Chapter 105 The Body Bag Manufacturer
Arabella's body shook violently as she shook her head. "No way, how could..."
She thought of that innocent, sweet girl, and her heart ached with sharp pain. She'd taken over Naomi's case from Daniel and promised to help see it through to the end.
She never expected that in just a few short days, Naomi would be dead.
Alexander gave her a simplified version of what happened, avoiding the worst details. "In the end, Naomi chose death herself. She could have escaped."
Arabella kept shaking her head. "Impossible. How could that be? Naomi wasn't stupid—if she could escape, why wouldn't she? Your friend's information must be wrong. The police haven't even released anything yet. Maybe it's all a misunderstanding."
Seeing her unwillingness to accept reality, Alexander sighed softly and didn't push. "Then let's wait for news from the police."
He'd told her early mainly hoping she'd have some mental preparation.
His phone buzzed—Roy calling. Alexander stepped away from Arabella and asked in a low voice, "Did you find them?"
Roy's voice carried frustration. "They ran too fast, didn't catch them. But there were two body bags at the scene. I'm tracking where they came from now—might be able to follow the trail."
Alexander hummed in response, his expression unreadable as he stared out the window. After a long moment, he turned back to Arabella's side.
"Have some water first." He poured a glass and handed it to her.
Arabella took it, but her hands were trembling. Alexander knew that despite her verbal denial, she already believed most of it in her heart.
Just then, Arabella's phone rang. It was the police, their voice heavy with grief: "Ms. Bourbon, please come down to the station now. Naomi and her mother... they've been killed."
Alexander rushed Arabella to the police station as quickly as possible, where they saw the bodies of Naomi and her mother.
The little girl was still wearing the white dress Arabella had helped her change into that morning, now stained with blood—a shocking red. She'd been shot three times, all aimed at her heart. That location should have been fatal with one shot, but they'd fired three times, clearly venting their rage.
Beside her lay her mother. This was Arabella's first time seeing the woman—Billy's ex-wife. She'd felt nothing for her before, but now, seeing her gentle face, thin shoulders, and the thick calluses on her palms, she felt overwhelming grief.
Arabella slowly pulled the white sheet back over them.
Alexander supported her from beside. "The police will help us find the killer."
Arabella nodded, took several deep breaths to push down the grief and tears, and steadied her emotions before asking the police, "Have the perpetrators been caught?"
Seeing two vibrant lives lost, the police officer felt terrible too. "We didn't catch anyone at the scene, but this case has caught attention from above. A special task force was formed an hour ago to thoroughly investigate."
Arabella wanted to laugh, wanted to tell Naomi: 'See, your mother's disappearance finally got the attention it deserved.' But it came at the cost of their lives. If only they were still alive.
Tears welled up in her eyes again. She exhaled softly and thanked the police.
The officer continued, "We investigated the deceased's social connections. The girl's mother hadn't contacted her family in years. When we reached out, they refused to come claim the body. There are no other relatives. If you don't take responsibility either, we'll send them directly to the funeral home."
Before Arabella could speak, Alexander said, "We'll handle it. I'll contact someone to come get them."
Arabella was stunned. She and Naomi had only met briefly—even by the time Naomi died, they'd only met twice. Of course, she hadn't planned to abandon them. She could afford to arrange a proper funeral for this pitiful mother and daughter, find them a burial plot to be laid to rest together. It wouldn't cost much.
But she was surprised that Alexander didn't try to back out. According to his previous approach, he would have split the cost with her. Arabella felt conflicted. Alex was generous, but she couldn't take advantage of him. She decided she absolutely wouldn't let Alexander pay when the time came.
Hearing Alexander's words, the police officer looked relieved. After a pause, he pulled out a small backpack and handed it to Arabella. "This is Naomi's school bag. We found some medication inside—antidepressants. She had moderate depression, which might be why she ultimately chose to die with her mother."
Arabella took the bloodstained little backpack, and for a moment she seemed to see Naomi bouncing toward her with it on her back, her smile bright and pure.
Arabella swallowed the lump in her throat and thanked the police.
