Chapter 436: What Are You Talking About Digging Up Graves?

Chapter 436: Chapter 436: What Are You Talking About Digging Up Graves?

She was incredibly curious about what an on-site survey and excavation of an ancient tomb would actually be like.

Heath Hale looked at Zoe Sawyer’s expectant face and was about to agree. But then he thought about her safety, and the word "yes" was stuck on the tip of his tongue, unable to be spoken.

"This isn’t my call to make. You’ll have to ask the chief," Heath Hale said, a bit guiltily. He avoided Zoe Sawyer’s eager gaze and rubbed his nose.

Before, he might have agreed without hesitation. But there were still unresolved cases, and they could need Zoe Sawyer’s support at any moment. If he rashly took her out, would it affect future cases?

And then there was the boss lady’s gang. They had indeed captured many of her associates, but there was no guarantee some hadn’t slipped through the cracks, lurking in the shadows.

What if they were keeping an eye on the police station and seized an opportunity to harm Zoe Sawyer?

With these considerations in mind, Heath Hale just couldn’t bring himself to say yes.

Zoe Sawyer also knew this wasn’t Heath Hale’s decision to make. Hearing him tell her to ask the chief, she straightened up, satisfied.

’Once that expert leaves, I’ll go ask.’

Soon, Zoe Sawyer saw the chief seeing the expert and his two companions off to their car.

’They’re gone!’

In the very next second, Zoe Sawyer shot up and rushed to the chief’s office as fast as she could, running right into the chief on his way back.

"Sawyer? What brings you here?" the chief asked, looking at Zoe Sawyer with some surprise.

Zoe Sawyer explained to the chief that she wanted to go out and have a look. She thought he would hesitate, but the next moment, he replied, "Go ahead! Have Heath Hale and Barry Quinn go with you.

"We can’t just keep you cooped up in the station, can we? You were already exhausted from your previous work. Not letting you go out to relax... even beasts of burden aren’t worked this hard."

After speaking, the chief looked at Heath Hale, who was standing at the door, and continued, "I know you’re worried about Sawyer’s safety, but this isn’t right. Even prisoners in jail get yard time.

"Alright, it’s settled. You all just need to be extra careful and ensure Sawyer’s safety. Besides, you can lend the professor and his team a hand."

Although there was a good reason for it, they were still planning to excavate the clan’s mountain. If some stubborn old-timers refused to cooperate and started, say, lying on the ground to protest, the officers could help manage the situation.

"Yes, I understand." Since the chief had agreed, Heath Hale said no more and just nodded to show he understood.

Zoe Sawyer rubbed her hands together excitedly. ’Do I finally get to watch in person?’

After the two returned to the office, Zoe Sawyer excitedly announced that she could go along to see the action.

Sean Hughes and the others knew Zoe Sawyer had been suffering from cabin fever lately, so they clapped, happy for her.

Excluding the team members who had just returned from the Gary Dawson case, Heath Hale picked a few who had been on duty at the office, brought along Barry Quinn and Monkey, and the group followed right behind the professor’s team of three to their destination.

The chief of the local precinct had already received the news and was waiting in the courtyard for the expert team to arrive.

"Thank you for coming. I’ve already arranged for my people; we can set out anytime," the local chief said. Seeing the professor, he took a few steps forward and helped him out of the car.

Once steady on his feet, the professor nodded to the chief and said, "We’re really imposing on you. But if this isn’t handled quickly, not only could it cause devastating damage to the tomb, but the group digging recklessly could also get into trouble."

The chief nodded repeatedly, assuring him that his precinct would cooperate fully.

It went without saying that if this matter wasn’t handled well—if precious historical artifacts were damaged and lives were lost—his precinct would face a wave of public pressure.

"My own team hasn’t fully assembled yet, but we can go over and take a look first to assess the surrounding area," the professor said. He had come straight here by car after leaving the police station.

His survey equipment and regular crew hadn’t arrived yet. The reason for the rush was the fear that those grave robbers, in their carelessness, would actually bury themselves alive.

"Ah, yes, of course. I’ll arrange for someone to take you there right now." The chief nodded again, then waved to the side, signaling for the squad that was already prepared to follow.

The professor turned and saw Zoe Sawyer, Heath Hale, and the others. He didn’t say anything, simply assuming they were there to help.

The local chief was even less concerned. They had been officially dispatched, and besides, it was good to have them here to help.

Soon, the police cars pulled up to the village entrance.

The old men who had been chatting under the large tree at the village entrance to pass the time frowned in confusion when they saw a line of police cars stop nearby.

’Why are the police here now? Did something happen?’

An old man who seemed to have some standing in the community stood up. Looking at the approaching officers, he asked, "Are you all here for something?"

The old man spoke in a local dialect, and quickly at that. The professor, Zoe Sawyer, and the others couldn’t understand him and could only look to their local colleagues for help.

’He’s a local, so he should be able to communicate, right?’

"Sir, is there a young man in your village named Brandon? He and his friends have been secretly digging up an ancient tomb, which is illegal.

"Furthermore, there are cracks inside that tomb. The slightest mistake could cause a collapse, and they could get trapped. It won’t be easy to rescue them then!" one of the local police officers stepped forward and explained why they were there.

’What’s all this?’

’A tomb? And that little brat Brandon is digging it up with his good-for-nothing friends?’

The old man who had spoken first looked at the officer with confusion and denied it, "Impossible. I’ve lived in this village for decades. Do you think I wouldn’t know if there was an ancient tomb here?

"Besides, while that kid Brandon can be a bit unreliable, he would never do something like digging up someone’s grave."

The moment his voice fell, a hesitant voice sounded from behind him. "An ancient tomb? I think there is one, but that secret has always been guarded by the main family line.

"When I was young, I was drinking with Brock, and he got drunk and accidentally let it slip. He made me promise to keep it a secret afterward. It’s been so many years... if you all hadn’t suddenly brought it up, I would have forgotten about it myself."

The old man looked back towards the voice. It was a man among them known for being tight-lipped.

If he promised not to reveal something, he wouldn’t say a word, no matter how much others asked.

"You’ve been hiding this from us all this time?" the first old man asked in disbelief.

The tight-lipped man replied with perfect justification, "I promised Brock I wouldn’t tell, so of course I couldn’t tell you!

"If these police officers hadn’t shown up talking about Brandon digging up a grave with his friends, I still wouldn’t be saying anything now!"

Just then, a weak male voice came from behind a nearby tree.

"What are you all talking about? What grave-digging?"