Cross Lines

Chapter 27: Pursuit

Outside North City Prison, Maggie stood by the roadside, watching Grace approach. After they brushed past each other, Grace hurried off. After a moment of hesitation, Maggie quickly opened her car door, retrieved her bag, and told Emily Luo, “Take care of the boss. I’m going to follow her.”

Dr. Luo looked a bit puzzled and blinked at her. Maggie explained, “We don’t know where she’s going. If we get separated, it will be hard to find her in this vast sea of people.”

With that, Maggie turned and quickly followed Grace. At the intersection, she noticed a long-distance bus station, so Grace was probably heading there. Emily Luo, left behind, watched Maggie’s retreating figure and suddenly recalled Eva’s words: Maggie always thinks of things others might miss.

She was relieved she had asked Maggie to come; otherwise, things could have been worse. Dr. Luo sighed deeply and turned towards Eva in the distance.

In the outskirts, the buses were infrequent. Maggie felt her feet freezing before she finally boarded a dilapidated minibus with Grace. Dr. Luo’s worry was evident in her words, but Maggie smiled reassuringly and told them to stay at the bar and wait.

On the bus, Grace remained silent, her whole demeanor exuding a sense of desolation. Maggie sensed her deep despair, but it shouldn’t be this way.

The bumpy ride to the city left the sky darkened. Grace got off at an intersection, and Maggie followed.

Grace stood by the roadside, clearly confused. She slowly surveyed her surroundings, as if trying to discern something. Maggie hid behind a nearby tree, peeking out to observe Grace’s movements.

After a while, Grace seemed to regain her composure and began to walk slowly along the street. At this time of year, many shops were closed, and passersby were hurried. No one noticed the inconspicuous figure of someone rediscovering freedom after years of separation.

Maggie trailed Grace’s slow pace for a long time, feeling a deep sympathy and pity for this woman who could be considered her kin, burdened with such unfortunate experiences. She imagined the once-beautiful past of Grace and Eva, now reduced to ruins.

As the wind picked up and night fell completely, Maggie kept a careful distance behind Grace, relieved she had worn her down jacket and snow boots. Otherwise, she would have frozen.

While thinking this, Grace hesitated before entering a brightly lit private hotel.

Staying here? Maggie followed, looking around. The environment wasn’t too bad but wasn’t great either. Through the glass door, she saw Grace conversing with the receptionist and then paying, seeming ready to check in.

Maggie waited until Grace completed her check-in and left the front desk before entering herself. The receptionist greeted her warmly, “Do you want a room?”

Maggie smiled and explained, “Hi, I’m a friend of Grace, who just checked in. She had a bit of a quarrel at home and came out to stay. I’m worried and came to check on her.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Yeah, don’t ask her any questions, just pretend I wasn’t here.” Maggie opened her wallet, took out two pink banknotes and her business card, and handed them over. “Please keep an eye on her. If anything happens, call me. If she decides to check out, make sure to notify me. I’ll come over within twenty minutes. Please make sure to keep her here, and I’ll thank you properly.”

The receptionist’s smile showed all eight teeth. “Sure, no problem! Rest assured!”

Maggie thought for a moment and asked, “Do you provide meals?”

“Oh, yes. If guests need, we can deliver meals to their room, but there’s an additional charge.”

“Did Grace ask about this?”

“Hmm? No.” The receptionist looked puzzled.

“That’s good,” Maggie took out two more banknotes. “Please send some food to her now, preferably hot soup or porridge. As long as she stays here, send her three meals a day, saying it’s a free service. I’ll pay for it, and I’ll come by these days. I’ll settle the bill later.”

“Sure, absolutely no problem!” The receptionist was delighted. In this private hotel, guests usually negotiate the room rate, so paying in advance for something not yet provided was rare.

Maggie gave a few more instructions, checked an empty room upstairs to ensure everything was okay, and then left the hotel. She took a cab directly to Eva’s bar.

In the lounge at the back, Eva was in worse shape than in recent days, curled up on the sofa, lifeless. Emily Luo stayed beside her, but comforting words were exhausted, and this situation wasn’t something a simple pep talk could fix.

Maggie knocked and then entered. Eva looked at her with a desperate expression. Emily Luo saw Maggie’s red, cold face and felt a pang in her heart, but didn’t comment further, first asking about Grace’s situation.

“How did it go?”

Maggie rubbed her hands to warm them, and with a relaxed expression, said, “It’s fine. She’s checked into a hotel. I went in and sorted things out; they said they’d contact us if there’s any news.”

Eva relaxed slightly and then asked Maggie, “Has she eaten? How’s the place? Should we get her another hotel? How’s her mood?”

Emily Luo got up and poured a cup of hot water for Maggie. Maggie took it, drank a few sips, and said, “I arranged for the hotel to provide meals. The place isn’t very upscale but looks clean. If we booked another hotel, she wouldn’t go, which might be worse. As for her mood, she was very quiet and didn’t talk much during the journey, but it didn’t seem too unusual.”

Maggie patiently answered Eva’s questions while exchanging glances with Dr. Luo.

Eva buried her face in her arms resting on her knees, speaking in a muffled voice, “She didn’t have much money. She brought nothing with her when she went in. She refused everything I sent her over the years. Today, she’s still wearing the same clothes she had when she was taken away…”

The last sentence caught in her throat, and she couldn’t say more. The silent sobs carried an even more intense pain. Maggie turned her face away, not wanting to see Eva’s vulnerability.

Emily Luo went over, sat next to Eva, and put a hand on her back. “Eva, she’s just come out; she needs time to adjust to both psychologically and in life. It will get better. Maggie and I are here with you, and things will improve.”

Eva shook her head. “She won’t forgive me.”

“Don’t give up hope. If you do, you’ll truly have no hope left.” Maggie’s face fell. “I’m starving!”

“Let’s go get something to eat?”

Maggie was initially surprised, then checked her watch and said, “At this time, only KFC is open.”

“Then let’s go to KFC.”

Dr. Luo raised her eyebrows, her beautiful eyes looking at Maggie with warmth. All the day’s exhaustion seemed to melt away, or rather, the fatigue seemed worth it.

After finishing a hamburger, Maggie sighed with satisfaction, “It’s so wonderful to be full!”

Emily Luo, a bit disdainful, didn’t bother with Maggie’s attempt to change the subject. Unlike usual, she didn’t counter Maggie’s probing thoughts.