Free Web NovelChapter 69: Chapter 69: Eileen Coleman’s True Cause of Death
"Aargh—" Old Hag Crawford cried out in pain. "My foot!"
Renee deliberately ground her heel in. She caught a glimpse of the Old Hag’s contorted face out of the corner of her eye, a small smile touching her lips as she walked straight toward the apartment building.
"You little brat, you stepped on me!" Old Hag Crawford shrieked at her retreating back.
Renee didn’t break her stride, looking calm and unbothered.
Up on the third floor, she stood at her front door clutching the turtle tank, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
She set the turtle tank on the shoe cabinet and took out her key. Inside, the apartment was quiet. Only her three furry children were sitting on the sofa.
The moment they saw her, all three furry children sprang into action, leaping from the sofa and swarming her with their requests.
"Renee, Kitty wants a treat stick!"
"Renee, I want to go play outside!"
"Renee..."
Renee agreed to each request, then asked, "Where’s my mom?"
Blueberry raised a little paw. "Our mom and sister went to pick up the kids from school."
"Oh, I see." Renee breathed a sigh of relief. Her eyes swept around the room, landing on the small coffee table.
’That spot’s perfect for the turtle.’
She cleared off the coffee table and carried the turtle tank over.
"Renee, what’s that?" Cici asked curiously.
Blueberry jumped in to answer, "I know what that is. It’s an old bastard."
Bella asked in confusion, "Why would Renee bring an old bastard home?"
Hearing Blueberry call it an old bastard, the Slider was instantly furious. "You dusty, stinky cat! Who are you calling an old bastard?"
"Who are you calling dusty?" Blueberry got angry too, leaping onto the sofa and raising a paw, ready to smack the Slider.
The Slider, confident in its protective shell, taunted, "Well, aren’t you dusty? Have you ever had a bath? You’re absolutely filthy!"
"You— I’m absolutely furious!" Blueberry’s fur stood on end. It arched its back, eyes blazing with aggression, poised to attack.
Renee never thought she’d live to see a cat and a turtle arguing.
She found it both hilarious and exasperating.
She scooped Blueberry, who looked ready to smash the turtle tank, into her arms. "The turtle is a new member of our family. You two are not allowed to fight."
"Renee, it called me a dusty, filthy cat!" Blueberry complained pitifully, nestled in its owner’s arms.
The Slider was no pushover, and immediately retorted, "Renee, it started it! It called me an old bastard first. It has no manners."
"But you *are* an old bastard," the blue cat glared at the Slider.
The Slider sighed dramatically. "Can anyone even understand my pain? When you meet an unreasonable cat... this turtle’s life is just too hard."
Renee played peacemaker, and it took a long time to get the cat and the turtle to finally quiet down.
The sound of a key in the lock came from the front door.
Rhea Dempsey and Diana Jennings were back with the children.
Rhea Dempsey opened the door and saw Renee on the sofa, her three furry children snuggled up beside her. "I just ran into Old Hag Crawford downstairs. She said you stepped on her foot and is demanding we pay her medical bills."
"She’s crazy," Renee said with a look of disgust. "I was carrying a turtle tank, and she deliberately stuck her foot out to trip me. As if I’d let her. I just stomped right on it." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Rhea Dempsey laughed. "Good for you."
Her gaze fell to the turtle tank on the coffee table, and her smile froze. "You’re planning on keeping a turtle now?"
"Can I?" Renee asked, her eyes shining with hope.
Rhea Dempsey said, exasperated, "You’ve already brought it home. What am I going to do, say no?"
Renee’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "I knew it! You’re the gentlest, kindest, most beautiful mom in the entire world!"
"Oh, stop with the flattery," Rhea Dempsey said, pretending to be annoyed.
Zane and Jasmine dropped their little backpacks and crowded around the turtle tank, their young faces filled with surprise and curiosity.
Suddenly the center of attention, the Slider grew a little shy and retreated into its shell.
Jasmine exclaimed, "Zane, look! The turtle hid in its shell! That’s so cool!"
A smile touched Zane’s lips. "Neat!"
Blueberry watched the scene, growing even more resentful of the Slider.
’Normally, when the two little humans get home, they play with us right away. But now, that old bastard has stolen all their attention! Sooner or later, I’m going to knock that old bastard out with one swat!’
**
「Late at night. Emberwood Apartments.」
Daphne Dalton stepped out of a black Mercedes-Benz. She was wearing a black Chanel dress and high heels, carrying a black Gucci handbag.
She waved to the person inside the car, a sweet smile on her face. "See you next time, Young Master Zane."
The black Mercedes sped off.
Daphne Dalton stood under the dim yellow light of a streetlamp, fished a cigarette out of her bag, and lit it.
She turned, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions as she stared at the spot where Eileen Coleman had fallen to her death.
"Miss Dalton." A voice called out from behind her.
Daphne Dalton spun around. Seeing Henry Stark and Kyle Morgan, her expression changed instantly, her tone tinged with defiance. "What are you doing here again?"
Henry Stark said calmly, "We have a few more questions. We need you to come down to the station, Miss Dalton."
"I’m not going." Daphne Dalton’s brow furrowed. "I’ve already told you everything. When will you people give it a rest? Stop bothering me!" freewebnovёl.ƈom
Kyle Morgan spoke sternly. "This is an official police investigation. We need your cooperation, Miss Dalton."
Daphne Dalton snapped, "Eileen Coleman committed suicide by jumping off the building. What’s the point of asking the same questions over and over?"
Henry Stark watched her agitated state and said, without any hurry, "If I’m not mistaken, that dress you’re wearing... it belonged to Eileen Coleman, didn’t it?"
The color drained from Daphne Dalton’s face. "Wh-what are you talking about?"
A faint smile played on Henry Stark’s lips. "You seemed so grief-stricken yesterday when you gave your statement, Miss Dalton. Today, you’re like a completely different person. Don’t you want to find out the true cause of Eileen Coleman’s death?"
"I... I’m not!" Daphne Dalton’s eyes darted about guiltily. "Didn’t Eileen jump? What other ’true cause of death’ could there be?"
Henry Stark watched her reaction, his face unreadable. "A citizen provided us with a tip. At the time of the incident yesterday, there was another person in your apartment besides Eileen Coleman."
Daphne Dalton snapped her head up to look at him, her eyes wide with shock.
She wasn’t shocked because there had been another person in the apartment; she was shocked that someone had seen them.
"Surprised?" Henry Stark watched her, a ghost of a smile on his face.
Daphne Dalton opened and closed her mouth. After a long moment, she finally said, "I don’t know anything! Just stop asking me!"
With that, she turned and fled into Emberwood Apartments.
Henry Stark stared after her, his dark brows furrowed in thought.
Kyle Morgan said in a low voice, "That reaction... she obviously knows something."
Once upstairs, Daphne Dalton looked down from her balcony. Not seeing Henry Stark or Kyle Morgan, she let out a sigh of relief.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.
At 4:30 AM, someone, half-asleep, heard a heavy, sickening THUD.
At 6:30 AM, the old woman selling breakfast pushed her cart up to Emberwood Apartments. She saw a body lying in a pool of blood and let out a terrified scream.
