Don glanced at him without thinking, "What's up? Something on your mind?"
Brandon slowly shook his head, but he still looked like he was deep in thought, as if he was chewing on something.
Don, impatient as ever, couldn't take it and gave him a nudge, "You know what drives me nuts about you? Whenever I ask anything, it's always 'nothing's wrong', 'it's all good', never a shred of useful info. It's enough to drive someone up the wall, you get that? What's the big deal in spilling the beans, huh?"
Brandon shot him a look and pointed towards the door, "Then please, show yourself out. Don't let me keep you."
Don was speechless.
In the end, he caved in, "Alright, alright, if you don't wanna talk, then don't."
He shifted his gaze back to the girl on his phone, "But I've gotta say, I don't buy your take on this. People change, man. After all, her whole environment's changed, and she was just a kid back then, hardly set in her ways. Who knows, maybe she got spoiled rotten by her family later on."
Brandon gave another indifferent glance, "When was she ever short of people doting on her? Everyone's always treated her like she's the apple of their eye."
"But." Don frowned, "Maybe her family had solid values back in the day, and the current bunch are a bit more high and mighty, could've rubbed off on her."
Brandon didn't bite, merely casting an almost imperceptible look at the girl on the phone again.
Don couldn't help but take another peek too, and again his eyes landed on that hideously mismatched bracelet, "Honestly, if it wasn't for the necklace being so special to her, who at her age would wear such an ugly bracelet?"
Brandon remarked, "That bracelet's not cheap, you know."
Don frowned. "You think she found it or something?"
"I'm not ruling out that possibility."
Don looked at him thoughtfully, "Shouldn't you be happy if there's a lead on Yolanda. You seem less than thrilled, aren't you the one looking for her?"
"Just being cautious."
"Cut it out," Don shot back, "I've known you long enough. Are you worried about your wife?" he asked.
Brandon's gaze paused for a fraction.
"No." His voice was faint.
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