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Chapter_47
The tension in the room thickened as Noah’s sharp words rang out, his eyes narrowing with a mix of suspicion and irritation. Andrew, momentarily taken aback by the child’s defiance, quickly regained his composure, but Micah’s expression behind the screen remained unreadable.
“Calm down, Noah,” Andrew said, trying to soften his tone. “We’re not here to hurt you. We’re just trying to understand what happened last Sunday at Ruby Plaza.” He took a step back, respecting the child’s space, realizing that direct pressure might not be the best approach.
Noah crossed his arms defiantly, clearly unimpressed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was with my parents. And I don’t have time for your games. If you want to talk to me, talk to my mom or dad. I’m not the one you need answers from.”
Micah’s quiet voice finally cut through the growing tension. “Andrew, it’s clear this isn’t going to be productive if we keep pushing him like this.”
Andrew turned toward Micah, who was still seated with an air of calm authority. “Mr. Clemens, do you have a suggestion?”
Micah leaned back slightly, considering the situation. “This child is sharp. You can’t treat him like any other. If you want information, you’ll need to approach him more carefully.”
Andrew nodded slowly. “Understood. Noah, we’re not trying to make things difficult for you. But we believe you might have seen something important last Sunday. It’s not about accusing anyone—it’s about helping your parents.”
Noah’s expression softened just a little, though he remained cautious. “My parents don’t need help. They’re fine. Why are you even asking about Ruby Plaza? Nothing happened there. Nothing that concerns you.”
“Not everything is as simple as it seems,” Andrew said gently, crouching down to meet Noah’s eye level. “Sometimes, children notice things that adults miss. We just need to know if you remember anything unusual.”
Noah glanced around the room, his sharp gaze assessing the adults who seemed so serious. “Why should I tell you anything? You’re all strangers to me,” he said, his voice firm but with a hint of vulnerability, betraying his true age.
Micah, who had remained silent until now, stood up and approached the group, his presence commanding yet composed. “Noah,” he said softly, his voice carrying a depth that made the room quiet down, “I know you’re worried, but the reason we’re here is because we care about your family. We want to keep them safe. And we believe you might hold a clue that could help.”
For a moment, Noah looked at Micah, his little brow furrowing as if weighing the sincerity of the words. “And if I do tell you something? What will happen?”
Micah’s gaze softened, but his words remained serious. “If you tell us what you know, we can make sure nothing bad happens. We’re trying to prevent trouble, Noah, not cause it.”
Noah hesitated, clearly torn between his instincts to distrust these strangers and the faint pull of concern for his parents. His eyes flickered to the trembling principal and teacher beside him, their fear palpable. His gaze softened just a touch.
“I… I saw something,” Noah said reluctantly, his voice lower now. “But it wasn’t anything important. Just some people talking. They were all dressed in black suits. I don’t know who they were or what they wanted. But my mom and dad looked… worried.”
Andrew exchanged a quick glance with Micah, who raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What kind of people, Noah? Were they with your parents?”
“No,” Noah replied quickly, shaking his head. “They were standing off to the side. I didn’t know who they were, but my dad didn’t want me to see them. He made us leave quickly.”
Andrew nodded thoughtfully, understanding the child’s reluctance to reveal more. “That’s helpful, Noah. Thank you.”
Micah’s expression turned serious. “This might be more complicated than we thought,” he murmured, turning to Andrew. “We’ll need to find out who these people are.”
Noah crossed his arms again, his demeanor shifting back to one of defiance. “I’m not telling you anything else. You promised not to cause trouble, remember?”
Andrew smiled faintly, acknowledging Noah’s determination. “I promise, we’ll make sure you’re safe. But we might need to talk again. Would that be okay?”
Noah didn’t answer directly but simply nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of defiance and curiosity. He might not fully trust them, but he knew they wouldn’t leave until they had answers.
As Andrew and Micah prepared to leave, the tension in the room dissipated slightly. It was clear that this conversation was far from over. The pieces were beginning to fall into place, but many questions remained unanswered, and this meeting had only deepened the mystery.
As they walked out of the office, Andrew’s mind raced. “This kid—he’s smart. He’s hiding something, but he doesn’t fully understand the danger. We need to figure out who these people are and why they were at Ruby Plaza.”
Micah’s expression was unreadable, but his voice was steady. “We will. But we need to be careful. This is just the beginning.”
