Free Web NovelChapter 438: Chapter 438: The Astute Frederick Thorne
Nancy Thorne and the others went home first, but the house was pitch-black and empty. So, they went over to Byron Thorne’s place and, sure enough, everyone was there. The house was brightly lit; even Frederick Thorne and his wife were present, and the brothers Howard and Patrick Thorne had returned as well.
"This won’t do! I have to go to Capria. It’s been a whole week, and she hasn’t even called. Something must have happened!" Felix Thorne’s booming voice carried from inside, sounding extremely anxious.
Nancy Thorne slapped her forehead in frustration. ’Crap, I forgot to call when we got back.’
"Felix, don’t panic," Frederick Thorne soothed him in a soft voice. "Didn’t Mr. Tate say it would just be another day or two? Let’s wait a little longer. Maybe Nancy will be home tomorrow!" In truth, he was also very anxious, but he was more rational. Capria was a huge city; even if Felix went, he’d never be able to find her.
Besides, Felix had never traveled far in his entire life; the farthest he’d ever been was to Wraven and Vessaria. He would be completely lost if he went out on his own. They couldn’t risk losing him while trying to find the little one.
Lana Steiner thought for a moment and said, "How about this? Frederick’s busy period at the factory will be over in two days. We can have him ask for time off to go to Capria. He’s been there on business trips before, so he’s more familiar with the city."
Frederick Thorne nodded. "That’s what I was thinking, too. Felix, you’ve never been to Capria; you don’t know the city or anyone there. It would be better for me to go. My work will be done in two days at most. I’ll go ask the director for leave."
Felix Thorne’s expression relaxed. He knew this was the best arrangement. His second brother had traveled more and was more educated, making him a much better choice for the trip.
"But will the factory be alright if you take time off?"
Felix was a little worried, afraid it might affect his brother’s job.
Frederick Thorne smiled. "It’s fine. I’ll just ask for a week off. The director is easy to talk to."
Even if the director wasn’t easygoing, it wouldn’t matter. He was the one who had improved the distillery’s signature liquor, Beauty Drunk, and he held the secret recipe. The factory had asked him to take on an apprentice many times, but he had always refused.
’Teach the apprentice, and you’ll starve the master.’
He understood this principle well. He was still young, so it didn’t really matter whether he took on an apprentice yet. When he was older, he planned to pass the secret recipe on to his three nephews. He would never give it to an outsider.
With the secret recipe, even if his three nephews didn’t succeed in their studies, they would always be able to make a living. Frederick Thorne had planned everything perfectly, already securing their future. ’In the book, if Lana Steiner hadn’t fallen into a trap and he hadn’t gone mad, perhaps the Thorne family’s fate would have been different.’
That was why Frederick Thorne was so confident now. Of course, he was a diligent worker, but he wasn’t afraid of unemployment. Many other distilleries had extended olive branches to him, offering exceptionally generous salaries and benefits. They even offered to help get Lana Steiner a teaching position at the city’s middle school. But Frederick had turned them all down. He was attached to his current distillery and wouldn’t leave unless he absolutely had to.
"Then we’ll have to trouble you, Frederick," Phoebe Huxley said, then cursed through gritted teeth, "And when Goldie and the others get back, I’m going to beat the living daylights out of those two! I’ll even thrash my own brother-in-law!"
The uncle and nephew hiding outside the door shivered. They were now even more afraid to go inside, pushing each other back and forth. Neither wanted to be the one to stick his neck out.
"I don’t think anything serious has happened. Goldie might be a slacker most of the time, but he’s quite reliable when it comes to important matters. Plus, there’s that boy from the Hawthorne family. He’s more dependable than most adults. With the two of them watching her, Nancy will be perfectly fine. And didn’t Mr. Tate say she’d be home within a week at most?"
Phoebe Thorne wasn’t too worried. She and Goldie were close, and she knew her younger brother well. She knew that while Goldie might act irresponsibly about other things, he would never dare to be reckless when it came to his niece and nephews.
