I Married the President

Chapter 552: Chapter 552: Just Call Me Professor Sinclair

”However, the whistleblower claims the medicine is fake. It acts as a painkiller at first, but after six months of use, it causes rapid aging and death. After sending us an address, he vanished. Strangely, his family never reported him missing. I suspect they’ve been threatened.”

Hearing this, Claire Sinclair’s expression turned serious. She murmured, ”He was almost certainly captured by the people selling the fake medicine. Teacher Hartwell, didn’t you call the police?”

Henry Hartwell shook his head. ”For one, I have no proof. For another, all I have is a single tip-off email. If someone’s just trying to use the Astoria Daily for publicity, we’d be walking right into a trap.”

Claire Sinclair raised an eyebrow. ”Then why are you sending me?”

A roguish smile played on Henry Hartwell’s lips. ”As it happens, City E is hosting a watermelon contest. You can take Theo Rhodes with you to do a feature on it. And just a reminder, that kid is a national judo champion. Plus, he’s a fresh face, so it’s the perfect opportunity for you two to discreetly investigate that pharmacy.”

Claire Sinclair asked curiously, ”A watermelon contest?”

”City E is famous for its watermelons, and they ripen as early as May. In previous years, they’ve always held a watermelon festival to attract business. The contest could be about who has the biggest watermelon, or maybe it’s a watermelon-eating competition. Either way, you’re guaranteed to eat some watermelon.”

’That actually sounds pretty nice...’

”I understand, Teacher Hartwell. I’ll be sure to get to the bottom of this,” Claire Sinclair said with a firm nod, then turned and walked out.

The two newcomers were still waiting outside, sitting at their computers and studying the newspaper’s back issues.

Claire Sinclair walked over to them. ”Theo Rhodes, you’ll be with me from now on. Bonnie Yates, you’ll be with Teacher Hartwell. And I have a special mission for you, Bonnie: turn Teacher Hartwell back into a normal person.”

Bonnie Yates was taken aback. ”How do I do that?”

Claire Sinclair gestured toward Theo Rhodes with her chin. ”Like him—clean-shaven, doesn’t smell like he just pulled an all-nighter, and no beer belly. That’s the goal.”

Bonnie Yates: ”...”

Theo Rhodes: ”...”

Claire Sinclair added, ”Theo Rhodes, you’re coming with me in a little bit.”

Theo Rhodes’s interest was immediately piqued. ”Senior Sinclair, where are we going?”

Claire Sinclair smiled. ”Just call me Professor Sinclair. ’Senior’ makes me sound old. As for where we’re going, you’ll find out soon enough.”

Theo Rhodes: ”Okay, Professor Sinclair.”

Claire Sinclair returned to her desk, turned on her computer, and started sorting through the three months of work that had piled up.

After checking the time, she decided it was about right. She stood up, walked over to Theo Rhodes, and said, ”Theo, let’s head out.”

”Okay!” Theo Rhodes jumped to his feet excitedly. He paused for a moment before asking, ”Professor Sinclair, should I bring anything?”

”You don’t need to bring anything. Let’s go.” With that, Claire Sinclair led the way out of the newspaper office.

The two of them took the elevator down to the first basement level.

Claire Sinclair walked over to her personal car, opened the rear door, and got in.

After a moment’s hesitation, Theo Rhodes got into the front passenger seat. He first greeted the driver, Landon Winston, before turning back to Claire Sinclair. ”Professor Sinclair, is this a company car?”

Claire Sinclair smiled. ”It’s my car.”

”You even have a chauffeur?” Theo Rhodes found this surprising.

Claire Sinclair’s expression was nonchalant. ”I didn’t hire him. He works for Mr. Quincy.”

Theo Rhodes couldn’t help but gasp. ”Wow! So Young Master Quincy really is just like the rumors say—the ultimate wife-spoiler!”

Claire Sinclair looked up at him and chuckled. ”You know, sticking with me could be dangerous. Are you scared?”