Chapter 171 Who Are They
Two figures walked together—one old, one young.
Hudson shuffled forward slowly, his limp making every step labored. Quinley matched his pace.
The Davis family's storage shed was where they dumped old junk. Hudson fumbled with a key from his belt and unlocked the door with shaking hands.
The room was dark. A wave of dust hit Quinley's face as the door swung open.
Hudson moved inside and flipped on the light.
The dim bulb revealed a cramped space filled with forgotten things. Hudson made his way deeper into the shed, each step looking painful.
"You're really Susan?"
He turned back, asking like he needed to be absolutely sure.
Quinley nodded. "I am."
She rarely lied. But when she did, she was damn convincing.
"Luke. Long time no see."
Quinley called out his real identity.
Hudson's hunched back stiffened slightly. He didn't confirm it. Didn't deny it either.
He dragged out an old trunk, struggling with it until he finally got it open.
"What you're looking for is in here. Take your time."
Hudson let out a long breath and slowly shuffled back outside.
Quinley's curiosity was burning too hot to resist. She bent down and started digging through the trunk's contents.
Inside were dozens of yellowed file folders, each labeled with a name. She went through them one by one until finally, at the very bottom, she found Susan's.
The folder was thin. Almost empty.
Quinley unwound the cotton string binding it. A photograph fell out.
It was black and white—a young couple holding two newborn babies. They wore simple clothes, their faces glowing with happiness. The babies in their arms looked utterly clueless about the world they'd just entered.
Besides the photo, the folder was empty.
Quinley flipped the picture over and froze. There was an address written on the back.
The weird thing? She recognized it. That was the exact location of the apartment building where Colin and Marlee lived.
Her mind started connecting dots she didn't want to connect.
Babies. A couple. Colin and Marlee. Herself...
Quinley's breathing quickened. She didn't have time to process this. She shoved the photo into her bag.
The truth she'd been chasing felt suddenly within reach.
"Find what you were looking for?"
Hudson had returned to the shed entrance.
"Yeah." Quinley's voice was barely steady.
"Ms. Promise, we should go."
Lucas appeared from the main house. Seeing Quinley and Hudson by the storage shed, he called out.
"I need to go. Thank you."
Quinley thanked Hudson quickly and hurried away.
On the ride back, she was completely distracted.
She'd never seen that photo at the Elikin house. Never. And Quinley was dead certain the couple in the picture wasn't Colin and Marlee.
But if it wasn't them, who the hell were these people? And why did the photo have the Elikin family's address on it?
"What's wrong?"
Zachary had noticed something was off. From the moment they'd left the Davis estate, Quinley had been somewhere else mentally.
She just shook her head. "I'm tired."
She wasn't telling him anything.
When they reached her south city apartment, Zachary followed her upstairs.
"Tell me the truth. What happened back there?" He was done dancing around it. "Talk to me. I can help."
He and Quinley had been through enough misunderstandings to last a lifetime. Now that they'd finally found their way back to each other, he wanted honesty between them.
But Quinley just covered her mouth and let out a long yawn.
"Mr. Jennings, I really am just tired. You're reading too much into it."
She was hiding something. And she had no intention of sharing.
Zachary didn't push. His eyes just dimmed a shade.
"Alright. But if you need help, you tell me. Promise?"
"I will."
Not long after Zachary left, Quinley slipped out of her apartment too.
What she didn't know was that Zachary hadn't actually gotten in his Maybach. He was waiting in a shop near the complex entrance.
When he saw Quinley rush into a cab, he hailed one and followed.
After about five blocks, Quinley ducked into a dessert café.
Zachary got out too, finding a discreet spot outside to wait.
Inside, Detective Wilson had gone all out with his disguise this time—dressed as a woman again, sitting in a corner booth.
His outfit was absolutely ridiculous. A lace-trimmed beach hat. A plunging red V-neck dress. Heavy makeup with bright red lips that could stop traffic.
"What's so urgent you needed to see me this late?"
When Quinley entered, he waved her over.
She dropped into the seat and started chugging her coffee.
"I need you to find two people."
She pulled out the photograph.
"Black and white? Where'd you get this?"
Detective Wilson studied it for a long moment. Finding two strangers from over twenty years ago wouldn't be easy.
"This photo might be connected to Susan's background. The address on the back—that's my house."
"Your house?" Detective Wilson's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, aren't these your adoptive parents?"
Quinley shook her head. "No. I've seen photos of them when they were young. This isn't them."
"Then that's weird as hell. If it's not them, why would their address be on this photo?"
Detective Wilson looked genuinely confused.
But then something seemed to click.
"Hold on. These two babies—is one of them you? And if it is, is the other one Susan?" His eyes widened. "If that's true, then this couple would be your real parents."
It was a bold theory.
Quinley stayed silent. Her mind was a complete mess.
"Ms. Elikin, this is actually pretty simple to solve." Detective Wilson leaned forward. "Your adoptive mother wants something from you, right? Use this to trade. She definitely knows the truth."
Of course Quinley knew that would work.
But after everything that had happened, she couldn't bring herself to face anyone from the Elikin family again. Part of it was heartbreak. But mostly she just didn't know how to look them in the eye anymore.
And even though she'd always wanted the truth, now that it might be within reach, she didn't have the courage to face it.
"Forget it. I'll figure it out on my own."
Quinley tucked the photo back into her bag.
The answer seemed so close. But she couldn't take that final step.
"Ms. Elikin, think carefully about this." Detective Wilson's voice turned serious. "The truth might be more brutal than you're ready for."
Quinley had already sensed that. Deep down, she knew.
She just didn't want to think about it until she absolutely had to.
"I know."
Quinley stood abruptly and headed for the exit.
What she didn't expect was running straight into Zachary the moment she stepped outside.
He stood there, his gaze boring into her.
Quinley's heart jumped into her throat.
"Mr. Jennings—what are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" His voice was cold.
Quinley was usually a smooth liar. But right now, her brain short-circuited. She couldn't come up with a single believable excuse.
"Just... grabbing a drink."
Her eyes dropped. Her hand tightened around her bag.
"Quinley." Zachary moved closer, his tall frame towering over her. "What the hell is going on? Why are you hiding things from me? You know I can help."
Quinley slowly lifted her head. When their eyes met, something inside her went still.
"Thank you. But this time, you can't help me."
She didn't give him a chance to respond. Just walked past him and disappeared.
She got away clean.
Detective Wilson wasn't so lucky.
He'd just changed into yet another outfit and was leaving the café when Zachary caught him red-handed.
"Detective Wilson. Long time no see!"