Volume 1: First Arrival Chapter 044 Home Alone
"…So, you didn't give me any other choice."
Kirk was in control of the situation as he chattered on and on and approached silently.
The child turned to look at Kirk , then looked at the gurgling river under his feet, and then turned to look at Kirk again. His cheeks were slightly tense, revealing a little restraint. "Don't add to the drama yourself. I'm not going to jump into the river."
"Very good, very good. I'm very happy that I made a mistake in judgment, but of course, I'm even happier that I won't become a social media celebrity, at least not in this way."
Kirk didn't mind at all and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.
"Now, why don't you retreat back and stay away from danger? Otherwise, I'm worried that if passers-by take photos or videos, our situation may cause some misunderstandings."
"Look, you don't want to be misunderstood, and I don't want to be misunderstood either, so it's better for us to stay away from misunderstandings and continue the conversation on level ground."
"how do you feel?"
Kirk stepped forward, slowly approached, stretched out his right hand toward the child, and did not continue speaking, but just watched the child's every move quietly.
When the child turned around, he could see Kirk's bright eyes and a faint smile on the corners of his mouth, which was not ostentatious but warm.
He hesitated for a moment, but finally turned around and held Kirk's right hand.
"Kirk Hull." Kirk smiled and spoke while shaking hands, introducing himself as if it was the first time they met in a social setting.
Somewhat out of place.
But it was precisely this "inappropriate time" that made the child smile, and the gloomy and sad face suddenly brightened up, "Henry-Wolf."
With the support of Kirk's strength, Henry left the boulder and returned to the ground. He looked up and realized how tall Kirk was. He was like a giant, blocking the sunlight behind him.
Henry tried to raise his chin and was about to speak, but he found Kirk squatting down, keeping his eyes level with his own. His smiling eyes reflected his face. "Were you imitating a scene from 'Titanic' just now?"
Kirk's eyebrows slightly raised, and a smile flowed, "I thought you didn't see it, but it turns out that I am performing a one-man show."
"Ha." Henry was amused, "But why didn't you take off your coat and shoes? It seems that you are not ready to jump at all."
"Little Pumpkin, I'm sorry to hear that you're not Rose." Kirk said calmly, "Of course, I'm not Jack either, so there's no need for us to be so serious."
"Hahaha." Henry laughed heartily, "So the Wisconsin story is also false?"
"Hush." Kirk put his finger to his mouth. "I'm a good citizen and I never lie. But the truth is, I've never been to Wisconsin. The only thing I know about it is the Green Bay Packers."
"But I think that's the charm of movies. Not only can they lead us to explore unknown corners of the world, but they can also extend our lives. So even though I haven't been to Wisconsin, I know that the winter there is really, really cold, really."
"Hahaha." The hearty smile was like the sunshine in a midsummer afternoon. The haze between Henry's brows completely dissipated, and his whole temperament also underwent subtle changes.
Although he was only eleven years old, Kirk could see the loneliness and desolation of a teenager in Henry, and knew the truth of life that he should not be exposed to at this age.
Think about it, he was playing alone, called the police alone, and his guardian was absent from beginning to end. If it was a prank, then everything could be explained, after all, pranks must not be known to parents.
But what if it isn’t?
An eleven-year-old child, left alone in the Plaza Hotel, in the bustling and noisy New York. In such a big city, it is easy to get lost if you are not careful, not to mention the high crime rate in this city. He is like a drop in the ocean, and is swallowed up by the torrent of this city in a blink of an eye.
Even if he witnessed the crime, there was still no guardian who could share his fear.
All the complexity and heaviness fell lightly on these young shoulders.
It was precisely because of this that when Kirk saw this figure just now, he judged that he was very likely the person who called the police.
Also, because of this, Kirk did not choose to give orders as an adult from the beginning, but chose to approach slowly.
He had no way of knowing about the child's life and past, nor did he have any way of knowing the child's scars, but he knew that this child was like a fox, walking cautiously on the ice, with his ears perked up at all times, and would run away without hesitation at the slightest movement.
Even if they could control the child by force, which is not difficult for adults, I am afraid that he will never speak again.
Henry looked into Kirk's deep and bright eyes, "So, the river isn't that cold, right?"
"No, I'm serious about this. Believe me, you don't want to break the law." Kirk shook his head slightly, his face full of heavy and sad expression.
Henry laughed heartily again.
The time was gradually ripe, and Kirk didn't continue to beat around the bush, because Henry was a smart kid and he reacted as soon as he heard his name.
"Henry, I just received a call. A client asked me to come to the Plaza Hotel to investigate a wounding incident. Excuse me, are you that person?" Kirk finally spoke.
Henry looked at Kirk quietly without saying a word. He paused for a moment and then nodded heavily. But before Kirk could continue asking questions, his eyes were filled with tears, which slipped down unexpectedly. Henry quickly raised his hand to wipe away the tears, revealing a stubborn look on his face.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, tears welled up in her eyes, and she tried her best to stay strong and refuse to show her vulnerability, but it was obvious that it was not easy.
Fragile but strong, aggrieved but stubborn.
Kirk looked at the little Henry in front of him, tears welling up in his slightly red eyes. He was mature beyond his age, but he was only eleven years old after all.
So, Kirk temporarily put aside his identity as a private detective, looked around, but couldn't find a handkerchief or towel. Finally, he pulled his sleeves, stretched out his hand in front of Henry, gestured, and asked with his eyes: Can you just wipe your tears and snot?
Puff.
Henry burst into laughter and blew a snot bubble. His young face was full of panic as he frantically tried to pop the bubble.
But his action was still a little slow, and because of the ups and downs of his breathing, the bubble burst directly. He couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then he saw Kirk's eyes full of smiles. Henry was also shy and embarrassed, but he couldn't help it after all. He burst out laughing, and his expression brightened up again.
Kirk looked at his rejected sleeves and put them back awkwardly without hiding his regret, which made Henry laugh again.
Cough cough.
Kirk cleared his throat and stopped joking. Time was precious.
After all, there is an anxious and irritable lobby manager and a group of dignitaries who are blocked in the hotel and cannot go out. If we continue to delay, we don’t know which senior leader or department will be awakened.
"Henry, could you please recount what you witnessed?"
