Ellinorâs eyes flashed with hope. It seemed as if the lady had remembered something, causing Ellinorâs eyes to focus sharply. âWhat? What have you remembered?â
âI remember now. That girl named Megan used to always shamelessly throw herself at my husband.
Being the gentleman that he is, he never paid her any mind. But she was always hanging around our sous chef named John. She was always asking him to do this and that for her. Not long after I fired her, our sous chef quit suddenly. I think there might be a connection.â
Ellinor saw a glimmer of hope and clutched the ownerâs hand tightly. âDo you perhaps have a picture of this employee that I could see?â
The lady owner thought for a moment. âYes, I do. Last month, he was still working here. For our shopâs third anniversary, we took a group photo. Honey, you must have posted that photo on your Facebook, right? Quickly show it to this lady.â
Upon hearing his wifeâs command, the diner owner quickly pulled out his phone, opened his Facebook app, and found the photo.
âHere it is. The employee on the far right of the photo.â
Upon seeing the photo, Ellinorâs heart tightened. She recognized the face. He was the middle-aged balloon seller who had been frequently seen around her children recently. It was indeed him.
Ellinor requested the ownerâs help again. âCould you please try to contact him? It would be great if we could arrange a meeting.â
Seeing Ellinorâs urgency, the lady owner was more than willing to help. âOf course! Iâll try to reach him.
When he left in a rush, he didnât even collect his last monthâs wages yet.â
Ellinor nodded. âYou can call him now and tell him that you want to settle his wages. Donât mention anything about us yet.â
Understanding Ellinorâs intentions, the lady owner took out her phone and dialed the former employeeâs number.
After a quiet conversation, she hung up and turned to Ellinor. âIâve spoken to him. He says heâs out of the city and canât come back just yet. Heâll come here tomorrow afternoon to collect his wages.â
Ellinor quickly asked, âDid he mention where he is?â
The lady owner shook her head. âThe signal seemed pretty bad on his end. He hung up before he could tell me.â
Ellinor frowned. âOkay. Thank you for your help. Could you please give me his number?â
The lady owner showed Ellinor the number stored in her phone.
Ellinor had a fantastic memory, especially for numbers, so she quickly memorized it. âThank you! I will arrange for someone to come and compensate you for the damages to your diner tomorrow. We have to leave now; Iâm sorry.â
Without waiting for a response, she turned to Theo. âLetâs go!â
Theo knew what she was planning to do and immediately followed her to the car without saying a word.
Balfour and Byran exchanged a glance before following them to the car.
In the car, Ellinor, who was seated in the passenger seat, was already using her laptop to track down the location of the former employee from the diner.
Theo just started the car and drove at a steady speed, waiting for her to give the word to speed up.
A minute later.
âHeâs on Barren Mountain in the suburbs!â Ellinor frantically said.
No ordinary person would be in such a desolate place at this time. They must have hidden Baber there.