Chapter 1512:
“Alright,” Corrine nodded, acknowledging his assurance.
After the officers left, Corrine took Karina to the nearest hospital to have her arm looked at.
Observing Corrine’s serious concern over what seemed like a minor scrape, Karina lightened the mood with a chuckle. “It’s just a scratch! You should have seen me as a kid. I once fell off a second-story balcony, split my chin open, and hobbled to a clinic on my own. Scared everyone half to death there.”
Karina’s laughter masked a hint of vulnerability that even she seemed unaware of.
Corrine couldn’t pinpoint exactly what or who Karina was reminded of, but it was clear they were cut from the same cloth.
Karina’s early years were spent in the countryside with her mother and maternal grandmother. The family lore suggested that the Brooks matriarch preferred male heirs, resulting in Karina not returning to the Brooks family home until middle school.
A male nurse approached with supplies in hand.
He glanced at Karina briefly, then looked away, his ears turning red. “This might sting a bit… Try to stay still.”
“I’m not scared of a little pain,” Karina said, lifting her chin proudly.
As Corrine stood by, her phone rang, pulling her attention away.
It was Nate.
His voice hit her ear like ice. “Where are you?”
Aware that news of the robbery had likely reached him, Corrine reassured him softly, “I’m fine.”
She looked at Karina, then stepped into the hallway and found a bench. Sitting down, she filled Nate in on the situation. She kept it brief, then added, “Any progress on the two guys?”
𝖀𝗽𝗅𝗈𝖆𝖉 𝖙𝗋𝗮𝖈𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝗈 𝗀ⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧉𝖼𝗈𝗆
She was sure he’d already launched an investigation.
The circumstances surrounding the robbery had been peculiar from the start. The street was packed, right in the heart of the city. And yet, those men had gone straight for her—as if they’d been sent. Like they’d known exactly who they were looking for.
And their behavior didn’t add up.
The timing had been strange. The choice of victim made even less sense. Nate, ever the rock in the chaos, assured her over the phone, “I’ve already sent someone to look into it. We should have answers soon.”
“Alright.”
Ending the call, Corrine returned to the treatment room just as Karina was finishing up.
The two exchanged a brief farewell at the hospital entrance before going their separate ways. Corrine was heading back to her office, and Karina was driving across town.
While navigating the streets, Karina’s assistant called. “Miss Brooks, do you want me to reschedule everything for tomorrow?”
The assistant had figured it out early on. Once a year, without fail, Karina would disappear. No meetings. No explanations. Just silence. No one ever dared to ask where she went or what she did.
Karina answered with a simple “Yes” and ended the call.
She parked near a quiet intersection, stepped out, and walked into a store that sold funeral items.
.
.
.