NovelEnglishKeh pursed his lips, a hint of frustration in his voice, "Look, | admire her, okay? She's dedicated to her job and happens to be
easy on the eyes. It's only natural I'd take a liking to her, right?"
Lane snapped his fingers, his mood evidently upbeat. "The woman I've got my eye on? She's top-notch! As long as we're not at
odds, who's to say we can't be pals?"
"I'm not exactly jumping at the chance to be your buddy," Keh replied, causing Lane's previously cheerful expression to darken
in an instant.
"So, you're set on leaving?"
Hearing this, Keh feigned a troubled sigh, "My folks will start worrying. I've been off the radar for too long!"
To alleviate any concerns, Keh had intentionally left all means ofmunication behind.
"Fair point." Lane's focus had been on Everett for so long, this issue hadn't crossed his mind. "How about you use my phone to
check in with your family?"
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"Relax, once Everett's funeral wraps up, I'll get in touch with Dorothy. Then, you'll be free to go."
Lane wasn't keen on letting his makeshift hostage slip away.
With Everett gone, a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
But Quincy's case was still wide open, and investigations could lead their way!
Keh was too valuable a pawn for Lane to willingly give up.
"Fine," he said, seemingly with great reluctance, before taking Lane's phone.
However, it was clear Lane had no intention of letting the phone out of his sight, forcing Keh to make the call right there and
then.
Keh was unfazed, dialing Karen's number directly.
After two rings, the call connected.
"Hello?"
"It's me, Keh," he said, keeping it brief.
Upon hearing his voice, Karen immediately responded, "Where have you been? Why haven't you contacted your parents? They're
worried sick!"
Lane cast a puzzled look at Keh, wondering why he didn't call his parents directly.
But Keh quickly provided an answer, "I'll need a bit more tbefore | can head back. Telling them now would only upset them
since | can'te himmediately."
"Oh, how much longer will you be? Are you alright, safe?"
"I'm safe, just... wanted to take stoff to look for a job, clear my head, you know?"
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After Keh's explanation, there was a brief silence from Karen before she suddenly said, "Did you know? Everett's dead! But the
news has been kept under wraps; the outside world doesn't have a clue! Dorothy's devastated, maybe you shoulde back, offer
somefort? Who knows, you guys might..."
"Seriously, dead?"
"Dead serious. | saw it with my own eyes. The poor guy died a terrible death. The doctors said it was poisoning, but they couldn't
find an antidote!" Karen sighed, "And somehow, Dorothy's fainted twice out of grief! The symptoms are eerily similar to Everett's."
Lane, who had been eavesdropping, immediately furrowed his brows.
Keh glanced at him before responding to Karen, "Take good care of her. I'll call back when | get the chance."
"Alright!"
The call ended, and Lane's mood shifted from elation to anxiety in a heartbeat.
"This is bad, Dorothy's probably going to have an episode too! | need to figure out how to get her sof that antidote!"
"But how are you going to get out now?" Keh raised an eyebrow, feigning calm, "Is the antidote... nearby?"
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