Chapter 196: Investigation

Chapter 196: Investigation

Like he was being stalked by some predator, sweat kept beading down his back, soaking through his shirt.

"You feeling all right?"

James suddenly spoke up.

"What?"

Leroy froze.

"I'm fine. Really."

"Is that so."

James nodded.

"You look a little pale. Thought maybe you were coming down with something."

Leroy forced out a dry laugh.

"Probably just tired. Lot going on at the company."

"I bet."

James said slowly.

"Things have been pretty rough in Pinecrest City lately. Plenty to deal with. Cedric goes down, and suddenly half the city can't sleep at night."

Leroy's chest tightened. Here it comes. The real reason he's here.

He managed a weak smile.

"Yeah. Nobody saw that coming."

"The Martinez family was pretty tight with Cedric back in the day, weren't they?"

James asked, his tone casual, like he was just making conversation.

Leroy nearly jumped out of his seat.

"No! No!"

He waved his hands frantically.

"Mr. Anderson, you've got it wrong. The Martinez family just does business. We never get involved in that kind of thing."

"What we had with him was purely professional. Nothing more."

"Is that right."

James smiled faintly, offering no argument. But that smile made Leroy's skin crawl—clearly, he didn't believe a word.

Leroy swallowed hard, wanting to explain further but not knowing what to say.

The more he explained, the guiltier he'd sound. Better to just shut up and take it.

The living room fell silent except for the ticking of the wall clock.

Each tick felt like a hammer blow to Leroy's chest. He squirmed in his seat, praying James would just leave already.

After an agonizing stretch of silence, Leroy finally spoke first.

"Mr. Anderson, that file I sent over this afternoon—did you get a chance to look at it?"

He asked cautiously.

"I did."

James nodded.

"And what did you think?"

Leroy searched his face.

"I'm being completely sincere here. I want to make things right with you. What happened before—that was a mistake."

"I'm willing to hand over everything. Every asset. Not a penny for myself. I just need you to show some mercy. Let me walk away with my life."

His words were earnest, almost pleading. He was one step away from dropping to his knees.

James studied him for a long moment, long enough to make Leroy's insides churn.

"You're really willing to let it all go."

James said slowly.

"An empire like that. And you'd just hand it over."

"If it means staying alive, what's money compared to that?"

Leroy said, though inside his heart was bleeding.

That fortune was built over generations of the Martinez family.

Of course it hurt. But compared to his life? His life mattered more.

"Is that so."

James tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest.

"Funny. I get the feeling you're still holding something back."

"What?"

Leroy went blank.

"No. No, Mr. Anderson, what do you mean by that?"

He forced himself to stay calm, but his voice trembled slightly.

James smiled.

"Nothing. Just thinking out loud. Some people like to hide things. Keep a little insurance policy."

"What they don't realize is, some secrets are too heavy to carry. They weigh you down until you can't breathe. And eventually, they crush you."

Leroy's hands clenched his pants so hard his knuckles went white.

He got it. James was talking directly to him.

Did he know something? Or was this just a bluff?

Leroy's mind was a tangled mess. He didn't dare admit anything, didn't dare respond.

He just kept his head down, pretending to sip his tea.

His hands shook so badly the cup rattled, spilling a few drops.

James noticed everything. It only confirmed his suspicions.

He'd been right. Adrian was connected to the Martinez family somehow. Leroy's reaction said it all.

But James didn't push it. Some things didn't need to be spelled out. A hint was enough.

Let him panic. The more he panicked, the more mistakes he'd make.

After a while longer, James glanced at his watch. Time to go. He'd said what he needed to say.

Staying longer wouldn't accomplish anything. He stood.

"It's getting late. You should rest. I'll be going now."

Leroy quickly stood as well, relief flooding through him. Finally. He's leaving.

He followed James to the front door, walking him all the way to the gate.

James stopped and turned around, looking Leroy in the eye.

"Leroy."

"Yes, Mr. Anderson?"

Leroy answered immediately.

James held his gaze, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"Some secrets are too heavy to carry.

Smart men know when to let go."

The color drained from Leroy's face.

He stood frozen, mouth opening and closing, unable to form a single word.

James didn't wait for a response. He turned and left with Kevin and the others.

The four of them got into the car and disappeared into the night.

Leroy remained standing at the gate, the wind cutting through him.

He barely felt the cold. All he could hear were James's parting words echoing in his head.

Smart men know when to let go. What did he mean? Does he know everything?

The more Leroy thought about it, the more terrified he became. His legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed.

The butler rushed over to steady him.

"Mr. Martinez! Are you all right?"

Leroy shook his head, his voice hollow.

"I'm fine. Help me inside."

The butler supported him as they walked back. Leroy's steps were unsteady, like he was walking on air.

It's over. James knows. He has to. Otherwise he wouldn't have said that.

But then why didn't he make a move? Why did he just leave?

Leroy couldn't make sense of it, and that only made him more anxious. What was James planning next?

The unknown terror was worse than any direct confrontation.

"Mr. Martinez, should we call that van back?"

The butler asked quietly.

Leroy snapped to attention. Right. The van.

What if James was already tracking it? What if Iron Wolf and his men were following it right now? What if they found the location?

Panic surged through him. No. They can't find it.

"Call them."

He said urgently.

"Tell them not to go to the original location. Find somewhere else."

"Somewhere more remote. Somewhere nobody knows about. Hurry!"

The butler immediately pulled out his phone. Leroy stood in the living room, heart racing, palms slick with sweat.

He was starting to regret it now. He should never have helped Adrian in the first place.

Now he couldn't shake him off even if he tried.

But it was too late for regrets. All he could do now was take it one step at a time.

In the car, Kevin glanced at James in the rearview mirror.

"Mr. Anderson, we're really just leaving? Not going in to search the place?"

"Search for what."

James leaned back against the seat, eyes closed.

"If we went in now, we wouldn't find anything. Leroy already moved him."

"That van just now? Could've been staged for our benefit."

"Or maybe it was real. But either way, chasing after it now won't help.

If it's a decoy, we'd be wasting our time and playing right into their hands."