Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 1129

Parker was quicker on his feet, making it to a flat area by a pile of rocks where he met up with the bodyguard.

The bodyguard didn't look too good, pointing to a steep slope on the side. "The walking stick was thrown down here. It looks like the old man might have tripped over a rock and tumbled down when he got up to move. I've checked it out; this side is a sheer cliff, no trees or anything to catch onto. The bottom could very well be the deepest part of the canyon."

"No, that can't be..." Whitney came running over, her face pale as she peered over the edge. Her heart sank, remembering the spot where her mother had fallen. How could she possibly bear more bad news now?

"Dad! Dad!" she shouted desperately into the abyss below.

Parker grabbed her arm, trying to steady her. He quickly instructed his team and the Sheldon family's bodyguards, "What are you waiting for? Go get some ropes and start looking down this cliff!"

Everyone sprang into action, some running back up the mountain to fetch the necessary tools.

Parker then got in touch with the Ethereal Mountain Road police, asking them to bring in search dogs at first light. He turned to Whitney, "Keep your mom's blood-stained jacket safe, and contact the Sheldon family to send over something your father wore often. Let the dogs catch their scents. This mountain is massive, and the canyon below is even more treacherous. We need to be ready to find both your father and mother."

Whitney clutched her phone, her anxiety palpable as she made calls.

She glanced down at the steep slope stretching out below her, then turned back to look at the path they had taken. They had descended directly from the mountain's summit, where her mother had fallen, and now this cliff... "Parker, is the direction where my mom fell the same as this cliff?"

Parker was measuring the distances with his eyes, his gaze sharpening. "You noticed too? The cliff your father fell from and the one your mother did are the same face, just different heights."

"Think of it this way: if your father fell but only lost his phone and wasn't hurt, could he have stumbled onto your mother's trail?"

Whitney's heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath. "Get the ropes down there and start searching."

Once at the station, the officers got out.

Ludwik stepped down, his long legs carrying him with a determined stride. As he looked up, he saw Bryce and Florence getting out of another squad car.

They were there to 'cooperate' and give statements.

At that moment, both wore smug, mocking smiles as they glanced at Ludwik.

Bryce, in particular, shot a sharp, spiteful look at Ludwik, but when he saw that Ludwik remained unfazed, his expression souring into a bitter smirk.

Taking advantage of a moment when the officers weren't watching, Bryce took a couple of steps closer to Ludwik, his height slightly less imposing by two inches. He raised his eyes, sneering, "Ludwik, it won't be long before I have you completely underfoot. You barely had two months of freedom before you're going to end up right back in a cell!"