Chapter 181: Gwen and Carrie the Witch
The bistro was neither large nor small, with a dozen or so tables. Its decor had a fairly retro style, and there was a small performance stage used to invite lesser-known bands to sing.
Sometimes, when the customers were in a good mood from drinking, they could also go up and sing, livening up the atmosphere.
Most of the time, it would draw cheers and laughter from all the other customers.
It was noon, and there were quite a few people in the bistro.
By the time George and Finlay entered, the place was already almost full.
Fortunately, George had already called the owner in advance and reserved a table.
It was by the floor-to-ceiling window, with a view outside.
The table was a long one by the window.
Both sides together could seat six or seven people.
Amid the lively atmosphere, after George and Finlay sat down, they did not order alcohol because they were still on duty. Instead, they each ordered fruit juice.
The food served included two tomahawk steaks, burgers, fries, fruit salad, mashed potatoes, and the like.
George might be middle-aged, but his appetite was not small.
He kept himself in good shape because he exercised a lot every day. He ran every morning and also went to the gym, a habit he had kept from his days as a frontline officer.
Even after becoming commissioner, he had not given it up.
Finlay was the same. He looked slightly chubby, but in reality, his physical fitness was not bad. He was skilled in criminal investigation, and his hand-to-hand combat ability was also not weak.
People like them did not have small appetites.
The two ate while talking. Their conversation only lightly touched on serious topics, while most of it was about daily life.
The conversation was pleasant. George was good at talking.
Although Finlay was more reserved by nature, once he became familiar with someone, he could also open up.
George asked Finlay about some matters in the small town of Margrave, especially how he had dismantled a large money-laundering and smuggling criminal group.
After all, it was not that George looked down on Finlay.
It was just that in many cases, especially in remote towns, what police could do was usually limited.
Let alone dismantling a money-laundering crime group.
Since it was called a group, could its scale possibly be small?
George could guess with his backside that it had definitely been connected to multiple sides. Under those conditions, how had Finlay done it?
Finlay remained calm on the surface. Just as he was about to start bragging properly, he suddenly noticed something.
So he pointed out the floor-to-ceiling window beside them and said in apparent surprise, "Is that your daughter?"
George instinctively followed the direction Finlay pointed.
He found that the girl outside on the street was indeed his daughter, Gwen, and beside her was a very pretty girl.
Gwen had linked arms with the girl. The girl looked somewhat shy, but she was smiling very happily.
"Gwen?"
George called out, then slapped his forehead. They were inside the bistro. How could she hear him from outside?
Perhaps it was the bond between father and daughter, or perhaps she had sensed a familiar gaze, but Gwen actually turned her head and looked over, spotting her father George and Finlay.
Her eyes immediately lit up.
She waved at her father at once, then said something softly to the girl. The girl looked a little shy, but Gwen still pulled her along and happily ran over.
"Looks like my daughter made another friend."
George looked at his daughter's figure with affection, then said this to Finlay.
Finlay nodded with a smile.
Of course she was a friend, and one his own BOSS had deliberately arranged himself.
Very soon, Gwen came over with the girl.
"Dad, Uncle Finlay."
Gwen was dressed very fashionably today. She was a girl who understood fashion, and her outfit looked youthful and lively.
The girl beside her was the same. Both of them were carrying shopping bags.
"This is Carrie. She just transferred to our school and is in the same class as me."
Gwen introduced the classmate she had just met, Carrie, to her father and Finlay.
"Carrie, this is my dad, George. And this is Uncle Finlay, his colleague at the police department."
Gwen had met Finlay before, so naturally, she knew him.
"Uncle George, Uncle Finlay." Carrie spoke in a timid, quiet voice.
"Hello, Carrie. Nice to meet you."
George and Finlay both looked at her with the gentle warmth of elders looking at a junior. Then George asked, "Have you eaten? Come eat with us."
"Sure. I took Carrie shopping all morning, you know. I helped her buy lots of clothes. Carrie is so pretty, but she was wearing such old-fashioned clothes. That definitely won't do."
Gwen would never stand on ceremony with her father.
She immediately pulled Carrie down to sit. Seeing this, George got up at once and moved beside Finlay, letting the two girls sit together.
Then he called the waiter over to order.
Gwen pulled Carrie along as they looked at the menu, chattering away while ordering.
Carrie had a reserved personality and was even somewhat at a loss when ordering, but Gwen, who was also sixteen, was very lively. She did not mind Carrie's shyness at all and simply pulled her newly made best friend along as she ordered a bunch of food.
She did not care whether they could finish it or not. If they could not, they would pack it up and take it away. Good family upbringing had kept Gwen from developing the habit of wasting food.
While they waited for the dishes, George chatted gently with Carrie for a few moments.
He found that the girl was far too introverted, but overall, she was very good. He was completely at ease with her becoming friends with his daughter Gwen.
Finlay sat to the side, watching with a smile.
From time to time, he adjusted his glasses, and a deep look flashed through his eyes.
Carrie…
Is she the girl BOSS mentioned?
As one of the people involved in the Margrave incident back then, Finlay had seen Reacher and Roscoe choose to follow Matthew.
But because of his past and family circumstances, Finlay had not immediately accepted Matthew's invitation.
Instead, he continued to settle himself.
Later, however, his development went very smoothly. So smoothly that even he was surprised.
He was even able to return to Boston and hold an important position again.
If someone said there had been no outside intervention in that, Finlay would not believe it.
Sure enough, after contacting Reacher, he received a definite answer from him.
Finlay did not resent it.
On the contrary, he knew that by holding an important position, he would be able to do more.
What Finlay had not expected was that Matthew's side had developed far too quickly. So quickly that it exceeded his understanding.
Others might not know.
But how could Finlay not know who those mysterious soldiers in Manhattan had been that night?
Reacher had not clearly told him about these things.
But from many details, Finlay could guess.
Afterward, Reacher contacted him again, hoping he could transfer from Boston to New York for development. Finlay agreed.
He received his first mission.
Observe and make contact with George Stacy and his daughter.
And of course, there was also the girl named Carrie in front of him.
…
After that night, Matthew settled in New York with Carrie under an ordinary identity.
He even had Carrie transfer to Midtown High School, placing her in the same class as Gwen.
As for the original little Spider, he was only six years old right now and still in first grade.
After some arrangements, Matthew became Carrie's older brother and also her guardian.
The relevant legal procedures had already been completed, ensuring that Matthew formally assumed responsibility as her guardian within the legal framework.
This arrangement was intended to provide the child with stable family support and protection.
...
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