Layla turned to Ingrid. The little girl was holding onto her mother like a hard-fought, well-earned prize. "Ingrid honey is it true?" Layla asked. Ingrid shook her head.
"There was no forced entry inside the house by the main door nor the back door. Whoever was in here with her, she had let him in knowingly because she knew and trusted him." The officer went on. "Perhaps she's scared to tell us for some reason... I understand. I get it. But please, talk to her... let her know that she's only putting her life in danger if she keeps quiet about this. Please."
Layla turned back to Ingrid. She stroked her hair gently once again. "Ingrid please tell the police what you know. Allow us to help you."
"I didn't get a clear sight of him," Ingrid said in a low sore voice. Layla turned back to the officer. He shrugged at her.
"So we'll be going now. My forensics team will do some DNA samples that we have found all over the house and try to see if we can join the dots. There were will be two officers stationed outside your house tonight and they will be here for the next two days to provide some security for you and your family."
"Thank you, Officer Wentworth. Thanks for everything."
"Okay. Good night ma'am." He said and turned to his colleagues. "Okay boys and girls. Our work here is done for the night. Roll out."
After about ten minutes, the compound was clear. There were the two remaining patrol officers in their car across the road and Lance's black convertible. Layla's car was the last remaining car on the scene.
"Ingrid, how are you feeling now?" Layla asked her when she handed her a cup of boiled ginger water. Ingrid took the cup and placed it on the table before her. They were seated in the living room.
"The doctors gave me some pain relievers." She was also wearing a cervical collar. "They said that despite the fall downstairs I didn't break any bones. I was lucky they said."
"Where were you? Lance asked, seated on the adjacent couch to Ingrid's. "Your daughter was all alone at such a time of the night and where were you? Doing what?"
"Um... can we speak in private?" Layla told him. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Layla stood up from her seat and walked to the kitchen. Lance followed her from behind.
"So?" He asked her. "What is it that you had to tell me away from her?"
"I was following a lead I have. Against Shallon Padalecki."
"Till eleven at night? And you leave your daughter all alone? Where's your husband? You leave a little girl like her on her own because of what? Some stupid hunch to a case you're not sure if your son is innocent?"
"She's a big girl, she can take care of herself."
"She's a kid! And she almost died! Come Mrs. Layla! Look at her." They trained their eyes to the living room. She was sipping her boiled ginger water, her eyes appearing to have zoned out. "Look at her."
"Ok. I'm sorry. That came out wrongly. I'll admit as a mother that that's my mistake. I should have been here. Trust me I had no idea such a thing could happen."
"Now you do. She needs you more than Ethan does. Let go of whatever you have of Shallon. Be with your daughter now more than ever."
"Fine." She responded. "If I may ask… why are you back in the country this soon? And what's up with those bruises on your face? Got into a fight?"
"Some men were after my friend. Remember the driver that was in my company back at Macarena's home?" She nodded. "Well yeah. He died today. The men killed him."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I managed to escape."
"Wait! Lance are you okay?" She asked as she touched his face.
"Other than the bruises and a broken rib, yeah... I'll live." He told her. "I am back here only because I needed to talk to you. It was about the Ethan case. I think I have a solid lead... but with the way things are going, I'm going to keep it to myself so that you may focus on your daughter for now. When everything has cooled down I'll get back to you."
"It's okay. I understand."
"Layla, please... I know you don't like me whatsoever but..." Lance told her as he toured his eyes to Ingrid, "I love her. You know that. I see her as my own sister. What happened to Dylan should not be repeated again. Not to her, please. So talk to her and see if you can help her overcome tonight's episode."
"I will." She told him.
"Well then. I guess I'll see you in a few months."
"You're going back to Mexico?"
"Early Monday morning."
"Fine. Tell Elena I said hi." Layla said with a sharp glare at him.
"I will," Lance responded and Layla's eyebrows narrowed.
"We'll keep in touch."
"Okay, take care. Bye."
"Bye."
Lance walked away from the kitchen to the living room and hugged Ingrid one more time as Layla watched from the kitchen. When he was through with his farewells, he left the two Purcells together. Layla made another cup of boiled ginger water and went to join Ingrid.