The Day Silence Spoke novel Chapter 68

“Mom?”

Polly snapped back to the present. “That’s just him being polite,” she said distractedly.

“Really?” Renata frowned. She didn’t think so.

...

Meanwhile, Clifford sat in his car, ignoring the call he’d made that went unanswered. Rain streamed down the windows, creating a suffocating sense of frustration.

His phone rang. It was Ziven.

Clifford loosened his tie and answered.

“Speak.”

The sharp tone made Ziven jump. He got straight to the point. “Ms. Winslet wasn’t happy with the birthday gift. She said to tell you that you must go see her after your meeting, or… she won’t speak to you again.”

“Understood.” Clifford hung up and slammed his foot on the accelerator, the car vanishing into the rainy night.

He drove to Lambert Manor. Polly and Renata were in the living room, applying face masks.

Renata saw him first. He stood in the doorway, his hair damp, a few strands falling across his forehead. He seemed to carry the chill of the night with him, and for some reason, he looked desolate.

“Clifford, what are you doing back?” Renata pulled off her mask, surprised.

Polly looked over as well, both women feeling a pang of guilt.

“Where’s Latisha?”

Polly froze for a second before answering. “Didn’t she leave a while ago?”

“Yeah, she left almost an hour ago,” Renata added quickly. “She’s probably home by now. Why did you come looking for her here?”

Polly got up and walked over to him, taking his arm with feigned concern. “You’re soaked. Come in and change your clothes.”

It took a full five minutes before he could clearly see that it was Latisha. She was drenched, staggering toward him one slow step at a time.

When she finally reached him, she lifted her head. Her wet hair clung to her face, and the rain streamed into her eyes, making it hard for her to see. Her arms hung limply at her sides, water dripping from her fingertips onto the pavement.

She just stared at him.

“Did you walk all the way back?”

Clifford grabbed an umbrella from the car and opened it over her head, shielding her from the rain.

Latisha stared back at him blankly and gave a slight, empty twitch of her lips. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t even have the strength to lift her hand.

It was too late.

The umbrella was useless now. She was already soaked to the bone.