Chapter 352

Worried about Elyse, Jayden took her home. Exhausted, she fell asleep immediately after washing up. Jayden watched her sleep for a while before going to his study. Driscoll brought him a glass of milk.

Frowning, Jayden asked with concern, "They aren't Mrs. Owens' parents?"

"No," Jayden sighed heavily. He'd always suspected Lanny and Glenda weren't Elyse's biological parents, but confirmation was still harsh.

"Sir, may I ask something?" Driscoll said grimly.

Jayden raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"The maternity test proved Elyse isn't Glenda's child. Does this mean the old lady was telling the truth?"

Jayden nodded. Driscoll's expression darkened. "But she also said Glenda's a murderer. Could that be true?"

Jayden's eyes widened. He sat up straight. "It's possible. The doctor said her weakness stemmed from prolonged torture." He frowned, his eyes flashing. "What if Lanny and Glenda were her tormentors?"

Driscoll shook his head. "I don't know. Why did she claim Glenda was a murderer? Did Glenda kill someone, or was it because of the torture?"

Jayden drummed his fingers on the desk. The more he thought, the more unsettled he felt. He recalled Lanny's strange, almost murderous look as he left the ward. Did he want to kill the old lady? Why? Did she know something she shouldn't? What was Lanny hiding?

A million questions plagued him, but he had no answers. His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. It was Tobin, reporting on his investigation.

"Sir, I've investigated Janet Lawrence's background and found something."

"Go on," Jayden said, stunned.

Tobin, standing at the police station door with a document, said, "Among tens of thousands of Janet Lawrences, one matched your information. She's been reported missing—by Lanny Lloyd."

Astonishment flashed across Jayden's face. "Interesting," he muttered.

"What do you mean?" Tobin asked, confused.

"Proceed with the investigation. Find Janet's family, if possible. And investigate Rickey Owen."

"You know him?" Tobin asked, surprised.

"He's Elyse's father, a deadbeat who died over twenty years ago. You'll easily find his file."

Tobin nodded. Only after hanging up did he realize how strange Jayden's words were. Wasn't Lanny Elyse's father? He ran a hand through his hair. Was it a slip of the tongue? Would Jayden kill him to hide a secret?

Distressed, Tobin calmed himself. He returned to the station.

Knowing Elyse longed to know about her parents, Jayden investigated further. An hour later, Tobin called with bad news.

"Sir, there's no record of Rickey Owen. And no marriage certificate for Jazmine Lloyd."

Jayden frowned. "Nothing?"

"Jazmine's death is recorded, but she wasn't registered as married."

Jayden played with his pen. "Things are getting interesting."

Tobin, eating a hot dog on the steps, said, "Our only clue is Janet Lawrence. I'll keep investigating."

"Okay." Jayden hung up, fell into deep thought, then called someone.

Meanwhile, Elyse slept restlessly. She dreamt she was paralyzed in bed, seeing only the white ceiling. A beeping sound echoed—a medical instrument. She couldn't move, speak, or feel, but she was drowning in fear.

(Note: I removed the "Mᴏʀᴇ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇs ɪɴ ɢᴀʟɴᴏᴠᴇʟs.ᴄᴏᴍ" as it's out of place in a cleaned-up passage.)