Chapter 28
Ken was hanging around the house when Lenore and Bonnie arrived. He was cool with their visit, but he did a double–take when he spotted the guy with them.
Mr. Sharpe, Bonnie greeted, offering him the supplements she’d bought. “These are for Mrs. Sharpe
Ken had been like a dad to Bonnie during her time at Greenvine High School, event going to her parent–teacher meetings. They had a tight bond, so they kept things casual.
Ken shook off his surprise and led the way upstairs with the supplements. As they walked, he turned to Lenore, his lips tightening before he spoke. “We’re not going for any road checks for a couple of days”
Lenore gave a nod, then changed the subject to Ken’s wife, Cheryl Sharpe. “How’s she doing these days?
Ken let out a sigh. “She recognizes folks, but she’s been muttering a lot.”
Worry flashed in Lenore’s eyes, and she looked over at Silas. Before she could say anything, he chimed in, I’ll hold down the fort here.”
Lenore raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled faintly as she followed Ken up the stairs.
. In the bedroom, Cheryl sat by the window, looking much older than her actual age. Though she was only in her thirties or
forties, her thin frame, hunched posture, deep wrinkles, and vacant eyes made her appear far older.
She clutched a photo frame tightly, which held a picture of her daughter in a school uniform, her hair pulled back in a high ponytail, radiating happiness.
Ken leaned in closer and whispered. “Bonnie’s here to see you.”
Cheryl turned her head slowly, managing a weak smile. “You’ve come,” she said softly.
Bonnie replied shyly, “Hi, Mrs. Sharpe
Lenore stepped forward and asked gently, “Can I check your pulse?”
Cheryl rested her arm on the table, and Lenore took her wrist, her cool fingers against Cheryl’s skin. After a moment, she released her grip and exchanged worried glances with Ken and Bonnie. Tll prescribe medicine to help her relax and boost her energy, Lenore advised.
She knew that some obsessions were heartaches that no pill could fix.
Ken understood this all too well and managed a grateful nod, saying, “Thanks.”
Shaking her head, Lenore quickly grabbed a scrap of paper and wrote out a prescription. “If you need more, just let me know,” she said.
As Ken accepted the prescription, he felt a lump in his throat while looking at Lenore
She was an enigma to him. At just 17, she was not only beautiful but also had impressive skills in cars, computers, and now medicine, all while staying under the radar.
He wondered if her talents were genetic, but if they were, Troy and Viola certainly hadn’t passed them on. No one could quite figure out how her mind worked.
20:25 Wed, Feb 5
Chapter 28
54%
At 7 PM, Silas and Wayne arrived at Culinary Ascent.
Noticing Wayne’s distinctive blue hair, Silas arched an eyebrow and shot him a scornful glance. Td have thought you’d be lingering in Denisville longer with your companions there, he commented.
He was surprised to see Wayne back so
3 soon.
“What? No,” Wayne said with a grin. “I just rolled some dice and had a few drinks. That’s all there is to it.”
Silas, not really into the chat, passed the menu off to Lenore, who then handed it to Bonnie without a second thought Bonnie, after a quick glance at the menu, leaned over and quietly said, “Tm gonna hit the restroom.”
With a teasing lift of her brow, Lenore pinched Bonnie’s check and joked, “Need me to come with?” Bonnie chuckled lightly, dismissing the offer with a wave. “No. I’m fine.” She was confident she could manage restroom by herself.
a trip to the
Wayne glanced at Silas, holding back his craving for a cigarette. He then turned to Lenore with a smooth air and inquired, “You’re quite the driver and a real mechanic. Are you into car modifications too?”
Sitting back with a relaxed confidence, Lenore looked up from her phone, her gaze steady. “You got a project in mind for
some car tweaks?”
Silas, not missing a beat, gave Wayne a sharp look that said, “Watch yourself,” without uttering a word.
Wayne felt the chill of Silas’s glare but brushed it off, his eyes sparkling with mischief. After all, he was the Garcia family’s resident troublemaker. “Yeah, I’m thinking about souping up a race car for the big leagues.”
A loud slap echoed through the hallway, followed by a shocked voice from the half–open door. “Bonnie, I can’t believe this is happening!”
Hearing Bonnie’s name made Lenore’s expression harden. She jumped up from her seat an
Chapter 28
Ken was hanging around the house when Lenore and Bonnie arrived. He was cool with their visit, but he did a double–take when he spotted the guy with them.
Mr. Sharpe, Bonnie greeted, offering him the supplements she’d bought. “These are for Mrs. Sharpe
Ken had been like a dad to Bonnie during her time at Greenvine High School, event going to her parent–teacher meetings. They had a tight bond, so they kept things casual.
