Chapter 53
“NOW I understand why that cop looked so clingy to you,” Connor said with a nod after Maria told him about her past relationship with Euclid.
Maria heaved a sigh. “I just don’t understand why of all people—or policemen—it was him who was there to catch me…”
Connor reached for her hand on her lap. “It’s just a small world, Maria. And, Agent Euclid was in the department that targets drug and human trafficking.”
Maria felt ashamed of herself, hearing Connor mentions her criminal cases wrenched her heart. It’s true, whenever she’s in front of him, her conscience is knocking on her. If she was just a different woman, she’ll probably let herself love him. But, she’s not… Because she’s Magdalene, the sinner.
“Do you still love him?” Connor asked suddenly.
She avoided his gaze and looked at her daughter, who was sleeping on the couch. Sara fell asleep after watching the latest episode of We Bare Bears. If she’ll look deep inside her heart, she’ll find the answer to Connor’s question. But, Maria won’t dare to look at it. It’s useless to know what’s in there, just like how it’s nonsense to a kid’s broken toy.
“Maria…?” Connor squeezed her hand. “It’s okay if you don’t want to answer it,” he smiled. “I understand.”
“I don’t love him anymore…” she said, not taking her daughter’s eyes. “I stopped loving him from the day that I left the island where we first met.”
“It must be really hard for you…” he said and looked at her apologetically. “Maria, I am here now, you don’t have to worry anymore. I will never leave you the way that guy left you. I won’t do the things that he did to you… I promised that.”
Maria smiled at Connor. “Thanks… But, what I need you to do for me now is to give me the job in your sister’s restaurant.”
Connor’s brows slightly furrowed. “Why do you really want to work at my sister’s restaurant?”
She paused and averted her gaze to the coffee table in front of them. “Because… No one will accept me while my hearing is ongoing,” she said and bit her lip. “And, I remember that you offered me a job before…” Maria met his eyes. “Connor, you’re the only person that I know could help me now.”
Connor reached to touch her face. “Maria, I told you that you don’t have to work now… I can handle all the expenses—”
“I know, Connor…” she cut off. “But, I don’t want to be a burden to you, especially in this kind of situation. Getting me a lawyer is more than enough for me… That’s why I wanted to work for the things that I need now.”
“Maria, I don’t want you to risk your safety—”
“Connor, I’ll be safe…” she insisted. “I’ll be safe for Sara, for Wendy.” She held his gaze. “And, for you, Connor…”
Connor smiled. “I’m still worried, Maria. You can’t blame me to feel like this, I heard from your lawyers that the syndicate behind this trouble might be looking for you.”
“They won’t, Connor…” Maria said. “Trust me. I’ll be safe. And, besides, I’m sure that Euclid’s undercover team will be there to watch over me. They won’t let me escape, in their eyes I’m a fugitive.”
A criminal…
The door pushed open, and Wendy stepped inside with hands full of grocery plastics. She went straight to the kitchen and placed it all on top of the dinner table. She gasped when she turned in their direction and saw Connor sitting on her side.
“I thought you’re busy at the hospital?” she asked Connor as she walked towards them.
“I called a substitute,” Connor said with a shrug. “When I received your text message that Maria wanted to talk to me, I went here immediately.”
Wendy nodded, but her brows furrowed suddenly as if remembering something. “Wait, did you just say I texted you?”
With a knotted forehead, Connor nodded. “Yes. After your call asking me medicine for your acid reflux.”
“I texted you?” Wendy asked, confused. “I can’t remember texting you after a call…”
Maria watched Connor take out his phone. “Here’s your message. I received it about fifteen minutes after your call ended.”
Wendy looked at Connor’s screen. “That’s my number… But, I really don’t remember texting you to come over here.”
“Wendy, maybe you just forgot to do it,” Maria butt in. “You’re forgetful about minor things that you did.”
Wendy pouted her lips. “Maybe… But, let me see my sent items.” She fished out her phone from her green shoulder bag. “Oh, it’s on my old phone.”
Maria’s brows furrowed. “O-Old phone?”
“Yeah. I got a new phone just a while ago,” she said and showed her the new smartphone. “Ta-da! It’s the latest model, and guess what? I added just a few hundred bucks to get it from a swapper—”
“You swapped it? With whom?” Maria asked, sounding alarmed.
“From a swapper that passed by,” Wendy replied. “Why?”
Maria pressed her lips together as she tried to recall if she deleted her call history on Wendy’s phone last night. She’s sure that she did… But, it’s odd that somebody suddenly swapped phones with Wendy. And, Connor, he received a message from Wendy’s number. She clutched on her skirt, she can’t mess up now.
“Maria, is there a problem?” Connor asked her.
She glanced at him, then at his phone. “Connor… Is your phone’s IP address hidden?”
Connor knotted his forehead by her question. “I’m not sure… why do you ask?”
“Can you check it?”
“Sure,” he said and opened her phone settings. After a few swipes, he shook his head. “It’s visible.”
“What’s with IP addresses?” Wendy asked, confused about what was happening in their gadgets. “Mine now is visible too.”
“I’m not sure, but according to my IT subjects before, IP addresses are used to track the user’s network provider.”
Wendy gasped. “Really? Then, what does it have to do with us?”
Maria stared at Wendy’s new phone. “Nothing…” she said. “Nothing that can harm us.”
***
