Free Web NovelChapter 53: Chapter 53: The Male Owner is Dead
DING— The fourth floor.
The elevator doors slowly slid open. Renee Jennings followed Kyle Morgan out of the car and stopped in front of apartment 403.
Staring at the familiar apartment number, Renee’s brow furrowed as a thought flashed through her mind.
"Boss, Miss Jennings is here," Kyle Morgan called out toward the living room.
Renee saw the woman from the other day sitting on the sofa, her face buried in her hands, her shoulders trembling with sobs.
Henry Stark sat on a stool opposite her. He glanced up at Renee and gave a slight nod. "Miss Jennings, Kai will brief you on the case first."
"Alright," Renee replied softly.
Kyle Morgan walked over to her and said in a low voice, "Miss Jennings, a body was discovered by a civilian on Mount Faelan. We’ve confirmed the deceased’s identity as Silas Lawson, thirty-eight years old. He was the man of this house."
Hearing this, the light in Renee’s eyes dimmed. She thought of Ginny, who had been waiting for the man of the house to return.
’She would never see him again.’
Kyle continued, "According to the medical examiner, the cause of death was a fall from a cliff."
Most people, upon hearing this, would probably assume Silas Lawson had either slipped and fallen while hiking or had taken his own life.
But Henry Stark sensed something was fishy based on Silas Lawson’s time of death and the receipt for a flower order found in his pocket.
The police visited the flower shop where Silas Lawson had placed the order. The clerk told them that when Silas ordered the flowers, he said he would be back the next day to pick them up to visit his mother at a nursing home.
Why would someone planning to visit his mother the next day take his own life?
They immediately ruled out the possibility of suicide.
As for an accidental fall—
Silas Lawson was wearing professional hiking gear, and his social media posts showed he was an avid hiker.
Generally speaking, the probability of an experienced hiker accidentally falling is quite low.
After listening to Kyle Morgan, Renee’s gaze returned to the woman on the sofa, her eyes darkening.
Just then, Mrs. Lawson, who had been sobbing quietly, choked out, "My husband was a good man. I’ve never seen him get into a conflict with anyone. I really can’t think of anyone he might have offended."
Renee couldn’t help but recall what Ginny had said on the way home the other day.
She took a few steps forward and said softly, "But Mrs. Lawson, from what I’ve heard, your husband’s temper wasn’t actually that good."
Hearing this, Mrs. Lawson looked up, her eyes swimming with tears. "Who are you? How do you know my husband?"
Renee looked at her confused expression and explained, "I came here with Ginny the day before New Year’s Eve. Have you forgotten, Mrs. Lawson?"
Mrs. Lawson frowned, thinking. Her expression changed slightly, and a flicker of unease crossed her eyes.
Kyle Morgan said with confusion, "Miss Jennings, are you sure you haven’t made a mistake? Silas Lawson’s accident had already happened by the day before New Year’s Eve."
"Is that so?" Renee frowned, feigning confusion. "Then, Mrs. Lawson, who was the man impersonating your husband that day?"
At these words, Henry Stark narrowed his eyes at Mrs. Lawson, his gaze deep and scrutinizing.
"He wasn’t impersonating anyone!" Mrs. Lawson’s eyes darted away as she lowered her gaze and said softly, "That was my cousin. Since you don’t know him, I didn’t think there was any need to explain." freewebnovel.cσ๓
"Oh, I see." Renee put on a look of sudden realization. "Does your cousin live with you?"
Mrs. Lawson said hurriedly, "No! He just comes over to visit sometimes!"
Renee said, "But I saw him in pajamas that day."
Mrs. Lawson clenched her fists, her nails digging lightly into her palms. "He... he got his clothes dirty that day, so I found him a set of clothes to change into while I washed his."
"I see." Renee raised an eyebrow, a sly smile playing on her lips.
Even if she hadn’t heard from Ginny that Mrs. Lawson was having an affair with her cousin, she wouldn’t have believed this explanation.
’Normally, if a guest of the opposite sex—even a cousin—dirtied their clothes, you’d give them a regular set of clothes to change into while theirs were being washed. Changing into pajamas is just too strange.’
Henry Stark said in a grave voice, "Mrs. Lawson, please give us your cousin’s contact information."
Mrs. Lawson looked at Henry and nodded calmly. "Alright."
Renee’s eyes swept around the room and landed on a fish tank between the sofa and the balcony’s glass doors. A few small goldfish were swimming around a piece of coral.
Noticing her gaze, Henry Stark got up and walked over to her. "Are you looking at the fish?"
She met his dark eyes. "Yeah."
"Do you have a way?"
Renee nodded slightly. "I’ll try."
Mrs. Lawson watched her walk up to the fish tank and gently tap the glass with her knuckle.
Seeing this, Henry Stark spoke coolly, "Mrs. Lawson, you said earlier that you didn’t look for Mr. Lawson because you thought he was spending the New Year with his mother at the nursing home, is that correct?"
Mrs. Lawson’s attention was diverted. "Yes, in previous years he has also..."
"Hello there, Fisher," Renee said, leaning down slightly to greet the goldfish through the glass.
Drawn by her gentle voice, the three little goldfish swished their tails and swam to the front of the tank, communicating through bubbles.
"Big Sis, Second Sis, this human is so pretty."
"It seems like she’s talking to us."
"The house is so lively today. Why are there so many humans here?"
Renee heard their words and whispered, "Because the man of the house is dead. The human police found out and are here to investigate."
But The Goldfish Sisters weren’t surprised at all.
The eldest goldfish sister gurgled, "We already knew the man of the house was dead. Humans are so dumb, only finding out now."
"Oh, so it’s about that. How boring." With that, the second sister turned and swam away.
A look of astonishment flashed in Renee’s eyes. "You already knew?"
Little Goldfish stared curiously at Renee with her bulging eyes. "Human, you’re so pretty, and you can actually understand us! Can you blow me a kiss?"
At this, Renee’s eyes curved into a smile. "I can, but can you answer a few questions for me?"
Little Goldfish cleverly bargained, "One question for one blown kiss."
"Deal," Renee agreed readily.
Seeing Renee amusing herself with the goldfish, Mrs. Lawson breathed a small sigh of relief.
’I was a little scared when that woman started questioning me, but it looks like there’s nothing to worry about after all.’
After finishing her chat with Little Goldfish and honoring her promise with a few blown kisses, Renee returned to Henry Stark’s side.
The man glanced at her and asked in a soft voice, "Any luck?"
"Yes." Renee nodded, then shot a look at Mrs. Lawson, her voice turning several degrees colder. "I suggest we take her back to the station."
Henry Stark understood completely. He said coolly, "Mrs. Lawson, we’ll have to ask you to come with us."
Hearing she had to go to the police station, Mrs. Lawson’s heart sank. A wave of panic hit her, but she forced herself to remain calm. "I’ve already said everything there is to say. If there’s anything else you want to know, ask me here. I’m not going to the station. After what’s happened, I’m really not in the mood to go out."
Henry Stark narrowed his eyes at her, his expression grim. His deep voice held a tone that left no room for argument: "Mrs. Lawson, please cooperate with the police investigation."
