Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 292

How could she even think about calling the police?

If they started digging, all her secrets would come spilling out.

Cecilia caught Jared’s confused look and quickly made something up. “Forget it, Jared. Really, just let it go. I saw a fortune teller recently—said I’d lose some money, but it would protect me from worse luck. Maybe this is just fate stepping in for me.”

She glanced at him meaningfully. “But did you hear? Emma might be back in town. And that old woman—she must’ve been rescued. Do you know if she’s alive or dead? Have you heard anything?”

Jared froze. “Wait, when did this happen?”

“This afternoon,” Cecilia said, never taking her eyes off him. “No idea what’s going on with Theo right now. He cares about that old woman so much—if he finds out we had anything to do with what happened to her, what do you think he’ll do?”

Jared looked shaken, but tried to cover it up. “No… no way. We just gave Julian Bennett an address, that’s all. We did them a favor! The old lady was all alone, and her son wanted to take care of her. What’s wrong with helping them find each other?”

Cecilia rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Jared? You know as well as I do the Bennetts weren’t looking to ‘take care’ of her. Don’t try that with me—it won’t work. Do you think Theo’s going to buy that?”

Jared forced a smile. “But how could we know? All we knew was a son looking for his mother. That’s not wrong.”

Cecilia blinked, then realization dawned. “Right! How could we know? It’s a family matter—no one told us anything. We were just trying to help.”

Jared grinned. “Exactly. And Theo cares about you so much, he’ll forgive anything as long as you say it wasn’t your fault. What’s there to worry about?”

But Cecilia fell silent.

That might be true… unless that terrifying man in the black shirt told Theo what she’d done overseas. If that ever got out, Theo wouldn’t be so forgiving.

Her eyes hardened. She grabbed Jared’s hand. “Jared, we need to put another lock on Theo—make sure he’s always on our side.”

Jared eyed her warily.

Cecilia placed her other hand on her stomach, leaned in, and whispered something in his ear.

Cecilia nodded in relief.

“Theo, I found Cici. She’s really shaken up. I think you should come over,” Jared said.

Theodore felt a weight lift from his chest. “You found her? Good. I’ll head back now—”

“No, Theo! You have to come here,” Jared interrupted, his voice urgent. “Cici was mugged. She’s a mess—scared out of her mind, crying non-stop.”

Right on cue, Cecilia started sobbing.

“Mugged? Did you call the police?”

“Just come over first, we’ll talk then. We’re at her place,” Jared said and quickly hung up. He shot Cecilia a look. “Let me handle things tonight.”