Chapter 414: The Truth Isn’t Quite What You Think

Chapter 414: Chapter 414: The Truth Isn’t Quite What You Think

Marcus Thompson died from the first stab, but Kai Thorne had haphazardly stabbed him several more times.

Zoe Sawyer couldn’t think of any other possibility except that it was a cover-up.

"Exactly. The first stab was too clean and decisive. It didn’t look at all like someone was accidentally killed during a struggle. It was more like a blow delivered from a position of overwhelming advantage. Those extra, messy stabs could, to some extent, certainly throw the police off the trail.

But he made one huge mistake." Heath Hale’s fingers twitched, and he pointed to his arm. "This wound... there’s a big difference between a self-inflicted cut and one from someone else. Even if he tried to cover his tracks, people instinctively lighten their touch when cutting themselves.

We’ve made a lot of progress, and now we have a clear lead to follow."

A smile touched Zoe Sawyer’s lips as she recalled what they had just seen.

The two didn’t waste any time. They hurried over to Officer Lee, relayed the clues they had just uncovered, and asked him to look into Marcus Thompson’s recent movements and the location of the casino.

Police departments everywhere were cracking down on gambling, so a hidden casino like this one likely had plenty of lookouts. Pinpointing its location and personnel wouldn’t be easy.

"Understood. I’ll contact my colleagues at the local precinct right now and have them assist our team when they arrive." Officer Lee wore a serious expression as he quickly jotted down the clues they’d given him.

The local precinct had transferred the case to them precisely because they were understaffed and overwhelmed with other matters.

This meant their team would have to lead the investigation. But since they weren’t familiar with the local roads, they would still need help from someone who knew the area.

"Should we go back and continue the interrogation?" Zoe Sawyer glanced at Heath Hale and asked.

Although they had found many clues, they didn’t actually have any hard evidence.

Zoe Sawyer worried that interrogating Kai Thorne now would just be a waste of time.

"No, let’s let him stew." Heath Hale shook his head. "Kai Thorne is on high alert. If we can’t produce concrete evidence, he’ll just clam up and hope for the best."

Instead of wasting time on someone like him, it’s better to find the evidence first and then lay it all out in front of him.

Once he knows he has no way out and that resistance is futile, he’ll naturally confess everything.

That made sense, Zoe thought.

Someone as guarded as Kai Thorne, if left alone for a few days, would start overthinking. He’d wonder if the police had found a major lead, and that was why they hadn’t come back to question him.

The more he thought about it, the more he would panic. If they chose that moment to interrogate him, it would be far more effective.

"What about Eliza Lynch and Catherine Miller? They’re waiting for news. Should we tell them anything?" Zoe asked.

"We can tell them a little," Heath said after a moment’s thought. "Besides, as Kai Thorne’s partner, Eliza Lynch might have noticed something strange herself."

However, it was a delicate balance. Worried that Zoe might not handle it perfectly, Heath decided to go with her.

Meanwhile, in the reception room, Eliza Lynch and Catherine Miller were growing more and more anxious. ’They’ve been questioning him for so long! Have they made any progress?’

While Eliza Lynch was worried about Kai Thorne’s safety, Catherine Miller’s concerns were far more pragmatic.

She might have still had some feelings for Marcus Thompson, but those embers of affection had long been smothered by worry.

Catherine was worried that Marcus, in a fit of rage, had tried to attack Kai Thorne and been killed in the ensuing fight.

If Marcus was found to be the aggressor, would it affect her two children? Another important point: if Marcus really did start it, the police might rule that his estate had to pay compensation.

But he was dead. Who would pay?

’Surely they wouldn’t hold her two daughters responsible, would they?’

Given these concerns, Catherine was now desperate to know the truth.

Hayden Shaw remained silent, standing to one side and watching them, ready to stop them if their anxiety drove them to rush out of the room.

Over on the other side of the reception room, the two little girls had also sensed the strange atmosphere. They huddled together, clinging to Chloe Thompson’s arms and timidly watching their mother’s grim expression from a distance.

They didn’t know what was happening. All they knew was that their mother was in a bad mood, and they must not make a sound to disturb her.

Into this tense, somber atmosphere, Zoe Sawyer and Heath Hale pushed open the door to the reception room, walking in to meet the hopeful gazes of Eliza Lynch and Catherine Miller.

"Officers, have you figured it out? Who... who was it that died?" Eliza Lynch rushed forward, her face flushed with excitement and her eyes full of anticipation.

"The deceased is Marcus Thompson, but the situation isn’t what Kai Thorne described. Could you both please step outside with us? The children are here, and it wouldn’t be good for them to overhear." Heath Hale and Hayden Shaw both put up a hand, stopping the two women from coming any closer.

Catherine Miller, who had wanted them to just say everything right there, closed her mouth after seeing their solemn expressions and obediently followed them out.

"So what’s really going on? What do you mean the situation isn’t what Kai Thorne described?" Once outside, Eliza Lynch could no longer contain herself. She grabbed Heath Hale’s sleeve, her voice tight with anxiety.

’If Kai really did start it, doesn’t that mean he’ll go to jail? And my daughter... she’ll be branded the child of a murderer!’

’No, I won’t let that happen!’

Eliza Lynch desperately wanted an answer, and her grip on his sleeve tightened.

Looking at the two women, Heath saw no reason to keep them in suspense. He carefully chose his words and gave them a simplified version of what they could be told.

This included the part where Marcus Thompson had tried to kill Kai Thorne but was killed in return. However, the fruit knife used in the murder had been planted there by Kai Thorne.

"But that sounds more or less like what Kai said," Eliza Lynch frowned, her expression full of confusion.

’He didn’t mention the fruit knife, but couldn’t that just be because he was terrified and forgot?’

"It’s not the same. If it weren’t for the knife, it would be a case of excessive self-defense resulting in death. But the knife... that makes it premeditated.

He intentionally provoked Marcus Thompson, goading him into making the first move. In that scenario, it’s planned, premeditated murder. It can’t be considered self-defense," Heath explained simply.

After hearing this explanation, Catherine Miller, who had been holding herself together with sheer will, suddenly went limp. She staggered back against the wall, gasping for breath.

’That’s wonderful,’ she thought. ’This way, Chloe and her sister won’t be branded as a murderer’s daughters, and I won’t have to worry about paying compensation either.’

But in stark contrast to Catherine Miller’s relief, Eliza Lynch felt as if her world had come crashing down.

"How... how did it come to this?"