Chapter 409: I Have Severe Face Blindness

Chapter 409: Chapter 409: I Have Severe Face Blindness

The case file contained a few notes which gave Heath Hale and the others a rough idea of what had happened, but they still needed to hear the women’s official statements. There was always a chance of uncovering a new lead.

Catherine Miller timidly hunched her shoulders, opening and closing her mouth several times without saying a word.

Instead, it was Eliza Lynch beside her. Seeing Catherine’s state, she gave a scornful laugh, crossed her arms, and leaned back in her chair. "How could she not know? This wasn’t the first time the brothers had their little reunion.

Coincidentally, Catherine and I had due dates around the same time that year. It was right after Kai Thorne and Marcus Thompson had reconnected, when everything was still new and exciting between them. Kai offered to handle everything, insisting he’d get his sister-in-law transferred to a better hospital. But not even two days after she arrived, Catherine’s water broke. Her screams were awful. I was right there with her, and the shock of it all made my water break, too.

Our babies were born one right after the other. But not long after they were born, that couple tried to swap them. If Kai Thorne hadn’t been watching the infants so closely and noticed something was off, they probably would have succeeded.

After that incident, we distanced ourselves from them. They were clearly feeling guilty, so they stayed away as well. I honestly have no idea how those two got mixed up with each other again."

As Eliza Lynch explained, Catherine Miller sat curled up in her chair, hunched over as if trying to shrink, to make herself so small that no one would notice her.

"Kai Thorne is your husband," Heath Hale pressed, looking at Eliza Lynch. "After spending all this time together, day in and day out, you really can’t tell him apart from his brother?"

This was what puzzled them the most.

’As his wife, and having been together for a considerable time, logically, you should be able to easily tell your own husband apart from anyone else.’

’Their living environments were different; surely some of their daily habits and mannerisms had to be different as well.’

At this, Eliza Lynch’s expression grew awkward. Her voice, which had been so forceful just a moment ago, dropped. "I have severe face blindness. I usually recognize people by their clothes and the cologne they wear. Kai Thorne knows about my condition. He never used to smoke or drink, and I picked out all his clothes for him, so I could always tell him and Marcus Thompson apart at a glance.

But over the last few days, he started dressing exactly like Marcus Thompson. He also picked up smoking and drinking, and his scent became this messy, foul odor. I just couldn’t tell them apart anymore."

She couldn’t stand those smells. As soon as she smelled them on Kai, she just took the kids and went to her parents’ house. ℯℯ𝑙.

This time, before going to find Catherine Miller, she had confirmed that Catherine was at home.

And when the door opened, Catherine was the only adult there, so Eliza was able to identify her immediately.

That’s why she had become so nervous before coming to the station—because she’d heard Catherine say the scar on ’Kai’s’ hand was identical to Marcus’s.

With the full story now clear, Zoe Sawyer and the others turned their attention back to Catherine Miller, who sat silently beside Eliza.

Under their collective gaze, Catherine Miller remained silent for a moment before finally telling them everything she knew.

It hadn’t been her idea to swap the babies at first, but Marcus Thompson knew her weaknesses and knew just what to say to persuade her.

Once he had convinced Catherine, they swapped the babies as quickly as they could. They just never imagined that the babies would be switched back.

They even had a plan to show up once the child was grown, reveal they were the birth parents, and use that biological tie to force the child to support them.

But before they could see their plan through, Marcus Thompson became addicted to gambling. He didn’t just lose their house; he started eyeing the children as his next potential payout.

It was then that Catherine learned the child was actually her own. Fiercely protective, she grabbed a knife, wounded Marcus, and drove him away.

She had only a few days of peace before she heard the news of his death and was brought to the station for questioning.

"Do you realize that what you did—swapping the babies—is against the law?" Hayden Shaw stared at Catherine Miller, his tone severe. "You’re lucky they were switched back quickly, that nothing worse happened, and that the other parents didn’t press charges.

Otherwise, what you two did would have been more than enough to land you in prison."

’But there was no use dwelling on that now. The most important thing was to identify the deceased.’

"We need to perform an autopsy," Heath Hale said, producing a consent form. "Since we can’t be certain of his true identity, we need both of you to sign this authorization."

Technically, as his ex-wife, Catherine Miller had no authority to sign. But Marcus Thompson’s parents were deceased, and his only next of kin—his daughter Chloe Thompson and her sister—were minors.

For the sake of the children’s psychological well-being, they had decided to let Catherine sign.

"Can’t you just confirm the identity with a DNA test? Why do you need an autopsy?" Eliza Lynch frowned, her voice filled with confusion.

Hayden Shaw explained to them, "Based on their physical builds and appearances, we’ve determined that Marcus Thompson and Kai Thorne are identical twins.

The DNA of identical twins is virtually the same, so a routine test can’t tell them apart. That’s why we need to perform an autopsy—to look for other clues that can help us confirm the identity."

Eliza Lynch nodded, only seeming to half-understand, but she said nothing more and swiftly signed her name.

Catherine Miller followed right after.

Hayden Shaw collected the consent form. Just as Heath Hale was about to ask another question, a young officer knocked on the door, his voice urgent. "Captain Sawyer, the suspect has suddenly become agitated. He’s started rambling.

He’s even trying to hurt himself. We have him restrained for now. Do you want to come see?"

Zoe Sawyer and Heath Hale shot up from their chairs and strode towards the door. "Take us there!"

Eliza Lynch and Catherine Miller looked anxious and were about to follow, but Hayden Shaw stopped them. "You two should wait here for news. We’ll update you both as soon as there are any developments.

Besides, the children are still here. You should go comfort them. They must be terrified."

At Hayden’s words, Eliza Lynch and Catherine Miller looked over and saw that the three children, who had been playing in the corner, had all stopped. They were now standing off to the side, watching their mothers timidly.

Chloe Thompson was doing better than the others; she seemed to have a rough idea of what was going on.

But the two younger children didn’t understand why their mothers were so upset. Too scared to approach, they each clung to one of Chloe Thompson’s legs and waited in silence.

"Okay... I understand." Eliza Lynch grabbed Hayden Shaw’s arm, her voice pleading. "Officer, as soon as you confirm his identity, please, tell me right away."

’Even though she was furious with Kai’s behavior over the past few days, he was still her husband. She still loved him.’

’Of course she didn’t want him to be the one who was dead.’

Catherine Miller said nothing, but she looked at Hayden Shaw with the same desperate plea in her eyes.

"We will," Hayden replied. "Try not to worry."