Soon after, the people Alexander had called arrived, and the two bodies were loaded into the hearse bound for the funeral home.
At the funeral home, they began arranging cremation. Thanks to Alexander's connections, cremation was scheduled for fifteen minutes later.
Arabella sat in the waiting room. Staff brought coffee and snacks, but she had no appetite, just stared blankly at the bodies outside.
Naomi had seen her mother die and actively chose death. When she realized the person who cared most for her was gone, that no one else in this world would shield her from wind and rain, love her unconditionally—did she feel that living or dying made no difference?
She chose this way to stay by her mother's side forever, to always have her mother's protection, to remain her mother's most beloved treasure.
Arabella remembered three years ago, the day her mother died.
The car accident happened at dusk in pouring rain. She knelt before her mother's body—the woman who had loved her for twenty-seven years. The little bird that had been sheltered under protective wings suddenly faced the baptism of storm.
In that moment, her feelings were bewildered. The most important person in her life, someone like faith and support, had completely left her from that moment on.
In this world, children who lose their mothers are like unprotected fledglings—their feelings are probably all the same. Arabella could deeply understand Naomi's emotions.
One wall away, Alexander had just received a call from Roy.
"Mr. FitzRoy, we found the body bag manufacturer. It's a small workshop—the owner is called Jake, Mandy's brother."
Alexander's casual gaze sharpened when he heard Mandy's name. "Did you find him?"
Roy sounded embarrassed. "We were a step too late. Two hours ago, he boarded a plane overseas."
Alexander pondered for a moment. "Keep an eye on things. The Gomez siblings are problematic. Mandy's death was suspicious and we haven't figured out why, and now Jake's involved in this—it's not normal."
Roy was startled. "You think Jake was behind Naomi and her mother's deaths?"
He'd thought finding Jake just gave them another channel to understand the kidnappers—Jake sold body bags, so he must have met the kidnappers.
He hadn't expected Mr. FitzRoy to suspect Jake directly.
Somewhat confused, he said, "But Jake had no grudge against Naomi and her mother."
Alexander's voice was steady. "Mandy committed suicide in prison. Maybe he blamed Billy for it, and going after Naomi and her mother isn't impossible."
Roy finally understood, his voice becoming much more serious. "Alright, I'll immediately have people watch Jake's relatives and factory domestically, and start surveillance abroad once we locate him."
Alexander acknowledged this. Seeing Arabella coming out, he immediately said, "That's all for now."
He hung up and walked to Arabella, asking gently as if nothing had happened, "Are you cold?"
Though it was a question, he was already taking off his suit jacket. The air conditioning was strong here, and the atmosphere was too heavy—he was afraid Arabella might be scared.
Arabella managed a smile, thanked him, and sighed softly, "I feel like ever since I met you, many things have become much simpler. You really have extensive connections."
Like with Naomi and her mother's situation—if he hadn't asked people to help and gotten advance notice of their deaths, she would have been heartbroken at the police station for quite a while and wouldn't have calmed down so quickly. Plus, all the funeral arrangements had been taken care of.
She still remembered how helpless and devastated she'd been when handling her mother's affairs.
Now, the same type of situation had become effortless with Alexander's help, barely requiring any worry on her part.
So she was genuinely grateful to Alexander and truly amazed—being in sales really was different. Just the accumulated connections could bring such convenience to life.
Seeing her state was better than before, Alexander knew she'd emerged from her initial emotional breakdown and felt somewhat relieved. He bent down to button up her jacket, saying casually, "We're family. My connections will be yours from now on."
The way he said it seemed meaningful.
Arabella's heart fluttered slightly, and she pushed down that strange feeling.
Soon it was time for cremation. Arabella watched as Naomi and her mother were wheeled in, her mood growing heavy again.
Before long, staff brought out two urns.
Alexander had arranged for a burial plot through his connections. Since Arabella wasn't a direct relative and didn't want any ceremony, they chose same-day burial.
When everything was settled, Arabella placed a bouquet of flowers and some fruit at their grave as an offering.
