After scrolling for over a minute, she finally found the voice message sent by Ringo.

However, the email was too large to be previewed online.

It took Rayna several minutes to download the audio clip. After reducing the volume, she held the device beside her ear.

The audio clip began with only the sound of footsteps before various other noises joined the cacophony as if somebody was watching television.

Rayna sped the clip up.

After listening for a while, she put the playback speed back to normal when she detected the sound of somebody opening the door to enter the room.

“I bought you some strawberries and cherries, Kristie.” A low male voice sounded from the audio clip, followed by the sound of footsteps. “I’ll rinse them in the kitchen, then watch television with you. How does that sound?”

Kristie hummed her assent.

Having listened to the dialogue, Rayna assumed from Kristie’s state that it was during the interval when Curtis brought her back from Yartran.

Why did Ringo’s people plant a bug in Kristie’s place at that time?

She did not delve into it but instead pressed the phone against her ear and listened intently.

Curtis’ tone was gentle when he spoke to Kristie, but she merely responded with noncommittal grunts no matter what he said.

Rayna could sense how awful Curtis must have felt.

Feeling awful herself, she once again sped up the clip.

After a while, Rayna heard the sound of the doorbell, followed by Jeremy’s and Wyatt’s voices.

The group chatted a little while until Jeremy suddenly said, “Have James come over, Curtis. You saw how much Kristie wanted to see him when I showed her his photograph.”

“That’s unnecessary. I don’t need outsiders to be concerned about my sister.”

Silence befell the group.

“Ms. Garland called me, Curtis. She wants to help Jefferson, but she requires the signatures of the politicians who attended the party. It just so happens I’m on that list too.”

“We have long since severed ties,” Curtis said blandly. “There’s no need to consider my feelings.” A while later, Curtis asked Jeremy, “When is the party?”

“Two months from now.”

James of the time and place,” the

James, we may

there’s nothing else

ended at that point. Rayna’s eyes were wide

did she understand how James could have gotten such an accurate inkling of Arnaud’s movements and how he had managed to ambush the

was Curtis who told him all of

vibrated at that

WhatsApp message and felt her head splitting open

of an emerald pendant smeared with

the temple for James.

can’t believe he

pendant, Rayna almost collapsed when

drag my brother into this and send him to exact vengeance on Arnaud by himself? How could he be

he thought of the

against the wall and fell limply onto the floor, startling

turned around. When he saw Rayna on the floor, he leaped off his chair and ran over. “Ms.

who was

Rayna awoke, she saw the sun shining outside the

fainting the

When she pulled open the door to exit the room, she ran into

her arm with a look of panic. “Where’s

repairs.” Jessica helped her back to the bedroom. “The doctor says

head outside. “I have many things to do, and I’m going over for a look. Ringo must be lying

James can’t be dead!

her. “Calm down, Nana. This isn’t

Baby?

and a horrible feeling rose from her chest. She blinked, and her tears

wrong, Nana?” Jessica scrambled to wipe

her and cried even

She

the bed and poured her a glass of warm water. “What’s

a smile. “I just feel horrible at the thought

help.” Jessica sighed. “Mr. York is

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