The Rhyme of the Depositary

TWO TWO

Alice sat opposite Mr. Ritz Sampson, a private detective. They had made an appointment before. And here they are now. An office space with a minimalist modern design owned by a private detective service provider.

After more than a month passed, Alice finally decided to take this step. All the means he had used to search for Anson's whereabouts, but ended up deadlocked. Even in the phone book, Anson Mallory's name seems to disappear unregistered. It seemed, the man was really serious about removing any traces from Alice.

"I want you to find out the whereabouts of a man who has gone to take my son."

Alice watched Mr. The Ritz as a whole, guessed the quality of the man who was around his mid-forties. Physically, Mr. Ritz did not look like a strong enough man, considering he was below average in height and stocky in stature. But if observed carefully, it appears the authority and high intelligence of the wrinkles of his face.

"alright. Can you give me a social security number or something like that, as capital for me to do an initial search?"

Alice shakes. Had she known that much detail, Alice would not have been this quiet. Daniel can track Anson's whereabouts through a social security number without having to use a detective.

"Then, what do you have that I could use to find?"

Alice picks up the phone from the red bag she sled, fiddling with it for a while before handing it to Mr. The Ritz.

"This is her picture. This is all I have. His name is Anson Mallory." Alice shows a picture of Anson that she took five months ago, while their relationship is still fine.

Mr. Ritz sent the photo to save it. He nodded in understanding, as if he was used to performing operations with minimal clues.

"Alright I'll try to do it, Ms. Whites. His face was not too foreign. Maybe I've seen it," he said, zooming in on a photo from his phone screen.

"He's a big businessman in real estate. Maybe you've met him in some formal event." Alice smiled with understanding.

"Mrs. Ritz, he's not an indiscriminate person can you search for him carefully? I don't want anything bad to happen to you." Alice tried to remind me.

After she found out Anson's true pfophil, Alice began to prepare her steps carefully. He must take action with careful consideration.

"I'm not really interested in Anson Mallory anymore. All I want is Axel, my son. As long as you can find her whereabouts, I'll pay whatever you ask." Money is everything. Since Alice's company has grown again, Alice can do whatever she wants.

"Aren't you her real mother? How could the custody of your son fall on the other side?"

"Because besides him being my son's biological father, he is also a man of power. Anson Mallory could move the verdict. She could manipulate evidence and witnesses so that I was considered an unfit mother to take care of my own son."

Alice massaged her head in despair. Axel's custody hearing has rolled out. Anson's lawyer has been given full authorization to represent his affairs in court.

Alice had received her second court call, but she was not too enthusiastic about fighting desperately in the courtroom. Free. If Anson had devised a plan to defeat Alice, nothing Alice would have changed. He only became a chess pawn that was easily controlled by Anson's will.

The only way he could return to take his son, was through illegal means. He would look for a loophole to take his son by force. Alice will take him away as far as possible from Anson's reach, creating a new life worthy of them.

If she succeeds in bringing back her son, Alice has planned to sell all of her assets and use them as capital to build her new life in a better place. Maybe Asia. Or Africa. Anywhere, while away from Anson.

"In that case, who represents Mr.'s legal affairs. Mallory's in court? I guess, he didn't come straight."

"A good guess, Mr. The Ritz. He never came directly. He handed his business to his lawyer."

"Can you name the lawyer? I'll start an investigation on Mr.'s lawyer. Mallory, maybe he'll take me to Mr.'s new residence. Mallory."

Mr. Ritz gave her a scrapbook, asking Alice to write down the name of Anson's interviewer.

"Alright, I will do my best for you, Ms. White," she said smilingly, cheering Alice on.

"Can you guarantee the confidentiality of this mission?" Alice asked to be sure.

"of course. Client secrets are our top priority." Mr. The Ritz nodded, reassuring.

Alice stood up with a satisfied smile. He left Mr. Ritz full of elegance.

...

"Coffee?" Rachel offers a cup of Alice's favorite deep black liquid.

"You always know what I want, Rachel" Alice smiled, receiving a cup from him.

Tonight, Alice stopped by to visit Rachel's house. He needed to go out to free up his mental burden of always thinking about his son's whereabouts. Her crying voice, her tiny mouth, her perfectly rounded eyes, all those memories were making Alice almost crazy all the time.

"You've got the latest news from the detective?" Rachel opened up the topic of conversation that Alice really wanted to avoid.

"Yet. I think it's gonna take him a little longer to find my baby." Alice shrugged, feeling a little depressed discussing the matter.

"It's been two months, Alice. Is it necessary that long to find the whereabouts of a person?" Rachel was frustrated.

"Come Rachel. We all know Anson's not just anyone. It must have taken a tremendous effort to pry information about him." Alice laughed, bracing herself.

"Didn't you guys meet at a charity event? What if you start attending those kinds of events again? Maybe you can find it." Rachel tried to find a solution.

Alice frowned for a long time. He thought hard to take the next step. It seemed, he was already stuck with some kind of caution syndrome.

"I, in fact, was reluctant to deal with him directly, Rachel. If I meet him, what should I do? say hello and talk pleasantries? Or ask him to let me take Axel? You think it'll work? He just keeps putting me down, Rachel. Worse, he must have thought I was intruding on his life and could have killed me, "Alices replied sarcastically, smiling bitterly.

Rachel shuddered in horror. He took the biscuits from the storage rack, snatched them at Alice and offered some other snacks.

"Are you sure he's capable of that? Killed you?" Rachel asked softly.

Alice stood agitated, rejecting all the offerings offered by her best friend. He tapped his low-heeled shoes on the floor rhythmically.

"Maybe. I'd rather assume the worst of him." Alice looks pias.

For someone who likes to play in a dark world, killing must be common. The law of the jungle always applies. Who is strong, who wins.

"Alice .. do you regret knowing her? Did you miss him?" Rachel asked carefully.

"I hate it, Rachel," Alice replied too quickly.

Rachel raised her hand in surrender. Alice could admit to hating Anson a thousand times, but her expression and look in her eyes revealed otherwise. Alice was lying to herself.

Alice's phone rang loudly. He frowned, not expecting to get a call this late from the detective office he rented. Is it finally Mr. Ritz managed to find Anson's residence? Will he finally get to see his son?

However, it was not the happy news that he received. A new fact kicked into Alice's consciousness very hard.

Alice ended the conversation with a pale face. His arm gripped the end of the chair very tightly, as if it was the crutch of his life.

"Alice, is everything okay?" Rachel looked worried. He hurriedly approached his best friend.

"The detective I hired has died. He was killed with a long-range bullet this morning. The culprit can't be confirmed."

Rachel and Alice were silent for a long time. They both knew the main culprit was Anson. Somehow the man acted, he must have felt annoyed by the presence of detectives who were too presumptuous to investigate him.

"Yes God. Who exactly is Anson?" Rachel was as shocked as Alice.

...