[Chapter 46: Do You Want Merit?]
Susan glanced at Daniel and asked, "Can you really do this?"
Daniel didn't answer with words. Instead, he pulled out a prayer seal and held it up before the receptionist. In the next instant, the seal burst into a ball of flame before fading away swiftly.
A strange expression flickered across the receptionist's eyes, his originally indifferent face softening into a smile.
"We need to see Miranda," Daniel said firmly.
The receptionist nodded without hesitation. "Of course. Please wait a moment -- I'll have someone bring her out right away."
Without requiring Daniel and the others to register, he promptly went downstairs to arrange their meeting.
Robert Downey Jr. and Susan exchanged surprised looks. Susan whispered, "How did you pull that off?"
Daniel replied calmly, "That's not important. What matters is that we get to see Miranda soon."
Susan nodded, though curiosity still lingered in her eyes.
Robert chuckled softly. "I told you, Mr. Cross is a pretty powerful Exorcist."
Susan, who had once doubted, now believed without reservation. She cast a grateful glance at Robert.
Changing someone's attitude was never easy, not even for Daniel. But if the change was temporary, it was much simpler for him. A prayer seal combined with a surge of magical power could shake a person's soul, influencing their spirit just enough to achieve it.
Of course, the effect was short-lived. After a while, their consciousness would return to normal.
...
Soon, Miranda was escorted out. Her eyes lit up with surprise and joy when she saw Susan.
"Susan, Robert. And who's this?" she asked.
In the movie, Miranda was played by Halle Berry. Here in reality, it wasn't Halle, but she was still a strikingly beautiful woman, standing at least half a head taller than Susan at around 5'7". Though dressed in a patient gown, her attractive figure was still very apparent.
Daniel found himself puzzled over how Susan had become best friends with someone so different.
When Miranda turned to Susan, Susan quickly said, "This is Mr. Cross, a very powerful Exorcist. We invited him to help you."
"An Exorcist!" Miranda's eyes flashed with hope as she leaned closer to Daniel. "Mr. Cross, please help me. I encountered a ghost. I didn't kill my husband -- that girl did. She's not human."
Her agitation made her words run together, but Daniel understood immediately.
His gaze shifted to her arm, where a gauze-wrapped wound was visible. Before he could ask, Miranda unwrapped it herself.
On the pale skin beneath, a scar formed a message: "Not Alone."
Susan and Robert had seen the scar before and weren't surprised. Susan asked Daniel, "Mr. Cross, what does it mean?"
Daniel didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Miranda, who stared at him with eager, hopeful eyes.
She needed him to truly help her.
In the movie, Miranda was relatively composed, eventually escaping and uncovering the truth. But here, trapped in horror come to life, she lacked the protagonist's halo. She couldn't even escape, much less reveal the truth and clear her name.
Still, her case wasn't complicated -- especially for Daniel, who knew the full story.
Meeting Miranda's expectant gaze, Daniel asked, "Do you know where your husband often went besides home and the hospital?"
Miranda thought deeply, then her eyes suddenly brightened. "I remember! On the day this happened to me, he said he was going to that place."
"Where?" Daniel pressed.
"Yellow Valley Creek," she replied.
"Where is that, exactly? How far away?" Daniel continued.
Miranda explained, "It's more than a hundred kilometers outside the city -- in a rundown village that's mostly deserted. But my husband liked to go fishing there. Every time he came back, he'd bring small fish."
Susan chimed in, "Miranda told me about this. Mr. Cross, is there a problem with that?"
Daniel's lips curled into a slight sneer. "The problem's huge. But that place might be the key to clearing Miranda's name."
Miranda's face lit up. "Mr. Cross, you can really clear my name?"
Daniel asked, "Does your husband have a friend who's a sheriff?"
Miranda turned to Susan. "Did you tell him about this?"
Susan shook her head quickly. "I didn't say a word."
Robert added, "Neither did I."
Miranda was about to ask more, but Daniel cut in, "Now's not the time for questions. Just answer mine."
She nodded. "Yes, the sheriff's name is Bob Ryan. He was a close friend of my husband's. They often drank together."
Daniel's eyes narrowed. "Then everything aligns."
"What aligns?" Miranda and the others asked, confused.
...
Daniel said nothing but took his phone out and stepped aside. He dialed Sheriff Ford.
The call connected quickly. "Good morning, Mr. Cross. What can I do for you?"
Without preamble, Daniel said, "How about a piece of merit? Interested?"
There was a pause on the other end. "More merit?"
Ford meant 'more' because the incident a few days before at Lawrence's shop was already a big merit for him. That was why he'd been so cooperative and handled all the follow-up smoothly.
Daniel continued, "How about clearing out a scumbag from your own ranks? Interested in that merit?"
"Our own ranks?" Ford hesitated. "From our bureau?"
Daniel said, "No, but this guy's rank is as high as yours."
"Sheriff?" Ford was even more hesitant now. He didn't want to offend anyone. "What crime did he commit? Is there enough evidence?"
"Plenty," Daniel said coolly. "Enough to make him rot in prison for life -- if you catch him alive."
"That serious?" Ford's interest peaked. Minor offenses just made enemies, risking scorn and judgment. But a major crime prosecutable for life imprisonment? That was a sure achievement. With merits like that, a promotion was possible.
Ford asked, "What do you need me to do?"
"Just bring some men to follow me and serve as witnesses."
"No problem. Where are you? I'll bring them now."
With nothing to worry about, Ford hung up.
...
Daniel returned to the table. The others looked at him expectantly.
"It's arranged. Miranda, just hold on a little longer -- you should be free soon."
"Really?" Miranda's joy was palpable.
Under her hopeful gaze, Daniel said goodbye and, with Robert and Susan, left the mental hospital.
...
They waited outside until a police car pulled up.
Three people stepped out: Sheriff Ford, Lara, and a calm-looking white officer in his late twenties named Kane -- likely one of Ford's trusted men.
After introductions, Daniel said, "My car stays here. Susan, ride with Sheriff Ford and explain Miranda's case to them. Robert, you drive ahead and lead the way."
*****
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