Chapter 474

Olivia blinked her wide, innocent eyes. "Miss Sinclair, how could you doubt my intentions? I'm completely sincere about this." She gestured toward the media crew behind her. "I even arranged for live coverage. You could broadcast the entire search if you'd like. I promise I won't cause any disturbances."

Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "If we find my friend's missing grandfather, I'll make a public apology to you - I've already drafted the thank-you letter in advance."

Margaret Sinclair's jaw tightened visibly. Olivia had clearly become adept at manipulating public perception. Sending her away now would only create more problems.

Margaret suppressed a smirk. Thank goodness she'd discovered that jade pendant earlier. Without that crucial clue, she might never have realized the old man was the very person Olivia sought. All her preparations would have been for nothing.

With practiced grace, Margaret gestured toward the entrance. "Please, come inside."

Olivia's smile faltered slightly as she followed. Margaret's easy agreement set off alarm bells in her mind.

As they walked, Margaret casually inquired, "Do you remember what the gentleman looked like?"

Olivia carefully described several unrelated individuals, weaving an elaborate fiction. Margaret barely concealed her amusement.

The welfare home Margaret led her to was immaculate. Recent media visits had prompted thorough preparations. The elderly residents enjoyed gourmet meals and spacious accommodations. No visitor could find fault with the facilities.

Olivia scanned the unfamiliar faces, her heart sinking. No sign of Alistair. None of the features she'd memorized from photographs appeared among the residents.

Rather than confronting Margaret directly, Olivia cornered a staff member when Margaret wasn't looking. Several crisp hundred-dollar bills changed hands. "Are all the people Miss Sinclair rescued staying here?"

The staff member glanced at the money before answering reluctantly. "Yes, everyone's accounted for."

Olivia pressed further. "Absolutely certain? No special cases kept elsewhere?"

The man's expression turned impatient. "Miss Sinclair barely has time to visit as it is. You think she'd relocate some residents for personal attention?" He eyed Olivia suspiciously. "You're not here to make trouble, are you?"

Olivia shook her head quickly. "Not at all. I brought these thank-you letters specifically for Miss Sinclair."

The staff member's expression softened marginally. "That's more like it. While you're here, maybe you could help spread the word about our facility's excellent conditions. The public should know Miss Sinclair's charity work is completely genuine."

He emphasized this point several times.

Olivia's smile faded completely now, replaced by growing unease. Why the repeated assurances about their authenticity? Something didn't add up.

She decided to dig deeper, adopting a more conversational tone. "This facility is truly impressive. The meal plans show remarkable attention to nutritional balance. And the activity schedules demonstrate real concern for the residents' wellbeing."

Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any clue she might have missed. The answers were here somewhere - she just needed to ask the right questions.