Preston Monroe had contacted Silas Thorne only because he couldn't get through to his daughter. Once he confirmed she was all right, he asked Silas to take good care of her. The old woman was, after all, his birth mother, and besides, he had things he wanted to confirm with the Suttons.
From Mrs. Sutton, he learned the full story of the incident at the hospital, as well as what happened at the teahouse...
So,
'Joyce had figured it all out long ago.'
'But she didn't tell a soul, just quietly plotted her own counter-schemes.'
'That made him feel even worse.'
"Don't worry, sir. I'll take good care of Joyce." As Silas Thorne turned his head to look at Joyce Monroe, he saw her pull cigarettes and a lighter from the pocket of his own overcoat.
She pulled a cigarette from the pack and awkwardly placed it between her lips. Tucking her long hair behind her ear, she flicked the lighter.
The flint wheel scraped. As the flame leaped up, it bathed her small face in a fiery glow.
