Free Web NovelChapter 237: Chapter 240: Forcing Him to a Dead End
"Felix, I understand what you’re saying." Kevin Collins looked at Felix Preston, a helpless expression in his eyes. "But I’m a police officer. The police need evidence to build a case. Without evidence, no one can touch Willow Quincy."
Felix Preston had been up for a full day and night, and his eyes were completely bloodshot. But no matter how Jackson Shaw tried to persuade him, he stubbornly refused to rest.
"If there’s no evidence, then find some! If we just keep floundering around like this, something’s going to happen to Charlotte sooner or later."
Kevin Collins clicked his tongue, clearly displeased. "Felix, what’s that supposed to mean?"
"Collins," Jackson Shaw said, putting a hand on Felix Preston’s shoulder to explain on his behalf. "Felix didn’t mean anything by it. He’s not trying to question your work, and he’s definitely not trying to blame you. He’s just incredibly anxious. Charlotte was taken by Willow Quincy, and he’s been so worried he hasn’t slept a wink in a day and a night. That’s why he’s speaking so bluntly."
"He’s usually a very polite kid. Don’t be angry, and please don’t hold it against him."
"I... I’m not trying to blame him, either." Kevin Collins rested his hands on his knees, his tightly furrowed brow revealing a deep exhaustion. "I understand how Felix feels, and I’m very worried about Charlotte too. But my position comes with restrictions on everything I do."
"I know Willow Quincy has the motive and is a suspect, and I know we should be investigating other angles. But we really don’t have any other evidence."
"Willow Quincy is the one in charge of the Quincy Group; he has just as much power as I do. If I use unconventional methods to investigate him, he’ll definitely retaliate, and that will make Charlotte’s case much harder to solve."
Jackson Shaw sighed in frustration. "So what do we do now? We have no evidence, and we can’t touch Willow Quincy. Are we supposed to just sit back and wait for him to slip up on his own?"
Kevin Collins said, "I’ve already submitted an application to my superiors. The special task force will be here tonight. Charlotte won’t just disappear like this. Please, trust me, and trust the police."
"Uncle Collins."
Felix Preston suddenly stood up from the sofa and bowed to Kevin Collins. "I was out of line earlier. I apologize, Uncle Collins. Thank you for going to so much trouble for Charlotte."
"Ah..." Kevin Collins waved his hand dismissively. "We’re all family here, no need for all that. I know you’re a good kid with no ill intentions."
"Sit down. A tall guy like you just standing there is making me feel pressured."
"Thank you, Uncle Collins." Felix Preston obediently sat down.
Jackson Shaw patted his shoulder and forced a smile. "I’ve known your Uncle Collins for decades. He won’t take what you said in the heat of the moment to heart."
Felix Preston nodded. "Mm."
Kevin Collins continued, "I wasn’t finished with what I was saying. While my position makes it difficult for me to take unconventional measures, you can."
Felix Preston took off his glasses and rubbed his sore, bloodshot eyes. "Uncle Collins, you mean..."
"You can make Charlotte’s disappearance a huge deal." Kevin Collins looked at him, unconsciously lowering his voice. "Charlotte is an internet celebrity with over ten million followers across all platforms. The more fans she has, the more traffic and attention it will generate. If you leak the news of her disappearance, the entire internet will be watching."
"Public opinion online is a terrifying thing. If this blows up, Willow Quincy and the entire Quincy Family will be severely affected."
"The Quincy Family’s foundation is the Quincy Group. Once public opinion erupts, the Quincy Group will suffer. And once the Quincy Group is in trouble, Willow Quincy will be more likely to make a mistake. At that point, it will be much easier for us, the police, to move in."
"But if we do that, won’t Charlotte be in danger?" Jackson Shaw asked worriedly. "Willow Quincy is a madman. If we back him into a corner, what will happen to Charlotte?"
"...Willow Quincy won’t let anything happen to Charlotte." Felix Preston put his glasses back on, his gaze exceptionally firm. "Willow Quincy is obsessed with Charlotte. He kidnapped her because he wants *her*. Even if he’s backed into a corner, he would never let anything happen to her. The worst-case scenario is that he gets desperate and tries to flee the country with her."
"Exactly." Kevin Collins completely agreed with Felix Preston. "Willow Quincy’s motive for the kidnapping is the person, not money. I’m only suggesting you blow this up because I’m certain of that fact."
"Although we can’t do anything to Willow Quincy right now, he is a person of interest, which means he can’t leave Aethelburg or Veridia before the case is closed. Our officers are monitoring his movements at all times. If we detect any attempt to leave, we will detain him immediately. So you don’t need to worry about him escaping the country."
"What you need to do now is spread the news of Charlotte’s disappearance as widely as possible, and you need to direct the suspicion toward Willow Quincy and the Quincy Family. At the same time, Shaw Technologies needs to target the Quincy Group as much as possible in the business world to put them in a difficult position. That way, it won’t just be us trying to force Willow Quincy to slip up. Once the Quincy Family can’t take the pressure, they’ll start causing trouble for him themselves."
"Leave the trouble-making to me." Mason Shaw had also pulled an all-nighter and had only managed to get less than two hours of sleep in his room before rushing back out.
He descended the stairs as he put on his clothes, his face dark and cold.
"They dared to kidnap Mason Shaw’s sister. I’ll make the entire Quincy Family learn what a truly nasty business war looks like."
"Good." Kevin Collins gave him an appreciative look.
He came down the stairs, walked up behind Felix Preston, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Felix, you handle spreading the news online. I’ll handle destroying the Quincy Group."
"Okay," Felix Preston said.
Kevin Collins didn’t stay at the Shaw residence for long. After saying what needed to be said, he got up and returned to the police station.
With Evan Yates holding down the fort at the studio, Felix Preston wasn’t in a hurry to go back. He went to his room, took a shower, changed his clothes, and then hurried downstairs to look after the baby.
After going home last night, Brianna Bell had another crying spell and literally cried herself unconscious. She was now lying in a hospital bed. Hannah Sutton hadn’t even had time to go home before rushing to the hospital to take care of her.
Mrs. Preston wasn’t doing much better. She hadn’t slept a wink all night, and in the morning, she had rushed off to her class at the center. But she wasn’t paying attention on the stairs, took a fall, and injured her foot. Now she was at home, unable to even get out of bed.
Lynn Preston had to stay by her side to watch her, making it impossible for her to get away.
In the entire large household, the only ones left to look after the baby were Felix Preston, Jackson Shaw, and a maternity nurse.
Jackson Shaw was getting old, and after a sleepless night, he was struggling to stay awake. Felix Preston didn’t feel completely at ease leaving the baby entirely in the maternity nurse’s care, so after some thought, he took on the task of looking after the baby himself.
"Preston?!"
"Preston, are you home?"
Just as Evan Yates arrived at the door, Felix Preston had finished feeding Sandy her milk.
"I’m here!" he called back from upstairs.
Evan Yates called out, "Preston, I need to talk to you! It’s urgent!!"
