Chapter 51 Chapter 51
Mrs. Meyer, an elderly woman with a kind face, gave Grace a gentle nod and smile. "Hello, Ms. Hill."
Though it was nearly noon, it was still cold outside—not a place for conversation. Grace asked for her opinion. "Mrs. Meyer, shall we find somewhere to sit and talk?"
Mrs. Meyer declined with a smile. "No. Let's stay outside. My legs aren't what they used to be, and getting around is difficult. It's been so long since I've gone for a walk. Ms. Hill, would you be so kind as to push me around campus?” She turned to her granddaughter. “Wendy, didn’t you say you wanted to play with your classmates? Go ahead. I'll chat with Ms. Hill. I'll call you when it's time to go."
Wendy didn't want to leave, but she didn't dare disobey her grandmother. She pouted, reluctantly handed the wheelchair to Grace, and walked away, glancing back every few steps.
Grace smiled as she pushed Mrs. Meyer forward and leaned in to ask, "Mrs. Meyer, how about we take a walk by the lake? It's the most scenic spot on our campus, though it might be a bit windy. Would that be all right?”
"No problem," Mrs. Meyer chuckled. "I’m bundled up nice and warm."
Open spaces offered great views, but winter winds were common. Today, however, was clear and sunny. Though a breeze blew by the lake, it felt more like early spring than winter. Grace pushed Mrs. Meyer slowly along the lakeside path. "I've been meaning to visit you these past few days. What a coincidence—I just called Wendy, and here you are.”
Mrs. Meyer smiled and paused briefly before replying, "Ms. Hill, Wendy told me everything you said. I understand your point. I came to tell you that you're overthinking it. I’m not the type to confuse right from wrong.”
Grace opened her mouth to explain, but Mrs. Meyer, as if seeing through her thoughts, raised a hand to silence her. "My son is a police officer," she continued. “Even without you, he would still pursue criminals. It's his duty. In other words, whether Benjamin killed my son out of revenge or because he was afraid Benjamin would investigate him again because of you, Benjamin was the one who committed the murder, not you. Ms. Hill, I may be old, but I can see who is guilty and who is innocent.”
Grace's voice caught in her throat. After a long moment, she whispered, "Thank you, Mrs. Meyer."
Mrs. Meyer smiled as before and gestured toward a nearby lounge chair. "Let's go sit in the sun."
Grace pushed her over, locked the wheelchair's brakes, and they both sat facing the lake. For a long moment, they kept silent. The sunlight was perfect and the stillness was serene. After a while, Mrs. Meyer looked at Grace with pity in her eyes and asked, "What are your plans?"
Grace kept her gaze fixed on the lake and shook her head blankly. "I don't know," she murmured softly. "It's like waking up to find a mountain pressing down on me. I can't climb over it; I can't move it away. The only option is to throw myself against it until I'm bloodied and broken.”
“What about stepping back?” Mrs. Meyer pressed.
Grace gave a bitter smile. "Stepping back means shattering into pieces."
That was her predicament now, and it might be worse because "that mountain" moved. Benjamin could decide on a whim whether to push her straight off the cliff or step back and watch her struggle with amusement.
But even trapped, she couldn't surrender. Grace gazed at the lake, her lips tightening unconsciously. Her gaze hardened as she declared, "I can only move forward. I want to live!"
Mrs. Meyer nodded and asked, "What can I do for you?"
Grace remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Mrs. Meyer, whether it's Benjamin or Alex, he's a dangerous man. Perhaps you should be the one to step back. You're not like me. I have no choice but to fight, but you can protect yourself and wait for them to get their comeuppance. I believe in karma. He'll get his day.”
Mrs. Meyer's face softened into a smile as she gazed at Grace. "You're facing a threat to your life. You can't run away. My son was killed by him. I can't run away either. You believe in God and that good people are rewarded. I believe that, too. But..." Her tone softened yet remained resolute. "God teaches me that I cannot stand by while others suffer."
The old woman's words shook Grace, deepening her respect. She rose and knelt before Mrs. Meyer, clasping her hands firmly. "Mrs. Meyer," she said gravely. "I need to know everything about Alex's time in prison. Every details.”
Mrs. Meyer nodded. "I'll see what I can do. My son was a police officer his whole life. He never became a big shot, but he did make a few friends.”
Grace hesitated, then reminded her, “You must be careful. Benjamin is cunning and vengeful. You need to stay safe. And Wendy, too. She's still so young. If possible, I suggest she study abroad and leave this place. I have friends abroad who might be able to help."
Although Wendy's departure would leave the elderly woman unattended, preparing for the worst is necessary when fighting Benjamin. Wendy was undoubtedly brave and quick-witted, but she was also impulsive and reckless. Actions like seeking Benjamin's autograph, if repeated one or two more times, would inevitably arouse his suspicion and vigilance.
"I appreciate your concern, and I'll consider it," Mrs. Meyer replied earnestly. "You're very observant. If you think of anything else, tell me. I'm getting on in years, and there are bound to be things I overlook."
Grace thought for a moment before adding, "About Officer Meyer's notebooks, I suggest you hand them over—especially the most recent one. Let them have it to put their minds at ease. But before that, you need to find the note I wrote and destroy it."
Mrs. Meyer smiled and patted Grace's hand. "I had the police come and take the notebooks a couple of days ago. As for this..." She pulled the note Grace had written from her pocket and handed it back. "I'm returning it to you."
She raised her hand again and gently stroked Grace's hair. "To be honest, I have my own reasons, too. Wendy has such a stubborn streak. After finding out that her father's death was connected to Norman Science, she was determined to get close to him and avenge her father's death. But I couldn't bear to lose my granddaughter, so I came to you.”
This was perfectly normal. Grace didn't find anything wrong with it. In fact, Mrs. Mayer's candor made her seem even more sincere.
"You don't need to explain anything. I understand everything. We just need to discuss what to do next." She smiled as she jotted down Mrs. Meyer's phone number and address. Then she added, "I'll order a basic phone online for you. Use that to contact me. I'll give you a separate number later. Text that number if you need anything. I might not see it right away, but I'll definitely get back to you once I do.”
Mrs. Meyer nodded solemnly and smiled. "Don't worry. I know what to do.”
Grace hesitated. “Don’t tell Wendy about the phone, okay? It's not that I don't trust her—"
"I won't tell her," Mrs. Meyer cut her off. "I'll try to keep her out of things from now on."
They exchanged a nod. Mrs. Meyer looked into Grace's eyes, as if she could already see her plans, and cautioned, "You must be very careful yourself. Benjamin is a devil who eats people."
Grace nodded, her voice solemn. "I know."