Chapter 64 A School Counselor

"Mr. Williams, we've got it. The café in the photo is in Rosewood City. It's called 'Eye of the Mist.'"

"And it's right near Rosewood High School!"

My heart dropped.

Could the "Mentor" be in Rosewood City and hiding out at the school? 

I stared hard at the tech department's report.

That shiny metal object was confirmed to be a uniquely designed ring.

The ring had some weird symbols carved on it, like the twisted ones in the library books.

"Alan, get in touch with the Rosewood City police right away and have them help us with the investigation!"

I ordered while grabbing my coat and heading out of the office.

"We're going to Rosewood High School now."

The police car sped down the muddy roads after the rain.

The scenery outside blurred past, and my anxiety grew with the car's speed.

This time, I had to catch the mastermind.

I had to get justice for Ralph.

I had to free those controlled by the "Mentor" from his grip.

I looked out the window.

The sky over Rosewood City was gloomy.

Dark clouds loomed like a giant beast over the city.

A sudden sense of foreboding washed over me, like something terrible was about to happen.

The gates of Rosewood High School were tightly shut. The police tape was still up.

The air was thick with tension.

We showed our badges and entered the school.

The school administrator, a bald man in a suit, greeted us.

He was cooperative, but there was a hint of hidden wariness in his eyes.

I sent Alan and Brian to get the school's surveillance footage.

They were to focus on suspects who had entered the crime scene before and after the incident.

Sophia and I, with the help of the school administration, began our investigation. Our target was anyone matching the "Mentor's" profile.

"According to Louis's description, the 'Mentor' is a man between 30 and 40 years old, with extensive knowledge in psychology, and likely has some connection to the school," Sophia said, looking at the files in her hand.

We reviewed the list of individuals aged 30 to 40 with a deep understanding of psychology compiled by the school administration. The information was comprehensive but not detailed, covering basic introductions and school performance for each person.

Names flashed before our eyes.

I carefully noted each suspicious target.

At the same time, I had Sophia conduct psychological profiling.

We couldn't afford to miss any clues.

"There's one person I find very suspicious." Sophia pointed to a name on the list. Her gaze lingered on it.

I looked at the information for the person she indicated: Lawrence Edwards, who was 35 years old and unmarried, worked as a school counselor and held a master's degree in psychology. During his time at the school, he was quiet and solitary.

Sophia's finger lightly traced Lawrence's name. "His resume is too perfect, almost unreal. And as a school counselor, he has easy access to students with psychological issues. If he wanted to control them, it would be a piece of cake."

I agreed with Sophia's assessment.

A school counselor is indeed in a unique position.

He could easily reach the most vulnerable parts of a student's psyche.

If he was twisted and manipulative towards his students, the consequences would be unimaginable.

I immediately had Brian pull up more detailed information on Lawrence to see if we could find any clues.

Brian quickly sent over the files.

Lawrence's personal information was ordinary, nothing stood out.

He had been a good student since childhood, excelled academically, and became a school counselor at Rosewood High School after graduating from college.

His social circle was small, with few friends outside of colleagues.

I stared at Lawrence's file. His photo was a typical ID picture, with black-rimmed glasses, neatly combed hair, and a calm expression that felt unsettling, like a calm sea hiding turbulent undercurrents.

"He's very good at hiding his true self," Sophia said seriously. "People like him are often the most dangerous. They know how to use their appearance and profession to mask their inner darkness."

"Brian, get a search warrant immediately. We need to search Lawrence's place!"

I gave the order, my heart racing, sensing that the truth was about to surface.

The search warrant was approved quickly.

I led Alan and a few officers to Lawrence's residence, an old apartment in the school housing complex.

The door opened, and a strong medicinal smell hit us, making me nauseous.

The room was dimly lit, with the curtains tightly drawn, making it feel more like a dark chamber than a home.

The walls were covered with psychology posters, and the shelves were filled with psychology books, academic works, and therapy manuals piled high.

I even saw some very old psychology books on the top shelf.

The pages were yellowed, filled with dense notes.

I scanned the room, frowning. This place felt more like a lab for a fanatical psychology researcher than a counselor's home.

The whole room had an eerie vibe.

"Mr. Williams, look here!"

Alan pointed to a table covered with various medications, bottles, and jars filled with unknown pills and liquids, none of them labeled.

I picked up a bottle and opened it, the pungent smell making me dizzy.

I called Zoey over to test the substances.

She put on gloves and carefully took samples.

Her expression grew more serious, as if she had discovered something alarming.

"These medications contain large amounts of sedatives and antipsychotics, along with some unknown chemicals. These ingredients are very dangerous. Long-term use could cause severe harm to the body," Zoey said, clearly angry.

I looked at the neatly arranged bottles on the table, feeling a chill down my spine. What was Lawrence doing?

What were these drugs for? Were they used to control the students?

"Mr. Williams, come quickly, there's something here!"

Brian pointed to a computer. The desk was cluttered with books and papers, and the screen was on a psychology forum page.