Chapter 104: Chapter 104

"What did you just say?"

Geneva shared a meaningful look with her husband. It was like she was saying, ’I didn’t even get a wink, and my worst nightmare came true!’

All foggy brain, budding headache, confusion and whatnot disappeared from Geneva as she strode forward determinedly to the policeman.

"Detective Leon? That was your name?"

"You know whose residence you are in, right?"

Leon held the older woman’s gaze respectfully, but he scoffed in his head, barely suppressing a smirk.

’These rich people think that they own the world just because they have money and power.’

"Yes, ma’am. This is the Thornston’s estate."

"... and on whose orders did you come here? Who is your-"

"Mum, it’s okay. I’ll handle it." Ian said gently.

"Elfin, dear, come here," Ian calmly said, gesturing towards Shelby, who had remained rooted in the spot at the back, taking everything in. They were all too engrossed in what was unfolding to notice that pet name,

Shelby stared at James, who had also walked in behind the detective, unsure of what he was up to. She couldn’t decide what he was doing from his actions at that moment.

’How could he even think of going to the police station right from there? Will Ian be, okay?’ At that time, her heart trembled when she realized that she did not want him to be caught, no matter what he had done.

’Does that make me a bad person too?’ She couldn’t come to a consensus with herself on that.

She walked up to Ian, and he gave her a reassuring squeeze. It was obvious that she was starting to panic, and he needed her by his side too.

"What is wrong with this stupid man!" Geneva grumbled and threw a hard look at James and then at the detective.

"You better have had a convincing case before coming here to disturb us! Hmmpf!"

She walked back to the seat she had occupied that morning, grumbling under her breath, without sparing a glance at the idiotic Wendover man. He had just burnt any last bridge between them, not to say there was any bridge to start with.

"What is wrong with everyone today?" She continued grumbling.

Ian went back to his large seat and positioned Shelby in front of him and between his thighs. He caressed her back gently and watched the detective.

"Katie, get our guest a cup of tea or anything he would like."

"I’m okay but no, thank you, Mr Thornston."

Ian nodded in acknowledgement and asked,

"Detective Leon, did you say that I killed someone?"

"Yes! He did! Right in front of everybody!" James shouted from the back.

Ian smirked, "Who is everybody?"

"The workers and even his parents! Dare they deny it?" James was a bit cheeky thinking that he had Ian and the rest of his family cornered. After all, it had just been a few hours since that had happened.

Leon turned and glared at James. "Mr Wendover, let me do my job, please."

He turned back to Ian, and his gaze met that of Shelby’s, and he stopped short. He felt goosebumps rush over his skin, and he found himself getting lost in the depths of those brilliant blue eyes. He could never get used to it no matter how many times he saw this girl, not even those years ago when she was barely an adult. He pinched his palm so hard that he was able to break himself from the trance. He was there to work and nothing else.

Ian noticed this and pulled Shelby towards his chest, his gaze throwing a challenge to the detective, but he gave nothing of that action away. However, a few others keenly watching them had noticed that small incident.

"Since my father-in-law is so sure of this, then you should go ahead and talk to my parents about this since they are supposedly witnesses."

Ian boomed, and he turned to Katie.

"Katie, get all the workers together!

Katie bowed and stepped out. This time, it was easier to find all of them as they were all in the mansion.

"I’m sorry for this, Mr and Mrs Thornston ...."

"If you think that I am going to rat out my son, young man, then you have no idea who I am. So, if you have nothing and only came to fish out the waters, then scram!"

"Young man, I am not sure why you are here following the words of our own daughter-in-law’s stepfather. We hold the man in high esteem, and it pains me that such an accusation will come out of his mouth. Sadly, I lived to see such a day," Alex’s voice followed in dejection as if he was truly sad.

Detective Leon stood his ground and thanked the older couple.

He took everything going on in, noting down what could be. He knew he was not going to get anything from the older couple, but their answers were a tad suspicious. ’Maybe I would have better luck with the workers.’

He couldn’t help but think back to what his colleagues had told him when they had tried to deter him from going, but Leon knew that James Wendover could not have been telling lies, considering his physical injuries. Besides, wasn’t it best to act quickly when the crime had just been committed? He knew how powerful the family was and was trying to make sure that he got what he needed. Besides, one case from his past made him extra diligent about all others.

He had actually expected some resistance from them and had only wanted to invite Ian to the police station with him, but there was something off about the atmosphere that he could not pinpoint.

He was subtly being led on and had yet to realize that fact. This was because, for one, he may not have interviewed the witnesses in front of the suspected perpetrator, but Leon ended up doing just that.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Leon turned, addressing Ian, who watched on nonchalantly.

Ian just shrugged, not even bothering to answer. As the workers filed in, so did Currey.

The detective spent the better time of a whole hour talking to all the employees; asking questions and trying to find out if they had been intimidated or threatened. But the answers were the same. They spoke highly of their employers and there were no signs of coercion. They all looked relaxed for a group of people who had supposedly witnessed a crime that had them shaken to the core hours earlier, as per James’ recount.

Ideally, no one would have been allowed that much time in there without even a warrant. However, upon Ian’s words, Alex and Geneva watched on as all of the workers denied vehemently ever seeing anything of that sort.

"Are they acting?" Geneva whispered and asked her husband, truly puzzled.

"I don’t think so, and I am also confused about what is going on...." Alex said thoughtfully.

After a lengthy session and going through all of the workers, Detective Leon started questioning himself if he had erred in his judgement. That was not something he could afford at this time in his career, especially considering that case from years ago that he could not stop beating himself about.

James could not understand them. He wondered if they had been drugged. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. "What of the other two male workers? If you said you did not kill them, then bring them here!" He interjected confidently.

Just then, a young man hurriedly approached, almost out of breath. He looked very muddy.

Smiling sheepishly, he said, "I’m sorry. I could not even change before I got here."

Leon turned to look at James and went ahead to question this man, too.

"I’m sorry, detective, I don’t understand what you are saying. You say that Mr Currey, over there, dragged me out screaming? Pfft!"

Chuckles emanated from around the room, and Leon could understand why they would. Even he found it hard to believe that the small, lanky assistant was capable of such a feat. However, Leon was never one to judge a book a book by its cover.

"As you can see, I am just coming from the fields, looking at my attire and how fresh these mud sediments are. I have not been here this morning at all, so I don’t even understand what you’re talking about."

Leon nodded before finally releasing him. He had nothing! It was like a wasted trip, and he may have offended the one person whom he could not afford to offend in his quest for justice.

James could not stand still. He was baffled! What he was unaware of was that Alex and Geneva felt the same, but Shelby thought that she had a hunch on what might have happened, even though she was unsure if that was even possible. She turned and smiled at Ian, temporarily making him lapse into a daze.

’I’ll forgive that detective for once since even I am getting into this trance from just a smile!’

"What have you guys done?! You all saw it, so why are you behaving this way." James rubbed his hands through his hair in frustration. Nothing was going as he thought it should.

"Okay, what of the man who died? Pedro?"

Leon calmed his racing heart and the fact that his own mind was calling him stupid.

’Yes, let’s see what happened to the man who is supposedly dead.’

"I don’t think it is prudent to let you in on how our estate works but give me a minute. Katie left and returned moments later.

"These are the release papers of Pedro, the last person that Mr Wendover claims to have been killed!" Katie delivered the final blow, and James stumbled back.

"Before you said anything, I thought to get these just in case Pedro did come up in this conversation since everyone is accounted for except him."

Leon could feel his anger start to surge, while James and the couple, as well as Shelby, were seriously wondering what the actual fuck was going on.

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