Chapter 679 Maeve Changed Her Tune "But sheâs the mastermind behind my abduction! Sheâs a murderer and a criminal suspect! Why did you people let her go!?"
Deirdre clenched her fists tightly and felt a dizzy spell overcoming her.She had hoped that everything was finally coming to an end! The police officers exchanged glances.
"We've found no evidence of a crime after investigating Charli McKinsey."
"No, thatâs impossible!"
Deirdre shouted hotly.
"I heard her voice! She was talking to me! We talked! She abducted me!"
"Miss McKinnon, your sight is compromised.We canât just say who did it based on what you, and you alone, heard."
"But Maeve Oâ Keefe was a witness too! She can corroborate with my testimony and prove that Charli is not innocent!"
"And this is what weâre here to inform you, Miss McKinnon.Maeve OâKeefe came to the police yesterday and admitted to fabricating her account.She had admitted to harboring some hatred toward Charli McKinsey and so created wrongful accusations against the latter.She was duly punished for her misdemeanor and was only released this morning."
Deirdre felt a deafening buzz in her brain.It knocked her off her feet, and she fell on her back.
How did this happen? How could Maeve change her tune just like that? Why!? Glenna, who had accompanied her, was frowning in sheer concern.
"Dee, hey! Are you okay?"
Deirdre tried her best to maintain composure and shook her head.
Shock and rage animated her shout, "I must see her! I need to talk to Maeve now! Where does she live!?"
"Our apologies, Miss McKinnon, but since Mrs.OâKeefeâs charged with slander, and youâre the one who will benefit the most from her fabrication, we need to practice caution and isolate the two of you.We canât give you her address."
Deirdre clambered out of the police station, her mind as staggered as her footsteps.She breathed as hard as she could but found the air so frigid and hostile that it stung her lungs and bones.
Things had changed beyond recognitionâand over such a drastic, unnatural length of time! It was as if someone was behind it, and if there was something she had to know, it was the truth! "Glenna!"
"Iâm here!" the young woman answered immediately as she studied Deirdre with frantic concern.
"Lend me your phone for a call, please?"
Maeve must have blacklisted her number by this point, right? Besides, even if she did not, Deirdre doubted the older woman would answer her number.
"Right! H-Here you go!"
Glenna handed her phone over to Deirdre before a thought hit her.
"Ah, damn! My brainâs all fried...Mine is a touchscreen smartphone, so you canât type the number yourself! Let me do it for you."
Deirdre recited the number from memory, and Glenna called it.
A few moments later, the call connected.
Maeveâs voice was fraught with weariness.
"Hello.Who's this?"
Deirdre took a deep breath.
"Itâs me, Mrs.O'Keefe."
A telling silence weighed on her from the other end.
"I know youâd rather not hear my voice now, but donât hang up just yet.I promise Iâm not trying to force you into doing anything."
Deirdre continued.
"I just want to know why.Why would you rather be accused of slander instead of just...telling the truth?"
The silence persisted for some time before Maeve exhaled a breath.
"God, Miss McKinnon...Iâm not in a position to tell you anything you'd like to hear.The only thing I can tell you is this.I have had very little choice in this.So, please, donât call me again.Move on."
She did not wait for Deirdre before hanging up the call.
Then, when Glenna tried to call her again, she found her number blacklisted as well.
Irritated, the young woman snarled, "What the h*ll!!? Can't she at least put in some actual explanation before ghosting us like that!? Urgh! Talk about weaponizing the blacklist function!"
Deirdre thinned her lips as she mulled over Maeveâs answer.
The latter claimed she had little choice, did she not? But why? Who forced her hand? Charlene had lost the support of her backer, right? While Glenna was still ranting, Deirdre calmly cut her short.
"Glenna? I need your help."