Page 25

......

"So you think Anna knows this already?" David asked.

"There is a high chance she does, simply from the way she responded to me. I never mentioned Amelia to her but she said she can't help me find Amelia," Mr. Lay replied, his tone steady but tense. "And when I mentioned Julian’s death, she hesitated. It’s as if she already knows something about it."

David shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing. "You think she’s hiding something? Or is she just scared?"

Mr. Lay leaned back, his gaze distant. "Could be both. She knows what Julian was working on, and she may have realized that it’s dangerous to talk about it. But if she knows something that can help find Amelia, we need her to open up."

“Do you think she’ll help us?” David asked, his voice tinged with doubt.

"I hope so," Mr. Lay muttered, rubbing his temples.

David was about to speak again when the sudden ding ding of the telephone broke the silence, echoing through the room. Both men turned toward the sound, a mix of anticipation and uncertainty hanging in the air.

Mr. Lay’s eyes darted to the receiver, and without hesitation, he stood up and walked over, picking it up. "Lay speaking," he said, his voice steady but betraying a hint of urgency.

David watched him closely, sensing that this call could be the turning point in everything.

"Yes. One million pounds... Great, thank you so much!" Mr. Lay's voice was tinged with a mix of relief and gratitude as he spoke into the phone. He paused for a moment, listening intently to Anna's response on the other end.

"Yes, I understand the risks, and I appreciate your willingness to help. " Mr. Lay continued, his tone firm and resolved.

On the other end, Anna sat by the window, phone pressed to her ear, staring blankly at the city outside. As she spoke, her mind couldn’t help but wander — back to the time when she first met Julian.