Ken shook off his surprise and led the way upstairs with the supplements. As they walked, he turned to Lenore, his lips tightening before he spoke. “We’re not going for any road checks for a couple of days”
Lenore gave a nod, then changed the subject to Ken’s wife, Cheryl Sharpe. “How’s she doing these days?
Ken let out a sigh. “She recognizes folks, but she’s been muttering a lot.”
Worry flashed in Lenore’s eyes, and she looked over at Silas. Before she could say anything, he chimed in, I’ll hold down the fort here.”
Lenore raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled faintly as she followed Ken up the stairs.
. In the bedroom, Cheryl sat by the window, looking much older than her actual age. Though she was only in her thirties or
forties, her thin frame, hunched posture, deep wrinkles, and vacant eyes made her appear far older.
She clutched a photo frame tightly, which held a picture of her daughter in a school uniform, her hair pulled back in a high ponytail, radiating happiness.
Ken leaned in closer and whispered. “Bonnie’s here to see you.”
Cheryl turned her head slowly, managing a weak smile. “You’ve come,” she said softly.
Bonnie replied shyly, “Hi, Mrs. Sharpe
Lenore stepped forward and asked gently, “Can I check your pulse?”
Cheryl rested her arm on the table, and Lenore took her wrist, her cool fingers against Cheryl’s skin. After a moment, she released her grip and exchanged worried glances with Ken and Bonnie. Tll prescribe medicine to help her relax and boost her energy, Lenore advised.
She knew that some obsessions were heartaches that no pill could fix.
Ken understood this all too well and managed a grateful nod, saying, “Thanks.”
Shaking her head, Lenore quickly grabbed a scrap of paper and wrote out a prescription. “If you need more, just let me know,” she said.
As Ken accepted the prescription, he felt a lump in his throat while looking at Lenore
She was an enigma to him. At just 17, she was not only beautiful but also had impressive skills in cars, computers, and now medicine, all while staying under the radar.
He wondered if her talents were genetic, but if they were, Troy and Viola certainly hadn’t passed them on. No one could quite figure out how her mind worked.
20:25 Wed, Feb 5
Chapter 28
54%
At 7 PM, Silas and Wayne arrived at Culinary Ascent.
Noticing Wayne’s distinctive blue hair, Silas arched an eyebrow and shot him a scornful glance. Td have thought you’d be lingering in Denisville longer with your companions there, he commented.
He was surprised to see Wayne back so
3 soon.
“What? No,” Wayne said with a grin. “I just rolled some dice and had a few drinks. That’s all there is to it.”
Silas, not really into the chat, passed the menu off to Lenore, who then handed it to Bonnie without a second thought Bonnie, after a quick glance at the menu, leaned over and quietly said, “Tm gonna hit the restroom.”
With a teasing lift of her brow, Lenore pinched Bonnie’s check and joked, “Need me to come with?” Bonnie chuckled lightly, dismissing the offer with a wave. “No. I’m fine.” She was confident she could manage restroom by herself.
a trip to the
Wayne glanced at Silas, holding back his craving for a cigarette. He then turned to Lenore with a smooth air and inquired, “You’re quite the driver and a real mechanic. Are you into car modifications too?”
Sitting back with a relaxed confidence, Lenore looked up from her phone, her gaze steady. “You got a project in mind for
some car tweaks?”
Silas, not missing a beat, gave Wayne a sharp look that said, “Watch yourself,” without uttering a word.
Wayne felt the chill of Silas’s glare but brushed it off, his eyes sparkling with mischief. After all, he was the Garcia family’s resident troublemaker. “Yeah, I’m thinking about souping up a race car for the big leagues.”
A loud slap echoed through the hallway, followed by a shocked voice from the half–open door. “Bonnie, I can’t believe this is happening!”
Hearing Bonnie’s name made Lenore’s expression harden. She jumped up from her seat and rushed into the hall.
There, she found Bonnie surrounded by a group of girls, with Esther at the center of the chaos.
Lenore pushed her way through, taking in the scene–Bonnic, the shattered porcelain on the floor, and the palpable tension. “What’s going on?” she asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
“I–Bonnie opened her mouth to explain, but the accusations come flying
“Bonnie stole something!” Helen shouted.
“She took Esther’s necklace! The one worth fifteen thousand!” Yvonné added.
AD
d rushed into the hall.
There, she found Bonnie surrounded by a group of girls, with Esther at the center of the chaos.
Lenore pushed her way through, taking in the scene–Bonnic, the shattered porcelain on the floor, and the palpable tension. “What’s going on?” she asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
“I–Bonnie opened her mouth to explain, but the accusations come flying
“Bonnie stole something!” Helen shouted.
“She took Esther’s necklace! The one worth fifteen thousand!” Yvonné added.
AD
