Chapter 45 Personally Send Me Out As evening arrived, the purple glow of dusk enveloped Jadeborough.
âAre you still not going to provide an explanation, Finnegan?â asked Romona as she ate a big bowl of food she brought into the interrogation room while her feet rested on the table.
As she chewed, she even intentionally asked, âYouâre not hungry?â
Finnegan remained silent with closed eyes.
âIâm impressed, you know. The Miles family, the Haimowitz family, the Zimmerman family, the Langdon family, the Wahlstrom family, the deputy governor, and many others called to plead for leniency on your behalf. Unfortunately for you, Iâm not easily pressured. As long as you refuse to provide an explanation, no one can bail you out. In fact, the more those people try to get you out, the more convinced I am that youâve done something bad!â
A subtle look of surprise flashed past Finneganâs eyes as he opened them. So, the families werenât as incompetent as I thought. They did their best, but Romona didnât relent. I wonder how sheâs so resistant to the pressure theyâre applying on her when sheâs just a police captain. Itâs as though she isnât afraid of offending anyone at all.
He asked, âYouâre from Durbaine, arenât you?â
Romona froze for a moment before the look in her eyes turned sharp. âWhy are you asking. me that?â
While she did come from Durbaine, she rarely brought it up to facilitate her work. Only a few people in Jadeborough were aware of that fact.
Based on her reaction, Finnegan knew his guess was correct. I bet sheâs the child of a prominent figure, which would explain why sheâs capable of resisting an absurd amount of pressure.
Thus, he smiled. âI didnât expect you to be such a tough nut to crack. I suppose Iâll have to save myself.â
âSave yourself? If even the deputy governor canât persuade me, who do you think can get me to release you?â replied Romona smugly.
Smirking, he stretched his hand toward her. âCan you hand me my phone?â To avoid her. from denying his request, he added, âYou canât restrict my freedom since Iâm only here to âassist the investigation.â
Upon hearing that, she did as he asked. âIâm still going to keep you here, even if you can summon a god.â
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1444 Without delay, Finnegan dialed a number after obtaining his phone.
It rang for three seconds before the agitated voice of a middle-aged man was heard on the other end.
âDr. Larkin!â
âIâm in a bit of trouble. The Jadeborough police captain, Romona Quickwood, has detained me, and Iâm hungry because I havenât had lunch yet. I hope sheâll personally send me out in ten minutes.â When Finnegan ended his sentence, he hung up and placed the phone on the table.
Romona mocked, âStill acting, eh? No matter what, Iâm not releasing you! Keep dreaming!â
Then she intentionally chewed on her food unnecessarily loudly to provoke Finnegan.
However, from his perspective, she was just acting very childishly.
Thus, he shut his eyes tight and ignored her again.
Roughly seven minutes later, just as Romona finished her meal and was about to interrogate. Finnegan again, her phone rang. Her expression shifted when she saw the name on the phone. Swiftly, she pressed the device on her car and stood. âUncle Reynard!â
The person on the other end spoke to her briefly before her expression changed. Confusion surfaced on her countenance before it transformed into shock.
When the call ended, Romona stared at Finnegan with a complicated look. âWho are you? Why is General Reynard also asking me to release you?â
The person on the other end of the call was Reynard Palmer, an officer of an important organization in Loang, Regulus Pavilion.
It was one of the five most influential entities in Loangâs military.
Romona couldnât understand why someone as distinguished as Reynard would persuade her to release Finnegan.
Smiling, Finnegan raised his cuffed hands. âDidnât he tell you not to ask questions and do as he says, Captain Quickwood? Although I must admit, Iâm surprised that Rey personally contacted you. No wonder you were able to detain me for hours.â
Of course, she didnât want to let him walk free just like that.
Nevertheless, she didnât have the guts to disobey Reynard, who commanded her in a steely tone. She gritted her teeth and reluctantly uncuffed Finnegan. âGet out of here.â
As Finnegan stood and stretched his body, he uttered, âI believe I said youâd have to be the one to send me out. Did you forget about it?â
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âYou⦠Fine, letâs go!â As furious as Romona was, she still opened the door for him.
Her grim expression amused him as he remarked, âInteresting!â
He strolled out of the interrogation room as she stared daggers at him while following him sullenly.
âFinnegan!â Bernice exclaimed just as she saw Finnegan ambling into the lobby after entering the building with a middle-aged man and an old man.
She was supporting the old man but left him upon seeing Finnegan.
Smiling at her warmly, Finnegan reassured. âIâm fine. Sorry for making you worry.â Then he turned to the old man. âHello, Old Mr. Zimmerman.â
He recognized the old man as Bruce Zimmerman, the founder of Firebird Group and Berniceâs grandfather.
Finnegan often saw the man on television. Hence, it was natural that he recognized the elder.
Bruce, who came at Berniceâs insistence, eyed Finnegan before turning to the middle-aged man. âSorry to have troubled you, Mr. Hawthorne.â
Luther was stunned to see Finnegan. I only promised Bruce that I would check out the situation because I didnât expect Romona would release Finnegan. Otherwise, I wouldâve already agreed to Gilbertâs request. Why did she let him go?
Turning his head, Finnegan glanced at the morose Romona. âIâll be taking my leave now, Captain Quickwood.â
In response, she gritted her teeth and sneered.
Smirking, Finnegan bade Luther goodbye before leaving with Bernice and Bruce, As Romona watched Finnegan leave under her permission, she shouted, âI want someone to accompany me to meet Tristan now!â Heâs the only one who can right this wrong!
Luther wanted to stop her, but the moment he saw the rage on her face, he elected not to.
Meanwhile, in Durbaine, a middle-aged, three-star general in military uniform hurriedly entered a heavily guarded but small courtyard. âIâve obtained Mischievous Doctorâs whereabouts. Heâs in Jadeborough right now. Old Mr. Samson is saved!â
Someone from inside the building darted toward him. The man was the same age as the general but appeared much more educated.
Panickily, he asked, âDr. Larkin is in Jadeborough? Can you ask him to come to Durbaine and treat my father as soon as possible?â
A troubled look surfaced on Reynardâs countenance. âIâm afraid that wonât be doable. While heâs Eternal Medicine Godâs apprentice, his approach is somewhat malicious. Heâs very different from his teacher.â
Then he informed the educated-looking man of Finneganâs ten non-treatment rules.
After that, he continued, âSo, I think we should visit him instead. Otherwise, if we piss him off, heâll refuse to treat your father.â
The expression of the educated-looking man shifted before he turned to an old man. âCan my father survive a long trip, Dr. Cooper?â
The old man replied, âHe needs a few more days to get better before making the trip. Impeccable protective measures must also be taken to prevent his condition from deteriorating during the journey.â
âIn that case, weâll wait a few more days before traveling to Jadeborough!â