Chapter 107

Kermit had always bristled when he came to check on the case progress with Officer Skyler. Theguy had a way of talking that was like a slap on his face, condescending and irksome.

He’d been itching to see Sanderson squirm under that same unpleasant treatment.

But as Sanderson stood there, unflappable as ever, Kermit couldn’t help but jump the gun and ask,“Officer, did you call us here because the money’s been recovered? How much did you get back?”

Skyler, interrupted, didn’t bother hiding his annoyance, and snapped, “And who might you be? TheDelaney case got reassigned, didn’t it? Why’re you sticking your nose in other people’s business?”

Kermit went red, caught off guard.

Rachel whispered to the trio, “See what I mean? The guy’s all swagger, no tact. But hands tied, wecan’t afford to tick him off.”

Sanderson and Lorna exchanged a look, thinking, “This Skyler was a piece of work, alright.”

After his sharp words, Skyler sidestepped Kermit and approached the others.

Sanderson stepped forward, putting himself between Cordelia and Lorna. If Skyler was going toblow a fuse, he wasn’t going to let it be at them.

As the officer neared them, Sanderson was about to offer a greeting when Skyler, with asycophantic tone, smiled and said, “Lia, Mrs. Delaney, Mr. Delaney, I’m so sorry to drag you downhere.”

He patted his chest, nearly letting slip “boss Cordelia” that would have been out of place.

All three stared at Skyler, dumbfounded.

Kermit and Rachel couldn’t believe their eyes. This was the same man who’d been too lofty to evenconverse with them moments ago. What was with the sudden turnaround? And what was that hecalled Cordelia? “Lia“? They all turned to look at Cordelia, and Sanderson couldn’t help but ask,“Lia, you two know each other?”

Cordelia nodded, unfazed, “Oh, we’ve met once.”

Met once, and he was this chummy?

Cordelia’s brow furrowed slightly. Why did Skyler call her Lia? That was too close.

Amidst the stunned silence and Cordelia’s confusion, Skyler continued, “Here’s the deal. We’venabbed Calvert, and the money’s been recovered. We brought you in to transfer it back into yourbank account. Just need a signature to close the case.”

Skyler handed Sanderson a document, and when Sanderson saw what was on it, he was floored.

Kermit, growing impatient and unable to see the details, nudged Rachel to ask, “How much wasrecovered? Half of it?”

Skyler shook his head, “Not even close.”

Not half? “A third, then?”

Skyler said, “Impossible.”

Rachel let out a sigh of relief, thinking if a third hadn’t been recovered, then they were in the clearfor a sizable windfall.

Her face lit up with a smile, “Well, at least a fifth, right?”

Skyler sighed, “You really don’t get it, do you?”

Rachel laughed even harder, “No, I get it. Your job is tough. It’s just that, you know, it’s the first timefor 12:50 Sanderson and Lorna here, they might be struggling to come to terms with it.”

Turning to Lorna, she said. “It’s just bad luck, and don’t take it too hard. If you need to, let it out. Iwon’t judge.”

Kermit chimed in, “Right, even a few million is a win. Don’t be sad.”

Lorna, ever the composed one, had never been one to fuss over money. After all, if they couldconsider it spending thirty million to sever ties with Laurinda, they were ahead.

She was contorting Sanderson instead, “Whatever we get back is a bonus. Sign the paperwork, andlet’s not be too hard on the police.”

But Sanderson was staring at her in disbelief, “No, it’s all there. The whole fifty million.”

“What?” Lorna was astounded.

Everyone’s eyes snapped to Skyler, who stood straighter, “Didn’t I tell you? You seem to have thewrong Idea about us. We serve the people. You were scammed out of fifty million, of course, we’regoing to recover it all.”

The room fell silent for a moment, then Kermit was the first to exclaim, “How’s that possible?”

Rachel pointed at Skyler, shouting. “You said you couldn’t get much back.”

Skyler shrugged nonchalantly. “I never said that. I told you, every case is different. How much werecover is down to luck. Calvert didn’t move the assets, so you just got lucky.”

Kermit and Rachel were green with envy. They couldn’t say a word, only shoot Sanderson a look,when Skyler cut in, “This is a police station, no shouting. If you two aren’t here to close a case,please wait outside.”

Then, turning back with a smile, Skyler said, “Mr. Delaney, Mrs. Delaney, Lia, shall we go to thelounge to sign the documents? Want something to drink?”

As the group left, Rachel turned to Kermit, What now?

Kermit was seething with rage, his eyes a swirl of vicious thoughts, “I know Sanderson. After whatwe did, he’s got no love left. He’s not going to return our money with the contract in hand. We’ll justhave to wait and see.”

Half an hour later, the fifty million was transferred. After signing off, they walked out of the station,almost floating on air.

Lorna looked ahead dreamily, “So, we didn’t lose money, and we actually made twenty millionmore?”

Sanderson couldn’t shake the feeling that things were going a little too smoothly. It almost felt eeriehow their luck had turned. But as the initial shock wore off, his eyes gleamed with excitement as heturned to Cordelia, “Lia, you’re like a lucky charm. Ever since you came back, it’s been one piece ofgood news after another. Our little family is on the up and up. Come on, tonight I’m treating youboth to a delicious dinner out.”

Lorna was equally spirited, “Let’s go put down a deposit on that dress, no more second–guessing.”

Cordelia observed the two of them, pausing before she tentatively began, “Is it okay if I…”

Before she could finish her thought with “Stay home?“, her parents exchanged a quick glance andsimultaneously exclaimed, “No way.”

Cordelia really wanted to stay home and hit the books, but seeing the excitement on her parents‘faces, she swallowed her words.

She thought, “I can spare a few hours from studying to spend with them.”

The next day, Cordelia arrived at Midnight Scent as usual. As she sat down for breakfast, her gazelanded on Everard.

The man had perfect features and a somewhat frosty appearance. His sharp features carried nohint of softness, and his strong jawline underscored his resilience. He was definitely easy on theeyes.

No wonder he was on the minds of the female students.

12:50 With that thought, Cordelia suddenly asked, “If I ran out of money, would you still date me?”