Chapter 683: Prime Suspect Jacqueline Spann

"I... I don’t know what to say... I... I don’t know anything..."

Gentry Chapman was so scared he started crying. He stammered out what he had told Jacqueline Spann. Amanda Chapman was furious; she felt like strangling her idiotic brother.

"Traitor! I told you not to hang out with Jacqueline Spann, but you just had to, didn’t you! You can’t tell friend from foe! Have maggots eaten your brain?"

Amanda Chapman’s face flushed red with anger. ’He can’t even tell friend from foe. This idiot brother of mine is just too stupid! I’m telling Mom when I get back. I’ll have her teach him a lesson.’

"I just wanted to give her a heads-up, that’s all. I didn’t say anything else... I know I was wrong..."

Gentry Chapman admitted his mistake through tears. In truth, he didn’t even know what he’d done wrong, but his sister would be angry if he didn’t apologize. He had to calm her down.

"What the hell does her life or death have to do with you? I told you before, that little bitch is more vicious than a viper! That maggot-eaten brain of yours is no match for her. Just look! She’d even harm her own mother. One of these days, she’ll sell you out, and you’ll be none the wiser!"

Amanda Chapman gave him a few more kicks. She was now a hundred percent certain that Jacqueline Spann had killed Phoenix Golding. That little bitch was definitely ruthless enough to pull it off.

"Amanda, get out of there! You’ll freeze your feet!"

Tang Xiaonan was worried Amanda Chapman would get chilled. It was the dead of winter, and the water in the paddy field was close to freezing. It was one thing for boys to get a little cold, but girls couldn’t afford to get chilled.

She was also a little disappointed in Gentry Chapman, though not as furious as Amanda. She could understand his actions. Her cousin was just a soft-hearted kid. He probably couldn’t bear to see Jacqueline in trouble and gave her a well-intentioned warning. Besides, Gentry didn’t live around here, so he had no idea what Jacqueline was really like.

Amanda Chapman wanted to keep scolding him, but Patrick Thorne hauled her up out of the field. Tang Xiaonan dragged her over to a ditch to wash her feet, dried them with a towel, and then watched her intently as she put on her socks and cotton-padded shoes. ’If she doesn’t stay warm now, she’ll suffer terribly during her period later on.’

Patrick Thorne’s expression darkened. He lost all interest in catching loaches. He, too, wanted to find out if Jacqueline Spann was behind this, but how could they investigate?

"It won’t be easy to investigate," Ellie Ashton suggested. "It happened in the middle of the night, so there are no witnesses, and the body has already been buried. Why don’t we go to the police? We can have them look into it."

The police were professionals; they would surely be able to find out what had happened.

"Fourth Grandpa doesn’t like dealing with the police," Jim Thorne whispered.

’If Grandpa finds out we’re the ones who called the cops, he’ll beat us for sure. Our butts will be black and blue.’

’Getting a beating over that vixen Phoenix Golding just isn’t worth it.’ Jim Thorne thought it was pointless to worry about it. ’Who cares if Jacqueline did it or not? She’s dead, so what?’

Tang Xiaonan hesitated as well. Preston Thorne really didn’t like the police coming to the village; he was afraid it would reflect badly on them.

"How much have you caught?"

Adrian Hawthorne wheeled his bicycle over. He had just returned from Tristone, having spent a night in Vessaria. The moment he got back, he saw Tang Xiaonan with a serious expression, lost in thought, and decided to come over.

"Over half a bucket," Patrick Thorne said. "I’ll bring some over to you later."

Patrick Thorne sloshed the bucket, revealing it was crammed with eels and loaches, a layer of white foam floating on the surface. Adrian Hawthorne accepted without hesitation. He then pulled a package of snacks from his bag, opened it, and offered them to Jim Thorne and the others.

"Let me tell you, Phoenix Golding is dead. We think Jacqueline Spann did it..."

Jim Thorne walked over and broke the news to Adrian Hawthorne, who was genuinely taken aback. He had only been gone for a few days, yet he’d returned to such explosive news.

"Where’s Jacqueline Spann now?"

"Probably at home. Silas Golding and his son are handling the funeral arrangements," Patrick Thorne replied.