Chapter 458: The Two Pretenders

Chapter 458: Chapter 458: The Two Pretenders

The people nearby were startled, first by his movement and then by his scream.

But they quickly realized he must be the children’s father.

The man crawled on his knees to the children’s bodies. He reached out with trembling hands, his mouth agape, as if trying to speak but only managing to let out hoarse cries of "Ah, ah!"

To any observer, he looked like a father so overcome with grief at the loss of his beloved children that he was rendered speechless.

But Zoe Sawyer, who had witnessed everything, watched with a cold expression. She knew just how cold-blooded and merciless the man before her was. His entire performance was a carefully constructed lie.

These two children had died at the hands of the very father they trusted.

She saw a bystander take out their phone, trying to calm him. "Don’t worry, don’t worry! I called for an ambulance the moment the children fell. Help is on the way! Don’t move them, you might make things worse!"

Zoe Sawyer used the opportunity to get closer, trying to see the specific time on the phone.

When she saw the date on the screen, Zoe Sawyer let out a huge sigh of relief. ’It’s happening tomorrow!’

’We can definitely save the children!’

Another question quickly surfaced in her mind. ’The man came downstairs, but where’s the woman?’

’What is she doing upstairs?’

Before Zoe Sawyer could manipulate the door to look upstairs, she saw the woman rushing down. Her clothes were just as disheveled, the only difference being the phone clutched in her hand.

A thought suddenly struck Zoe Sawyer. ’Could she be destroying some kind of records?’

’Chat logs, for instance?’

’That has to be it!’

’Their whole plan might be on there!’

Just as the thought crossed her mind, the door ejected her. The force was gentle, and with Heath Hale right there to steady her, she only stumbled back a couple of steps before regaining her balance.

"What did you see this time?" Heath Hale asked as soon as Zoe Sawyer was steady on her feet.

Zoe Sawyer recounted everything she had seen, then turned to Officer Lee, who was standing nearby. "Have you pinpointed the exact location?"

Officer Lee pushed up his glasses, his tone confident. "The name Captain Sawyer provided was very specific. I’ve locked onto the exact location. It’s over in Crestmont."

Heath Hale looked at Zoe Sawyer, a question in his eyes. "Are you going to handle this case in person?"

"I’m going," Zoe Sawyer said, her tone resolute. "I want to see for myself what kind of monstrous father would throw his own children from the fifteenth floor."

His decisiveness during the act, his quick thinking to feign grief afterward, and the words of the woman who was holding him... Every single detail pointed to this being a premeditated plot.

She wanted to see this depraved man and woman arrested with her own eyes.

"Then go!" Seeing the determination in Zoe Sawyer’s eyes, Evan Keller made the call. "We’ve been stuck rotating between the office and the other site for a while. A trip out of town for some fieldwork is no big deal."

"I’ll report this to the director right now and get in touch with the local precinct over there."

Since they were from out of town, they’d need to file a report to get involved in a case in another jurisdiction.

The director’s approval came through quickly.

"Let’s go. I’ve already briefed the director over there. We can use the door to go straight to his office," Evan Keller said, shaking his phone.

After capturing the ringleader and her people two months ago, they had followed the trail of clues and uncovered numerous related factions and individuals within the country.

To improve their chances of apprehending these people, they needed cooperation from police departments across the country. As a result, Zoe Sawyer’s name had become well-known among the various directors.

So, going there directly wouldn’t be an issue.

Those involved knew what confidentiality protocols to follow.

"Alright! Let’s go now!" Zoe Sawyer wasted no time, stepping through the door and into the director’s office, where they were expected.

"Sawyer, welcome." Director Marshall stood up as Zoe Sawyer and the others appeared in her office via the door. She extended a hand, her gaze intense.

’This Sawyer is something else,’ she thought.

’Last month, she managed to root out a human trafficker who’d been hiding in my jurisdiction for over a decade.’

’This trafficker had taken advantage of the inadequate surveillance systems of the past to abduct dozens of children.’

’Now that he’s been caught, we can finally give those parents some closure!’

Zoe Sawyer looked at the impressive and distinguished Director Marshall before her, shaking the offered hand. "We came this time because we have a case that requires your department’s cooperation, Director Marshall."

Director Marshall had been prepared for this ever since she received the message that they were coming.

So, upon hearing Zoe Sawyer’s words, she nodded. "I’m aware. I’ll have my people cooperate with you fully."

The situation was urgent. Zoe Sawyer wanted to apprehend the two suspects as quickly as possible and ensure the children were out of danger for good.

After a few pleasantries, Director Marshall made a call and had someone come over to escort Zoe Sawyer and her team to the main office area.

Soon, Captain Crowe of Unit One came in. He was a little surprised by Director Marshall’s instructions, but he nodded in acceptance, led the group out, and headed toward his office.

Not far from the director’s office, a young officer saw Captain Crowe emerge with the group and had a look of astonishment on his face.

’I’ve been here all day,’ he thought. ’How did I not see them go in?’

Before he could dwell on it, someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind and handed him a new assignment.

With work to do, he got busy and naturally forgot all about Zoe Sawyer and her team.

Meanwhile, after leading them back to his office, Captain Crowe gave his team members a brief introduction before turning back to the visitors. "So, what do you have for us?"

Evan Keller produced a photograph of a high-rise building. "We’ve received intel that a resident on the fifteenth floor of this building plans to harm their two children by throwing them from the window."

"It’s scheduled for tomorrow. The circumstances are severe, and time is of the essence."

Captain Crowe took the photo, and after a quick look, he immediately identified the location.

Still, hearing Evan Keller’s words, he was skeptical. "Is your source reliable? Do you have any concrete evidence?"

’If we go in rashly, won’t we tip them off?’

"Rest assured, the source is reliable," Evan Keller explained, understanding Captain Crowe’s concern. "While I can’t disclose the specifics, Director Marshall is fully briefed. It’s all legal and above board. The suspects have no idea we’re onto their plot."

Hearing this, Captain Crowe had no further objections. "Alright. What do you need from us?"

Evan Keller walked over and pointed to the building in the photo. "We need information on the residents of the apartment on the right side of the 15th floor. We need to be discreet so the suspects don’t find out."

"Not a problem. We can get that for you quickly." Captain Crowe nodded, handing the photo to a team member beside him and relaying the order.

"Got it!"