Chapter 131 Interrogation
Adalia was ensnared in the throes of a nightmare. Her slumber was punctuated by terrified screams, her body violently reacting to the unseen horrors of her dreams. Her legs kicked out in defense, her arms flailing in a desperate attempt to ward off the phantom threats.Maggie, driven by a desire to comfort the distressed child, found herself on the receiving end of Adalia's unconscious struggle, a scratch marring her face. Unfazed by the sting of the wound, Maggie cradled Adalia in her arms, her voice a soothing balm against the terror. "Don't be afraid, I'm here, don't be afraid..." she murmured, her words a gentle lullaby.The soft cadence of Maggie's voice, coupled with her comforting presence, gradually pacified Adalia. Her frantic movements stilled, and she slipped back into the depths of a more peaceful sleep.Cradling the sleeping child, Maggie mused aloud, "This child must have been through something traumatic, having such a nightmare."Dulcinea, who had observed the entire scene, felt a chill of fear. "This child is truly pitiful," she expressed, her heart heavy with sympathy.Maggie continued to hold Adalia, gently rocking her while humming a soft tune, her hand rhythmically patting the child's shoulder. Dulcinea watched the scene unfold, a hint of surprise coloring her features. To the untrained eye, it would seem as though Maggie was comforting her own flesh and blood. The resemblance between the two was striking, their faces mirroring each other in a hauntingly similar manner.The sudden chime of the doorbell interrupted the tranquil scene. Maggie glanced up at Dulcinea, "Dulce, can you help me answer the door?" "Sure," Dulcinea responded, turning to attend to the unexpected visitor.The man standing at the door was unassuming, his smile warm and friendly. "Is my daughter here? I heard that you found my daughter," he inquired hopefully.Dulcinea cast a quick glance at the man before responding, "Wait a moment, the child is sleeping." With that, she retreated inside to relay the information to Maggie. Upon learning that the child's father had arrived, Maggie rose, cradling the still-sleeping Adalia in her arms, and ventured outside. The man was of average appearance, his work uniform suggesting a profession in construction. Upon seeing Adalia, his face lit up with relief. "This is my daughter, Adalia. She ran away, and her mother and I were very worried," he confessed.Maggie asked, "Are you a resident of this neighborhood?" "I live in this neighborhood, in Building 6. My name is Alan Wright," Alan introduced himself amiably. "Adalia fell asleep, huh? Let me hold her. Thank you so much. I thought she had run out of the neighborhood. There are so many cars outside, and I was afraid she would get into an accident."Maggie, however, did not immediately hand over Adalia to Alan. "Let me hold her. Adalia just had a nightmare and didn't sleep well. After she wakes up later, I'll help you take her back," she proposed.Turning to Dulcinea, Maggie instructed, "Dulce, please wait at home for me. There will be a plumber coming later to fix the faucet."
The issue of the broken faucet and the ensuing water leak that was causing problems for the downstairs neighbor still loomed over their heads. Dulcinea, however, had grasped the crux of Maggie's intentions. It was clear that Maggie intended to shadow Alan, to gain a glimpse into Adalia's living conditions and perhaps discern how the child had come to be injured. Alan, on his part, was inclined to resist. But as he watched Maggie stride towards the elevator, the child cradled in her arms, he found himself unable to voice his objections. With a resigned sigh, Alan trailed behind Maggie into the elevator. As they journeyed back to Adalia's home, Maggie began to subtly interrogate Alan.Through a series of carefully crafted questions, Maggie discovered that Alan was employed at a construction site, his work hours stretching from early morning to late evening. An accident at the site had brought him home prematurely that day, only to find Adalia missing, thus sparking his frantic search. Before long, they reached Building 6. Maggie's eyes flicked to the room number, noting that Alan's family resided on the eighth floor, in Room 802.Alan swung the door open, his smile warm as he addressed Maggie, "Ms. Miller, may I take the child from you? I can't thank you enough."His words were barely out when a sharp, caustic voice rang out from within the apartment."Who asked you to go looking for that little tramp? If she's lost, let her stay lost. Bringing her back is a waste of food, and it's expensive to care for her..."A woman, cradling a baby, emerged from the apartment. She froze momentarily at the sight of Maggie standing at the door, having expected only Alan's presence. Alan, too, was taken aback. He managed a strained smile, introducing, "Ms. Miller, this is my wife, Susan Barlow. Susan, this is our neighbor from the complex, Ms. Miller. She found Adalia."Maggie offered a polite nod, greeting, "Hello."Susan was not a striking woman. Her figure was plump, made more so by her recent childbirth. Her face was marred by brown spots, her hair unkempt, and her attire casual. She was the epitome of a housewife. Susan's reception of Maggie was frosty, her displeasure at the return of the child evident. Her greeting was curt, "Hello."Maggie, undeterred, continued, "I noticed that Adalia has several wounds on her body. They don't appear to be fresh. I was wondering, how did she get these injuries?"The question hung heavy in the air, causing Alan and Susan to tense up instantly.
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