Chapter 8

Days after days went by, yet no actions were taken.

My heart bled for my daughter as I watched her condition slowly deteriorate.

Even as she lay hooked up to a drip, she still tried to comfort me.

"Mom, I'm feeling much better already. My appetite's good, too!

"Why don't you go get some of those dumplings we always used to eat together? I'm hungry."

…

When I returned, I found Mr. Grant seated by Mimi's bedside.

"Mimi is..."

With a gentle shake of my head, I replied, "Courtesy of Cedric Sutton."

Mr. Grant heaved a sigh and placed a hand on my shoulder. "About what we've previously discussed, I still hope you'll reconsider. Another person has now gone missing."

Mimi gave us a sweet smile that squinted her eyes as she chomped down on the dumplings.

But as she chewed, her teeth kept falling out uncontrollably.

In a light and distant voice, she said, "Mom, if I die, promise me you won't be sad."

15

I barged into Kieran's house and slapped him hard across the face.

"Mimi is dy