Chapter 71

Sophia's face was all business, her eyes blazing as she barked, "Take Laura back to the station."

She knew this case was a big deal and time was ticking. Before heading back herself, she turned to her team and said, "Tear Laura's house apart. Don't miss a thing."

Her team got the message loud and clear, nodding and hustling over to Laura's place to start the search.

Not long after, Sophia's phone buzzed. On the other end, a colleague's voice, a mix of excitement and fear, said, "Sophia, we found a hidden room in Laura's house! It was so well-hidden, we wouldn't have found it without a thorough search."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat. This was bigger than she thought. She quickly replied, "Keep searching, and be careful with what you find."

The officers carefully opened the hidden room, and a nauseating stench hit them instantly, making it hard to breathe.

They covered their noses and mouths, but despite the discomfort, they followed the smell to its source.

Soon, they discovered a body hidden in a suitcase. The suitcase was partially open, with part of the body exposed, creating a horrifying sight.

The medical examiner quickly arrived at the scene to conduct a preliminary examination and make an initial assessment.

Later, the team called Sophia again, their voices heavy with gravity. "Sophia, we found a body at the scene. The medical examiner estimates the person has been dead for over five days. Despite some attempts to preserve the body, the smell is still quite strong."

Sophia's eyes grew colder as she listened. "Got it. Send me the video from the scene. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll hang up now." With that, she ended the call and soon received the footage from her colleague.

Watching the video, Sophia walked straight up to Laura.

She thrust the video in front of Laura's face, her gaze piercing as she demanded, "Do you have anything to say?"

Laura's face turned as white as a sheet when she saw the footage, her already tense expression now marked by sheer terror. Her lips trembled as she stammered, "I... I have no idea what's going on."

Then, she froze as if paralyzed, before screaming in horror, "How could this be in my house? How could there be a hidden room in my house... I... I don't know!"

She clutched her head in agony, her hands pulling at her hair, her entire body shaking violently. Her emotions spiraled into a state of intense turmoil, teetering on the brink of a breakdown.

For the rest of the interrogation, no matter what Sophia asked, Laura only shook her head mechanically, repeatedly saying, "I really don't know."

Her voice, tinged with sobs, echoed eerily in the interrogation room.

Sophia, seeing Laura's state, knew that continuing to question her would yield no results.

She was anxious and at a loss when suddenly, the door to the interrogation room opened.

Frank hurried in, pushing Henry's wheelchair.

Henry's presence brought a different energy to the tense room.

When Sophia saw Henry, her eyes sparkled as if she had discovered a lifeline amidst the darkness. She said urgently, "I don't have time to celebrate your discharge. Take a look at her. Ever since she saw the video, she's been acting strange."

Henry nodded slightly and said in a steady voice. "It's likely a stress reaction. Don't worry; let me try."

He gently wheeled himself closer to Laura.

Softening his voice, he spoke soothingly, "Don't be afraid. Take deep breaths, relax, and then tell me what happened today."

His voice was low and gentle, carrying a reassuring strength.

Laura's eyes widened with fear, resembling a startled deer, and she trembled even more violently.

Her eyes were filled with terror and helplessness as she looked at Henry, still saying, "I... I don't know... I'm scared..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she convulsed violently, collapsing backward along with the chair, foaming at the mouth and losing consciousness.

Seeing this, Henry immediately said, "Get her to the hospital. Arrange for a special ward. Ensure her safety and closely monitor her condition."

Frank and the other officers quickly moved, lifting Laura onto a stretcher and rushing her to the hospital. The race against time in this investigation continued...