Chapter 14

It took some effort for him to push through the crowd.

Just in time to see the medics carrying out a stretcher.

Travis recognized the person on it—it was Benjamin, the accountant.

"You can't go in!"

A vigilant cop blocked Travis.

Travis flashed his badge and was finally let through.

Kian was standing in front of the wreckage.

"Captain Smith."

"What happened?" Travis asked, his face grim.

"I heard an explosion when I got here and immediately called the fire department and paramedics. Who would've thought it was Benjamin's place?"

Looking at the duplex that had turned into rubble and Benjamin's condition, the chances of survival seemed slim.

"Silenced!" Travis's face darkened.

After three hours, the last ember was extinguished.

The source of the explosion was found.

A gas leak caused by improper use.

Travis didn't buy it for a second.

A grown man living here for years, and the explosion just happens when they start finding clues?

Travis was certain it was deliberate.

"Assign someone to protect Benjamin. As long as he's alive, keep an eye on him. He must not be harmed again."

"Yes, sir!"

Kian saluted and hurried off.

Back at the station.

Elaine had also heard about the explosion at Benjamin's place.

"Any findings at the scene?" Elaine asked curiously.

Travis rubbed his forehead. "With that kind of explosion, what do you think?"

"Let's just hope Benjamin pulls through. Maybe he'll be willing to talk."

At the hospital.

Kian stood in front of the doctor. "Doctor, how is he?"

The doctor sighed. "He was very close to the explosion's epicenter."

"His body has extensive burns."

Kian stopped the doctor. "Just tell me, will he die?"

The doctor rolled his eyes. "He won't die, but even if he wakes up, he'll be disabled."

Hearing that he wouldn't die, Kian breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as he doesn't die."

"That's a pretty inhumane way of thinking!"

"Sorry, doctor, I misspoke."

Kian quickly ran into the ward.

For Benjamin's safety, Travis, Kelvin, and Kian took turns guarding outside the room.

Late into the night, Benjamin showed signs of waking up.

A faint cough made Travis stand up immediately.

Benjamin slowly opened his eyes, looking around in confusion.

"How do you feel?"

"I... Officer..."

Benjamin gave a bitter smile, which tugged at his burned skin, making his face pale.

"Alright, get some rest. We'll talk when you're better. I'll have someone protect you in the meantime."

Benjamin looked at Travis. "You know everything?"

"What do you think?"

Seeing Travis's expression, Benjamin said no more and closed his eyes.

After Travis left, Benjamin opened his eyes again.

Looking at the pitch-black night outside the window, Benjamin's eyes grew more determined.

The next morning.

Travis was woken by the ringing phone.

"Captain Smith, come to the hospital. Benjamin wants to see you."

Kelvin's voice came through the phone.

"Got it."

Travis dressed leisurely, even had breakfast at home, and then strolled to the hospital.

After a night of recovery, Benjamin could speak normally.

Seeing Travis arrive, Kelvin and Kian stood up immediately.

Travis waved them off and looked at Benjamin on the bed. "Ready to talk?"

"You knew all along," Benjamin said with a bitter smile.

"No, I just found out," Travis replied, looking at Benjamin. "When we first met, I was suspicious. You wanting to see me today confirms it."

"Tell me what you know."

Travis turned on the recorder and sat in front of Benjamin.

Benjamin took a deep breath and spoke softly. "The textile factory's closure was actually because of Ethan."

"He faked workplace injuries to claim insurance. As the accountant for years, I recorded all of Ethan's embezzlement."

"The bribes he received, the cash, and the gold were countless."

Travis interrupted, curious. "Wait, who would give so many gifts to a textile factory director"

"Because Ethan sold the factory," Benjamin said, shocking Travis.

"The year after the government policy changed, Ethan started selling off everything in the factory."

"The buildings, the land! Anything that could be turned into money, he sold."

"He even took out loans against the property, getting over nine million dollars in total."

Hearing the amount, Travis was stunned.

Nine million dollars in a year! Twenty years ago, that amount was even more significant.

"Where's the evidence?"

"I rented a safety deposit box at the bank. The records are in there."

Travis sat down, staring at Benjamin. "What about Mason? How much do you know about him?"

Benjamin quickly replied, "I really don't know about Mason. I only know he went abroad. That's all."

Travis stared into Benjamin's eyes, confirming he wasn't lying, then slowly stood up.

"Officer, how long will I be sentenced?"

"I just embezzled some money. Now that I'm providing this information, doesn't that count for something?"

"Wait for the judge's decision."

Travis left the hospital.

Using the code Benjamin provided, Travis retrieved the records from the bank's safety deposit box.

The records were detailed.

From amounts as small as a few thousand to as large as hundreds of thousands, everything was documented.

What surprised Travis was the 25 ounces of gold embezzled.

Comparing the gold prices then and now, 25 ounces was worth about a hundred thousand dollars.

And that was just under a year's record.

"Kelvin, go arrest Ethan immediately. Apply for two search warrants. I want to search Ethan's house and his café."

"Yes, sir!"

In the interrogation room.

Ethan sat in a wheelchair.

The glaring light made it hard for Ethan to keep his eyes open.

"Officer, what is this about?" Ethan asked angrily, looking at Travis.

Travis said nothing, placing a recorder in front of Ethan and turning it on.

Benjamin's clear voice filled the room.

After the recording finished, Travis placed the records in front of Ethan.

"Mr. Martinez, care to take a look?"

Ethan's face darkened. For some reason, Travis sensed something odd in Ethan's eyes.

Instead of being nervous, Ethan seemed relieved.

Sitting in his wheelchair, Ethan said, "Officer, this has nothing to do with me. No one filed a report. You're charging me with embezzlement based on a recording?"

"Is that proper procedure?"

Elaine stood up, ignoring Ethan's question, and began analyzing. "Mason had evidence of your embezzlement."

"To stop you from continuing, he decided to report you."