The Hartwell family study was very crowded this afternoon.
Usually, this room was Mr. Hartwell's personal haven in which he dealt with his business affairs as well as examined his financial books in seclusion.
But today the room seemed smaller in some way, pressed down by the weight of the recent happenings in their lives, and the presence of the honoured guests who had come to talk with them about the brazen attack on their family.
Mr. Hartwell sat behind his massive oak desk, his weathered hands clasped before him on the desk.
The circles under his eyes had grown even darker over the past three days because of his sleepless nights due to his concern for his daughter's whereabouts.
Though Lucy was safely back home and on the road to recovery, the tension had not yet dissipated from his shoulders.
Facing him was Magistrate Sai, who was seated in one of the plush leather chairs reserved for honoured guests.
