Old Mrs. Quigley had seen enough of the world to understand the undertones in Noreen's voice.
She whipped her head around to face Felix. "You! Tell me what happened!"
"...We're still investigating," Felix explained.
"Are you investigating, or are you covering up the truth? She was perfectly fine when you called her over to talk. How is it that in the blink of an eye, she's on the ground and the baby is gone?" Noreen couldn't hold back any longer, her voice sharp with accusation.
That was his child, too!
How could he be so… so cold?
Why?
Why could he act as if it had nothing to do with him?
Felix tried to explain, "She left after we spoke. I don't know what happened after that."
"I also didn't know… that she was pregnant."
"You…" Old Mrs. Quigley was livid. "You are an absolute scoundrel!"
"Sweetheart, can you tell Grandma what happened?" Old Mrs. Quigley turned to Claire. "Grandma will make it right for you!"
Claire was still sobbing. "I was on my way back to find Noreen when someone shoved me hard from behind. I fell down the steps, and then… I don't remember anything else."
"It was Madeline!" Noreen's immediate reaction was to name her.
Old Mrs. Quigley paused. "Madeline?"
Noreen then recounted the day's events to Old Mrs. Quigley, including how Madeline had been making things difficult for Claire.
Barely suppressing her fury, Old Mrs. Quigley snapped at Felix, "You, come with me!"
Then, she softened her voice to comfort Claire. "My dear girl, you just rest. Grandma will be back to sit with you in a little while."
After the two left, Claire's crying slowly subsided.
Her eyes looked hollow.


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