Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert) novel Chapter 315

"Hello?"

"Ms. Lloyd, this is the police. I’m in your hospital room. Where are you?"

The voice on the other end was deep, with a hint of impatience.

Sylvia glanced at the clock. It was late, and she couldn’t blame the officer for being annoyed—he’d come out on a call and couldn’t even find her.

"Sorry, I’ll be right there."

"Hurry up."

She hung up, and in that moment shoved her coat into Rupert’s arms.

"Uncle Rupert, I have to go."

She didn’t dare meet his eyes. She just turned and bolted.

Rupert watched her disappear. His phone buzzed in his pocket; after a glance at the screen, his expression turned even colder.

He left the stairwell, too.

...

Hospital room.

Sylvia pushed open the door, expecting to find just a waiting police officer.

But not only was the officer there, there was Fanny, propped up in a wheelchair, arms and legs bundled in casts and bandages.

Fanny looked like she’d been through a meat grinder, but her cheeks were flush and her eyes glittered with a smug kind of triumph.

Sylvia froze.

Before she could ask what happened, the door behind her swung open again.

Tristan entered, stiff-backed and stern, followed by Rupert and Bridget.

Bridget, spotting Fanny in the wheelchair, rushed forward and dropped to her knees in front of her, all trembling sincerity.

"Fanny! Oh my God, what happened? How did this happen to you?"

It was a case withdrawal form.

She stared. "What’s this supposed to mean? I never said I wanted to drop the case."

"Here’s your psych evaluation from the hospital—witnesses and documents, all right here."

"But Ms. Lance doesn’t want to press charges, so dropping this is in your best interest."

With that, the officer shoved a pen into Sylvia’s hand before she could protest.

It didn’t seem to matter what she said or did—she was being forced to drop it.

Tristan stood with his hands behind his back, snorting in disgust. "How disgraceful!"

Sylvia’s hand shook as she gripped the pen. Everyone in the room looked like wolves, baring their teeth, ready to tear her apart.