Before he could finish, Clarice got up like a slippery loach and crawled in beside him.
Herbert tried to stop her, but it was too late.
When Herbert chased her in, Clarice was standing in the hall of his house, looking up at the situation. Herbert had to suppress his flustered heartbeat and ask her, “What do you want to drink? I have fruit juice, milk, and coffee.”
Clarice said, “Do you have orange juice?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll have some milk.”
Herbert was speechless.
Since you want milk, why are you asking about orange juice?
Herbert poured him a cup of warm milk. Just as he handed it to Clarice, she suddenly asked him, “Herbert, why don’t I see your mother?”
Herbert’s reaction was natural. He said, “My mother went to my grandmother’s house. She’ll be back soon.”
“Oh. Then why didn’t I bring you along?”
“I don’t want to go.”
“I see…”
Clarice lowered her head and drank the milk.
Herbert went into the kitchen to wash the fruits again. Clarice suddenly heard a muffled sound coming from upstairs. She was stunned. At this time, Robert had already gone to the company. Who was upstairs? Could it be the kidnapped prisoner? Coincidentally, the tap in the kitchen was running water. Herbert was washing the fruits and did not hear the sound.
Clarice suddenly put down her glass of milk, stood up, glanced at Herbert, and ran upstairs.
There were several rooms on the second floor. Clarice looked in the direction of the sound and finally stood at the door of a room. She stood at the door and listened quietly for a while. She didn’t hear anything. But Clarice was sure she wasn’t hallucinating. She did hear something.
Clarice subconsciously tried to turn the doorknob.
“What are you doing here?”
A cold child’s voice sounded behind her.
Clarice jumped. She turned around and saw Herbert staring at her expressionlessly.
His gaze was fixed and a little scary.
Clarice took a deep breath and pretended to be curious as she asked Herbert, “Do you have a cat at home? I thought I heard a sound inside just now. I especially like cats and wanted to see it. I’m sorry. I ran upstairs without your permission.”
Herbert studied her face as if he was trying to decide if she was telling the truth.
Clarice’s gaze was open as she let him size her up.
Finally, Herbert’s cold eyes warmed a little.
“No cat. Maybe the wind blew something off the table.”
“…Oh.”
They went downstairs together. Clarice said she wanted to watch television, and Herbert turned it on for her. After watching for a while, Clarice got up and said goodbye. After she left, Herbert got up and went upstairs. He pushed open the door and stared at the woman on the bed who looked like she was asleep.
Herbert walked in and placed a glass of water on the bedside table.
Xiao Meng woke up slowly and Herbert took the ball from her mouth.
Xiao Meng could finally speak. She first drank a cup of water before asking him, “Did someone come just now?”
Herbert avoided his mother’s question and asked him instead, “So you deliberately made a commotion, right?”
Xiao Meng lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Herbert sat down on the edge of the bed. “It’s useless,” he said in a desperate tone. “No one can save us unless we save ourselves.”
Save himself?
Xiao Meng seemed to have heard a joke.
She was imprisoned. She was unarmed. The child was still young. How could they save themselves?
Herbert smiled sarcastically and asked her, “So why don’t you guys get a divorce?”
Xiao Meng looked at her son with heartache, her heart filled with guilt. If she had divorced him earlier, Herbert would not have to live in such pain. Herbert muttered to himself, “I won’t get married in the future, Mom. You guys ruined the love in my heart.”
Xiao Meng looked at her son and could not cry.
At night, Robert looked a little rushed when he returned.
He found Herbert and the first thing he said to him was, “The police will be here later. Don’t talk nonsense.”
Herbert’s heart was beating fast. In an instant, many bold thoughts flashed through his mind. Robert stared at him and asked with a faint smile, “What are you thinking about?” Herbert looked up and met his father’s eyes. His heart skipped a beat.
“Don’t try anything funny, Herbert.”
Robert walked upstairs and came down a while later with Xiao Meng in his arms. Before he entered the gym, he said to him, “If you dare to be disobedient, I’ll kill her.”
Herbert boldly asked, “Where are you taking her?”
“I’ll tie her to that bed. Under my bed. There’s a bomb installed. If you betray me, I’ll blow her up.”
Herbert’s pupils shrank as he completely dispelled all thoughts.
That night, the father and son were having dinner when two male police officers knocked on their door.
The moment there was a knock on the door, Herbert stiffened.
A cold hand landed on his shoulder.
“Watch your step.” Robert got up to open the door.
Herbert calmed down instantly.
The door opened and Robert spoke to the men before leading them into the house. Herbert stood up and stood quietly beside Robert, sizing up the two police officers. One was younger and the other was middle-aged.
The young one was tall and strong, and his entire body was filled with a sense of justice that had nowhere to be released. The middle-aged policeman’s eyes were wandering, like an unreliable fellow.
Robert introduced them. “Officers, this is my son, Herbert. He’s seven years old and a smart young man.”
Herbert said to them very coldly, “Good evening, Sir.”
The young policeman glanced around the house and asked, “Herbert, where’s your mother?”
Herbert, who was called out, looked natural. He said, “My mother went back to my grandmother’s house.”
However, Robert asked, “Do you want a cup of water?”
“Okay, thank you.”
Robert turned and went into the kitchen, as if he wasn’t worried that Herbert would rebel.
In fact, the moment Robert turned around, Herbert almost shook everyone out. But he saw Robert in the kitchen, waving at him. He was holding a timer. Herbert’s heart skipped a beat. He looked away and asked the police, “Why are you looking for us?”
“Well, a man is missing. The last person he saw before he disappeared was your father. In order to find that person’s whereabouts, we have to check all the suspects.” Facing the child, Jimmy’s tone was a little gentler. He said, “Herbert, don’t be nervous. We’re just doing a routine investigation.”
Herbert shrugged. “It’s only right,” he said.
Robert poured the water and called for Herbert to help carry it.
