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, âWhat do you want to drink? I have fruit juice, milk, and coffee.â
Clarice said, âDo you have orange juice?â
âYes.â
âThen Iâll have some milk.â
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, âHerbert, why donât I see your mother?â
Herbertâs reaction was natural. He said, âMy mother went to my grandmotherâs house. Sheâll be back soon.â
âOh. Then why didnât I bring you along?â
âI donât want to go.â
âI seeâ¦â
......
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 didnât hear anything. But Clarice was sure she wasnât hallucinating. She did hear something.
Clarice subconsciously tried to turn the doorknob.
âWhat are you doing here?â
A cold childâs 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, âDo you have a cat at home? I thought I heard a sound inside just now. I especially like cats and wanted to see it. Iâm sorry. I ran upstairs without your permission.â
Herbert studied her face as if he was trying to decide if she was telling the truth.
Clariceâs gaze was open as she let him size her up.
Finally, Herbertâs cold eyes warmed a little.
âNo cat. Maybe the wind blew something off the table.â
ââ¦Oh.â
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, âDid someone come just now?â
Herbert avoided his motherâs question and asked him instead, âSo you deliberately made a commotion, right?â
Xiao Meng lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Herbert sat down on the edge of the bed. âItâs useless,â he said in a desperate tone. âNo one can save us unless we save ourselves.â
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, âSo why donât you guys get a divorce?â
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, âI wonât get married in the future, Mom. You guys ruined the love in my heart.â
Xiao Meng looked at her son and could not cry.
At night, Robert looked a little rushed when he returned.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He found Herbert and the first thing he said to him was, âThe police will be here later. Donât talk nonsense.â
Herbertâs heart was beating fast. In an instant, many bold thoughts flashed through his mind. Robert stared at him and asked with a faint smile, âWhat are you thinking about?â Herbert looked up and met his fatherâs eyes. His heart skipped a beat.
âDonât try anything funny, Herbert.â
Robert walked upstairs and came down a while later with Xiao Meng in his arms. Before he entered the gym, he said to him, âIf you dare to be disobedient, Iâll kill her.â
Herbert boldly asked, âWhere are you taking her?â
âIâll tie her to that bed. Under my bed. Thereâs a bomb installed. If you betray me, Iâll blow her up.â
Herbertâs 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.
âWatch your step.â 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 policemanâs eyes were wandering, like an unreliable fellow.
Robert introduced them. âOfficers, this is my son, Herbert. Heâs seven years old and a smart young man.â
Herbert said to them very coldly, âGood evening, Sir.â
The young policeman glanced around the house and asked, âHerbert, whereâs your mother?â
Herbert, who was called out, looked natural. He said, âMy mother went back to my grandmotherâs house.â
However, Robert asked, âDo you want a cup of water?â
âOkay, thank you.â
Robert turned and went into the kitchen, as if he wasnât 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. Herbertâs heart skipped a beat. He looked away and asked the police, âWhy are you looking for us?â
âWell, a man is missing. The last person he saw before he disappeared was your father. In order to find that personâs whereabouts, we have to check all the suspects.â Facing the child, Jimmyâs tone was a little gentler. He said, âHerbert, donât be nervous. Weâre just doing a routine investigation.â
Herbert shrugged. âItâs only right,â he said.
Robert poured the water and called for Herbert to help carry it.