Looking at the tombstone showing the brightly smiling little girl, her heart ached as she whispered, "May you have no suffering in heaven."
Meanwhile...
"We were a step too late. Two hours ago, he boarded a plane overseas."
At Watson Group, Leo stood before Anthony, reporting respectfully.
Hearing this, Anthony set down his pen with a half-smile. "Smart of him. Otherwise, he'd have met the same fate as his sister."
Leo hesitated. "Should we still send people to..."
Anthony waved dismissively, unconcerned. "No need. Whoever's investigating Mandy, with the Gomez siblings now one dead and one fled, there's no need to keep investigating. I doubt they have the ability to track Jake's movements anyway."
Leo nodded. "Alright, then I'll clean up the traces Jake left domestically."
Anthony acknowledged, and Leo respectfully withdrew.
Overseas...
Jake had just gotten off the plane when his good friend called. "Hey Jake, about what you asked me to investigate—I found some clues. Do you know why your sister was arrested by police?"
Jake's expression darkened. "For violating company policy and taking bribes."
If headquarters hadn't suddenly sent down investigators, Mandy wouldn't have been arrested and would still be fine!
His buddy laughed. "I knew you didn't get the full story. Mandy was arrested because someone reported her—this was just downplayed within their company."
Hearing this, Jake's eyes immediately turned cold as he pressed, "Who reported her?"
"A woman named Arabella," his friend replied. "She's a company salesperson who jumped from intern to sales team leader in just over four months. She reported Mandy because Mandy and Billy were conspiring to steal her commission. After she reported to headquarters, they sent people to audit the books, and Mandy was arrested within a day."
Jake's eyes turned vicious. "Arabella!"
So it was her! The real culprit behind Mandy's death!
His friend hesitated before trying to persuade him: "I know you and Mandy were close since childhood, but Mandy was genuinely in the wrong here. We don't know why she committed suicide either. I don't think we can hold Arabella responsible for this."
Jake's expression was ugly as he replied dismissively, "Right, I get it. Thanks for this."
His friend laughed. "We're brothers—no need to be polite."
After hanging up, Jake sat down by a stone pillar outside the airport. He'd left in a hurry—after Anthony left his place, he'd quickly realized he might get in trouble if he stayed in the country, so he'd frantically packed and left.
His luggage was a mess—two torn backpacks and one large suitcase.
He was considering whether to return to the country.
That woman named Arabella had harmed his sister but was still living freely. Why should she?
He wanted to make her pay in blood!
But if he returned, what if both Anthony and whoever was investigating Mandy targeted him? Would he have any way out?
He wasn't stupid—he knew Anthony spared him not out of mercy, but because he didn't want blood on his hands. But if Jake dared cause trouble, Anthony would be the first to eliminate him.
Just like this time when he'd accidentally killed Naomi and her mother.
After thinking it over, Jake made a call back home.
"Bro, you busy lately?"
After some small talk, he got to the point: "Do me a favor—help me investigate this person named Arabella. See what kind of family she has."
Back home...
Arabella slept through the night and felt much better emotionally. The next morning when she got up, she saw Alexander busy in the kitchen. She walked over and asked, "Are you making breakfast?"
She looked curiously into the pot—soup.
Alexander turned to smile at her. "Morning. Want to eat together? It's chicken soup, nutritious. You've looked haggard these past few days."
Arabella looked at the pot again and didn't refuse. "Sure, I'll have a bowl in a bit."
She turned to go wash up, but after just two steps, she heard Alexander say, "Don't move."
He walked over, approaching her. His tall frame seemed about to envelop her. Arabella felt him very close—his body heat penetrating through fabric, dominantly pressing against her skin.
His breathing, his heartbeat... as if right in her ear.
She inexplicably grew nervous, not even daring to turn her head. She swallowed unnaturally and asked, "What... what's wrong?"
Alexander raised his hand to her neck. His large, warm palm made Arabella instinctively shrink her neck, her heart beating erratically out of control.
Her mind raced in panic: 'God, what's wrong with me?'