Searching for Anna by Jenifer Carll-Tong

Author:Jenifer Carll-Tong
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Philo Se Publishing

8

Exposed

“Father, do you remember the day I was expelled from Lansing High School?”

“Oh, I remember that day very well,” Winston Mallory said, flipping the page of the ledger. He often brought work home to his study and Warren usually left him alone when he did so, but he felt the need to speak with him in private.

“On that day, you had a meeting with a gentleman.”

Winston stopped writing. “Yes. Yes, I do remember that.”

Warren pulled the tufted leather chair close to the desk and sat opposite his father. “And that gentleman’s little girl waited in the drawing room.”

“She did?” Winston said, looking up. “I had no idea. My word, do you think she heard anything?”

“By anything, if you mean what was being said, then no. Only the volume in which it was spoken.”

“That’s a shame. Really it is. But what of the little girl?”

“She made quite an impression on me, and when she left her little doll behind…”

“Doll, you say? I don’t remember anything about that.”

“Yes, a little German bisque doll with amber-colored hair, just like the little girl.”

“Are you certain it wasn’t strawberry blonde? Her mother had strawberry blonde hair.”

“ No, I remember distinctly. The daughter’s hair was darker, more amber…as were her eyes.”

“Her mother had amber eyes, so that makes sense.”

“Well, when I returned at Christmas, I went around to visit the little sprite, but the house was empty. None of the neighbors knew anything.”

His father leaned back in his chair. “That is a mystery I wish I had been able to solve.”

“Does their disappearance have anything to do with the argument you and the father had?”

“No, but my search for them does. The father died. Very tragic. I gave the allotted time for mourning to pass, as I knew would be customary for a woman of her breeding.”

“Breeding?”

“English.”

“That’s right,” Warren nodded. “I remember her accent now.”

“Yes, English. Nobility at that. But when I went to pay my respects, they were gone. I searched high and low for the mother and little girl. I even hired a private detective.

“A real, live Pinkerton, eh?”

“Something like that. He tracked down the paternal grandfather of the little girl. Told my man the pair had moved back to England. So I sent him there.”

“What did he find?”

“A dead end. My investigator said she likely returned to her home country to marry. With a new last name, it would be nearly impossible to ever locate them.”

Warren tapped his knuckle against his bottom lip as he slouched in the chair. Returned to England. A dead end.

“I can’t tell you how that woman has haunted me, day and night,” his father continued. “Even the other night, I swore I saw her, but like an apparition, she disappeared. I know it’s just my mind playing tricks on me. It’s been thirteen years and I still pray every day that God will help me locate her.”

“Why is it so important that you find her?”

“I have something to return to her.” Winston crossed his arms. “Why all these questions now?”

“I’ve met someone,” Warren said.

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