these past nights?
At the police station.
“Name.”
“Hadley Pearson.”
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“Age?”
“24.”
Chapter 14 Is She Homeless
“Home address?”
Hadley paused, but then shook her head. “I don’t have one.”
The officer looked up, his eyebrow arching in surprise. “Are you implying you’re homeless?”
“Whatever fits,” Hadley responded with a nod.
“Ridiculous!” the officer exclaimed. “Give me a proper answer!”
Observing her appearance, the officer noted she didn’t resemble someone living on the streets.
Exhaling deeply, Hadley persisted. “Officer, I’m not lying. I currently don’t have a place to stay. That’s my
situation.”
The officer was momentarily speechless.
He recognized he was facing a complicated situation.
Just then, another officer entered, escorting the biker. His injury had been attended to, and his head was now
bandaged.
He was directed into a chair by the officer.
Shooting a furious look at Hadley, he yelled, “Officer, this woman attempted to murder me! I demand to press
charges and want her prosecuted!”
“Settle down!”
“Why are you shouting? Do you think this is your house?”
The officer then addressed Hadley. “Explain to us why you attacked him.”
Maintaining her composure, Hadley spoke clearly. “He attempted to assault me. I was only defending myself.”
“Seriously?” The biker stood abruptly, incensed. “Officer, look at her! She’s unharmed! Meanwhile, I have a serious head wound, and she acts as if nothing’s wrong! How can that be? Who just walks around with a brick
in their bag?”
“Sit down and be quiet!” the officer commanded, gesturing firmly at him. “We’ll sort this out.”
The officers considered the possibility of retrieving surveillance footage, yet the area’s remoteness complicated
matters. This was not a main thoroughfare, and no cameras were present.
They discovered, however, that the biker had a record of criminal activities and had been previously arrested.
An officer whispered, “Her story could very well be true.”
“We have no concrete proof, and he’s denying everything. What are our options?”
“Maybe they should consider settling this privately.”
“Settle this privately?” The biker vehemently disagreed. “No way! She split my head open! We can’t just let this
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slide!”
Chapter 14 Is She Homeless
“Enough!”
With a forceful slam on the table, the officer replied, “Then pursue legal action. Remember, it will just be word against word in court. You have a criminal past and you’ve been drinking. Think about whose story the judge
will believe,”
Hesitation crept into the biker’s voice as he processed the officer’s words, eventually relenting, responding, “Alright, alright, let’s settle this privately then.”
He turned to Hadley, demanding, “She has to compensate!”
He held up five fingers, saying, “I want at least this much!”
“Five thousand?” The officer looked towards Hadley for her response.
“No.” Hadley remained resolute, shaking her head firmly. “Not five thousand, not even five cents. I won’t pay
anything.”
“Stubborn bitch!” The biker seethed with anger. “Not a cent? Well, prepare yourself for jail!”
“Fine.” Hadley faced him directly, her resolve clear. “We’ll let the courts decide. I believe in justice!”
“You sure don’t back down easily, do you?”
“Sit down, both of you!”
“Enough!”
The standoff continued unresolved.
At that moment, a junior officer approached and quietly informed the senior officers, saying, “That woman’s phone keeps ringing.
“Must be her relatives.”
Upon their arrival at the station, both Hadley and the biker’s phones were taken, and they were cut off from
external communication.
The officer looked towards the steadfast Hadley and instructed the junior officer, “Next time it rings, answer it. Tell her family to get here. They might help sort this out.”
“Understood.”
Meanwhile, at Silver Villas, Eric, frustrated and anxious, tried Hadley’s number once more.
This time, the call connected!
“Hadley!” Eric exclaimed as soon as the call was answered, “Where are you? It’s so late Wh
yet?”
Ju back
“Hello, this is the police station. Hadley Pearson is involved in a serious incident. You must be a relative. Please come to the station immediately.”
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