Chapter 17 Divine Protection
When Alison, Oliver, and Taylor arrived at the police station, Leo hadn't yet shown up.
Without sufficient evidence for arrest, the police could only repeatedly summon Leo for questioning. Each session lasted the maximum allowed twelve hours before he was released, only to be called back the following day.
It was now a race against time—Leo needed to clear his name before police found concrete evidence, while the investigators had to catch him before he could destroy any remaining proof.
Outside the interrogation room, they encountered Allan and a middle-aged man with a slight paunch and commanding presence.
Taylor and Allan mentioned he was the police chief. Oliver addressed him as "Uncle Bradley," revealing to Alison that Oliver was related to the head of the police department.
"Your aunt says you haven't been over for dinner lately. Is it because she keeps pressuring you about marriage?" Bradley Torres teased Oliver.
"You know how busy I've been," Oliver replied. He introduced Alison. "This is Alison, the religious studies and psychology expert I've specially appointed. She'll be assisting me today."
"Hello," Alison extended her hand. Bradley lightly touched it, his gaze lingering on her face. "I know you. When the department was recruiting criminal psychology analysts, someone recommended you, but..."
Bradley recalled that Alison had been rejected because of a detention record, but he tactfully avoided mentioning it publicly.
Alison smiled gratefully.
Oliver noticed the undercurrent between them and made a mental note to ask Bradley about it later.
Bradley was open-minded. If he hadn't been, he wouldn't have allowed Oliver to work as a consulting detective who only took cases that interested him. He harbored no prejudice against Alison. He gently warned her about the difficulty of interrogating Leo. "Leo knows the law and psychology. He knows we can't use harsh tactics, and he responds to all questions with nods, head shakes, or silence. He's a tough nut to crack."
Alison responded earnestly, "I'll give it my absolute best." Not for anyone else—for Lucy.
Bradley, seeing the clarity in her eyes, couldn't understand why someone like Alison had a criminal record.
As Leo's arrival time approached, Alison made a decision. She whispered something to Oliver and headed to the restroom.
After she left, Bradley's expression turned serious. "Oliver, you boasted to the higher-ups that you'd solve this case within two weeks. The deadline's almost up—can you deliver?"
"How is this my boast? They're the ones who forced the two-week timeline on me," Oliver crossed his arms and leaned back. "Leo is the killer. Once he confesses, the case is closed—with plenty of time to spare."
Bradley glared at him. "You're still so arrogant! You might be setting yourself up for a big fall!"
Oliver dismissed his concern with a wave.
Just then, Alison returned. The hair around her forehead and temples was wet, and her eyes looked unfocused.
Everyone noticed the change.
Taylor was secretly surprised—why was Alison triggering her condition now?
Bradley frowned, Allan looked confused, and Oliver stood up and walked directly to Alison, asking sternly, "What's going on?"
"I did it deliberately. In this state, I'm more sensitive to people's emotions and subtle psychological changes," Alison explained. She had filled a sink with water in the restroom and submerged her head, using the sensation of suffocation to trigger her prosopagnosia.
"You..." Oliver wanted to say "Was that really necessary?" but realizing Alison was doing this to uncover the truth, he couldn't bring himself to criticize her.
Five minutes later, Alison and Oliver entered the interrogation room and sat across from Leo. Bradley, Taylor, and Allan watched through the one-way mirror.
The interrogation began.
Oliver initiated the questioning. "How long has your dental practice been open?"
Leo replied, "Seven years."
Oliver asked, "When was the Mutual Fellowship founded?"
Leo remained silent.
Oliver added, "When did Landon, Linda, Quincy, Byron, and Lucy become your patients?"
Leo said, "Lucy wasn't a patient."
Oliver continued, "When did they join the Mutual Fellowship?"
Leo continued his silence.
The harsh fluorescent lights cast an eerie glow across the room. The silence amplified their breathing, their shadows long and distorted against the walls.
Leo sat with his hands folded on the table. His gaze swept over Alison, who hadn't spoken or taken notes. When their eyes met, her vacant stare made him uneasy.
Oliver maintained a relaxed posture and flashed a smile, as if they were at a casual tea party rather than an interrogation.
"Planning to drag this out? Being summoned every day must be exhausting. You might handle it, but can your family? Do your wife and son know what you've done?" Oliver pressed.
Leo didn't take the bait. "I've done nothing wrong."
Oliver changed tactics. "The crystal bracelets worn by Landon and Linda, the crystal decorations in Byron's and Quincy's homes—did you sell those to them?"
Leo shook his head. "I gave them as gifts. They frequently visited my practice. The crystals were mementos."
Alison finally spoke, "I've heard different crystals have different energy fields that can influence emotions and fortune. Have you studied that?"
Leo remained vigilantly silent, wary of this strange female officer.
Alison seemed unbothered by his lack of response. She pulled out a necklace from her collar—an ordinary red string with a teardrop-shaped crystal pendant.
"I bought this necklace five years ago in Aurora City. There's a famous mountain there called Firmament Peak with a shrine that locals say brings good fortune."
"The blessed crystals at the shrine cost $666. I thought it was too expensive, but the monk said crystals could have a positive psychological effect, though limited. He said it was fine not to buy one, which made me feel like I'd miss out if I didn't."
"I bought it, but when I got down the mountain, a taxi driver offered me the same crystal for just $333. I felt somewhat cheated. The next day in the old town, the same crystal was selling for $188, with the shopkeeper admitting the actual cost was less than $10."
"I was angry and wanted to return it, but it started pouring rain when I was halfway up the mountain. I had to turn back, and by nightfall, I discovered my hotel had caught fire—my room was completely burned."
Everyone was captivated by her story, including Leo, who listened quietly.
"If I hadn't gone up the mountain to return this necklace, I might have burned to death. And that heavy rain seemed like fate stopping me from returning the crystal. I've worn this necklace close to my body ever since."
Oliver's expression remained unchanged, though he mentally labeled her a "liar."
The necklace had appeared around Alison's neck for the first time today, and he had no idea when she'd prepared it.
Alison mused, "There are such mysterious energies in the world. The divine probably does exist. I was fortunate to be blessed once."
"Yes, you were fortunate," Leo agreed, then immediately realized his emotions and thoughts had been influenced by Alison's narrative. His expression changed noticeably.
Taylor, watching from outside, noticed Leo's reaction and grew excited. "Mr. Torres, I think we're making a breakthrough!"
Bradley gestured for him to be quiet as they continued observing the interrogation.
Alison posed another question. "But I haven't experienced any particularly lucky events since then, and this crystal hasn't helped me avoid misfortune either. Has its energy been depleted?"
Leo's lips moved as if to speak, but he remained silent, closing his eyes. His expression, however, revealed his inner turmoil.
"How many crystals do you have?" Alison asked. "How long does their energy last? How long will your god protect you?"
"God will protect me forever!" Leo's eyes suddenly snapped open.
"Really?" Alison challenged. "Yet you failed to escape the country. You're sitting here being interrogated, and when all your evil deeds are exposed, you'll be sentenced. By then, you'll realize your god has abandoned you—but it will be too late."