Husband With Benefits-Chapter 577: The Figurine

"Here.. this is it.." Gabe stared at the picture that Autumn placed before him, confused for a moment. Why was she showing him Arabelle’s birthday picture? But then his gaze sharpened, catching on. It was the figurine they were looking for—the one in the locker, visible in Arabelle’s third birthday photo.

"So this is where I saw the figurine. This is good work Autumn. So, where was this picture taken?"

Autumn sighed, " Finding the picture is as good as useless. Mrs Jenkins was my mother’s good friend. But she moved away four years ago. Sold everything since she has Alzheimer’s and no family to care for. I don’t even know if she kept the figurine or understood it’s importance. She might have sold it and we wouldn’t know."

Gabe inhaled slowly. The days each felt like a roller coaster ride. One moment they would have a clue and hope but they next, they’d be lost again. But they only had about ten days left so...

"It’s worth a try... it is not as if we have any other leads..."

Autumn nodded and looked at the picture again. That was the truth.Doing something was better than just sitting and waiting.

Gabe rubbed his temples, feeling the pressure as he wondered if his people had found out anything. If they had, then even if this locker turned out to be of no use, they would have something. "Alright, let’s not waste any time. We need to find out where Mrs. Jenkins is now. Do you have any idea where she might be staying?"

"She mentioned moving to a health center, but I can’t remember the name. Let me check the address where she sent the card from. Hurriedly, Autumn looked through the things, hoping to find something that might be helpful to them. And breathed a sigh of relief when she finally found it.

Gabe handed her his phone, and Autumn dialed the number with slightly trembling fingers. The phone rang several times before a voice answered.

"Cedar Grove Health Center, how may I assist you?"

"Hello," Autumn began, trying to keep her voice steady. "I’m trying to reach Mrs. Jenkins. She used to live here, and we were wondering if we could speak to her."

There was a pause on the other end, and Autumn could hear the clicking of a keyboard. "I’m afraid Mrs. Jenkins isn’t doing very well. She has advanced Alzheimer’s and doesn’t remember much. She might not be able to speak on the phone. You could leave a message. When she is in her more lucid moments, we can pass the message."

"Is there any way we can get more information from her? Can we visit?"

"Visits wil be distressing for her. Or... actually, a close friend of MRs Jenkins is visiting her tomorrow. He’s been diagnosed sick and wants to come say goodbye. Maybe you can come with him and he might be able to help you out. Having visitior together to try and remember might be better and less unsettling than having to recognise each person individually."

"A friend?" As far as Autumn knew Mrs Jenkins was too prickly to have too many friends. And most of her friends were already gone.. Feeling an inkling of worry, she tried to ask casually," Could you tell me the name of this friend? There is a possibility I might know him..."

"Sure. Let me check... Hold on a moment please....Its Mr Gregory Savoy..."

Gabe and Autumn exchanged a look of horror at the mention of Mr. Savoy. He was the last person they wanted to encounter or have meet Mrs Jenkins."

Autumn’s hand clenched around the phone, knuckles turning white.

"Mr. Savoy?" Autumn asked, her voice strained, hoping that she had heard the woman wrong. "Did you say Mr. Savoy is visiting Mrs. Jenkins tomorrow?"

"Yes," the receptionist replied. "He’s a close friend of hers. He was actually here today, but we had to send him back because she didn’t recognize him. That’s why he’s coming again tomorrow."

Autumn felt a chill run down her spine. "Do you know what time he’s coming?" Did Gregory really find out the location of the figurine? What would that man do now? Could he be dangerous to Mrs Jenkins. She wondered if she needed to warn the people at the care centre...

Meanwhile, the receptionist hesitated at the question. "I don’t have the exact time, but he arrived in the morning. So he might come in the morning as well. Would you like to leave your names, so he knows you’re coming?"

"No, that’s alright. We’ll come by ourselves and then talk to him," she replied hastily.

The receptionist sounded a bit puzzled but remained polite. "Okay, see you tomorrow then."

As Autumn disconnected the call, she let out a breath and asked shakily," Could this really be a key to stop him from getting Arabelle? I mean... can’t we just prove that we are better parents for Arabelle?"

Gabe looked at Arabelle carefully. The girl was too innocent. Even now she was looking at everything through rose colored glasses.

"Autumn, why do you think that Gregory is trying to get his hands on this?"

"Because it has something against him. I know that. But is it as important as getting Arabelle? If we are arriving at dead ends, maybe we should go the other way about it."

"Autumn, the only way to permanently get rid of that man is to prove that he is... unsafe and may mean harm to Arabelle.."

Autumn stiffened at that, understanding the implications and then paled. The lawyer had been trying to tell her this repeatedly but she’d been unwilling to accept it. And yet, now that she looked at Gabe, she could see the inevitable. If they wanted to get Arabelle forever, then only exposing him as an unworthy parent might not work... she would have to work on herself to make some revelations and prove them... Only by exposing his true self would Arabelle be safe...

"But then... what about Arabelle?" She asked tremulously. Her sister would have to live with the fact that her birth father was a...

"Arabelle... we will protect her..."