Irresistible Boss Succumbing to Your Touch (Maria Anita) novel Chapter 3

Flavian’s POV

We arrived at Cam's house, and upon seeing the discouraged expression on my face, he immediately realized we hadn't found Manuela. I let my body collapse into a chair; I was going to lose my mind - I needed to find her.

"What happened, Flavian?" Orlando approached and sat next to me.

"She wasn't there," I replied dejectedly. "But I'm sure she was. The way things were there... They must have taken her away before we arrived."

"That's exactly what I think," Albert sat down too. "Here's the thing, Flavian, the detective approached the police officer who was watching Rita's house and took him to the police station. He identified himself and explained why he was there."

"That's how she got out without us knowing. The officer was removed from the location, and she was able to leave without us being notified," I concluded.

"Exactly. I've already sent that officer back to my city. He's new, inexperienced. It was my mistake bringing him. He said he thought there would be no problem telling the local detective about the situation, even though I had told him not to," Albert really seemed to feel guilty. "And that's why the detective showed up at the farm during the raid - he was with my officer. And I'm sure he warned Calvin."

"Ah, Albert, it's not your fault. But now they're alert. What are we going to do?" I was so tired and worried, I wasn't thinking clearly.

"We'll keep searching, but I think you need to rest," Albert suggested.

"I won't rest until I find her. I can't, I just can't!" I said, putting my head in my hands. An idea came to my mind. "Cam, why wasn't that farm listed among Calvin's properties that you listed?"

"Probably because the farm isn't in his name," Cam looked at me. "Funny, I don't know who owns that place. That property has been abandoned for a long time."

"Can you find out who owns it?" I asked.

"With just one phone call," Cam made the call. "Hi, it's me. I need to know who owns that abandoned farm near the sinkhole, the one at the end of the street almost at the city limits." He listened for a moment and waited. We were all silent, looking at him. After a while, he spoke again. "And are there other properties in his name? I know, I know, but it's important, nobody will know." He waited a bit longer. "Yes. Oh really?! I know which one that is. Thank you very much, I owe you one. Of course, that's what friends are for. Bye." Cam hung up the phone and looked at us.

"The property belongs to Calvin's son, left by his mother. And there's another one, same thing, a small house, also left by the mother. This one is in the valley, on the way to Joined Foot Cave. It's a district that's part of the city, there's a very small community there. And it's quite remote," Cam explained.

"I know where that is," Breno said. "Let me go check it out. If I find any signs, I'll let you know. Meanwhile, you rest, Flavian. Coming with me, Renata?"

Renata readily agreed, and they both left in a hurry. They seemed to be getting along well, which would be good since I had promised Breno to arrange his transfer to my police station.

"What else can we do?" I looked at Detective Albert.

"For now, we wait. All possible addresses are under surveillance, Rita and Calvin are under surveillance, so we need to wait."

"Rita doesn't have any property? I don't know, anything you might not have remembered?" I asked Cam.

"No, I had already checked that," he replied.

"Come in. I'll call my mother." The woman opened the door, and we entered a small living room. She left and when she returned, she was accompanied by an elderly lady who walked with some difficulty.

"Mom, these men want to know about Rita," the young woman informed her mother.

"That poisonous snake!" The elderly lady frowned but softened when she laid eyes on Orlando. "I know you, sir. You used to visit that snake. She claimed she was pregnant with your child. Such a liar! She would stuff her dress to fool you."

"Yes, that's me," Orlando sighed.

"But there was another man after her too. She didn't lie to him, didn't wear the fake belly. She would take him to her room. I warned my sister, how could she allow such indecency in her house? But she did everything Rita wanted."

"Do you know who this other man was?" Orlando asked.

"Everyone knows. Some fellow named Calvin. But there was also a woman, a nurse, she helped Rita deceive you, they were planning how to get a baby for Rita to claim it was yours. When that nurse arrived here with that tiny baby in that bag, I felt so sorry. They laughed so much, bragging about what they had done."

"Do you know where the baby came from?" Orlando asked anxiously.

"Sir, I know everything! But I didn't know where to find you to tell you these things, I'm so glad you came. Sweetie, go make some coffee while I tell this gentleman the story, it's about time he knew the truth," the lady said decisively. What followed was like shining light into a dark cave. For the next hour, that lady detailed Rita's entire plan to deceive Orlando.