Chapter 495 Chapter 495: Can You Change The Law?
Victor’s expression shifted upon hearing this. “Can you change the law?”
“No, I can’t.”
“Then how could you possibly help me escape this? Ask Cristofer to post bail for me. That won’t work. No matter how wealthy and influential he is, he can’t make my crimes disappear. I’ve committed kidnapping, attempted murder, and arson. I’ll likely spend decades in prison. I won’t endure a life without dignity behind bars. I’d rather die than go to jail.”
Before he could say more, a young policewoman approached and asked, “Excuse me, are you Miss Hudson?”
“Yes, I am,” Estelle replied.
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
“I just have some bruises. I’ll be fine.”
Hearing this, the policewoman let out a sigh of relief and said, “Here’s the situation. The victim and the suspect appear identical, and the man we just rescued is in a coma. We need your help to identify who Mr. Hans is and who the suspect is.”
Estelle was taken aback.
Standing beside her, Victor smiled and used an intimate nickname, “Star, do you recall what you mentioned earlier?”
Estelle didn’t respond.
“You said that if we make it back safely, you’d spend more time with the kids. They’re still so young and adorable. Their hearts would be broken if you were gone,” Victor said, implying a threat and pressuring her to decide quickly.
Estelle understood his message. If she told the truth to the police, Victor would trigger the explosives, endangering everyone present. But if she lied, Victor might escape punishment, and Cristofer would be imprisoned. She felt torn.
Listening to their conversation, the two policemen nearby were astonished.
“The victim and the culprit look identical?” one of them remarked.
“I’m certain this gentleman is Mr. Hans. I’ve seen him on TV,” the other officer said as he gazed at Victor.
The policewoman then clarified, “Rescuers brought a severely injured man who resembles Mr. Hans out of the forest earlier. A wedding dress shop reported a missing gown to the police, and a pharmacy reported a theft of medicine. We couldn’t believe it when we reviewed surveillance footage and identified Mr. Hans as the thief. It was only moments ago that we discovered the thief shares an uncanny resemblance with Mr. Hans.”
“So, which one of them is Mr. Hans?” the police asked.
“We can’t tell them apart,” the policewoman replied, feeling helpless.
Given the situation, the police had no choice but to turn to Estelle for assistance. As Cristofer’s wife, it was widely known, and they believed she could distinguish between her husband and the suspect.
This conversation drew the attention of many bystanders. Except for the firefighters extinguishing the fire and those tending to the aftermath of the incident, everyone else gathered around, eagerly waiting for Estelle’s answer.
“Miss Hudson, which one is Mr. Hans? Please tell us quickly so we can arrest the suspect,” urged the policewoman.
Feeling uneasy under the scrutiny of so many people, Estelle noticed Victor giving her a cold stare while pressing his hand against his chest. She understood it was a warning.
Taking a deep breath, Estelle moistened her lips and asked the policewoman, “Um... How long would the suspect be sentenced to prison?”
Perplexed by the sudden question, the policewoman still patiently replied, “The suspect is facing charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, and burglary. These are serious offenses, and the maximum penalty applies. Miss Hudson, may I ask why you’re inquiring about this?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just a curiosity. After all, the suspect is my husband’s brother. I was wondering how long he might be in prison,” Estelle explained.
The policewoman nodded and said, “The law treats everyone equally. Anyone who commits a crime will face punishment according to the law.”
“Okay,” Estelle replied.
“Then, could you tell me which one of them is Mr. Hans?” the policewoman asked. Seeing Estelle’s pale face, she gently patted her shoulder and reassured her, “You must have been terrified just now. Take a moment to calm yourself, and then you can provide your answer.”
“Don’t worry, Estelle,” Victor said, putting his arm around her. “The police are here to protect us. As the lady mentioned, the suspect will face the maximum penalty. He won’t harm us again.” While speaking, he took Estelle’s hand and placed it on his chest.
In that instant, Estelle’s hand brushed against the hard, rectangular detonation device beneath his coat. With a sly smile, Victor tightened his grip on her hand and slowly moved it toward the button on the device, pretending to consider pressing it.
“No!” Estelle exclaimed in terror, quickly withdrawing her hand and staring at him in horror. “You...”
Before she could say more, Victor held her tightly, his hand at the back of her head, and consoled her, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you.” Then, he politely addressed the policewoman, “I’m sorry, ma’am. My wife is quite shaken. Could we go home for now? We’ll visit the police station tomorrow and cooperate with the investigation.”
Throughout this interaction, Victor had been pressing Estelle’s head against his chest firmly, making her uncomfortable due to the strong smell of cigarettes on his body. She wanted to push him away but refrained when she felt the detonation device beneath her hand.
‘I can’t irritate Victor, or everyone here will die.’
Observing Estelle leaning against Victor’s chest, the policewoman addressed Victor, “So, you are Mr. Hans? I apologize for mistakenly thinking you were the suspect earlier.”
Victor replied with a gentle smile, “No problem.”
“Is the severely injured man really your twin brother?” the policewoman asked again.
“Yes, he’s my brother,” Victor replied calmly. “However, he was separated from our family as a baby and only returned a few days ago. It seems he harbors some misconceptions about our family, which led to his extreme actions today. I apologize for the trouble this has caused.”
Upon hearing Victor’s explanation, the policewoman and the other officers displayed expressions of understanding and surprise.
“I understand now. That’s why we’ve never heard of your twin brother before,” the policewoman remarked.
“Yes. Madam, this is a family matter, and I’d prefer to keep it private, away from the media’s attention,” Victor requested.
The policewoman nodded and agreed, “Of course, Mr. Hans. By the way, you should be prepared mentally. Your brother has committed numerous crimes, and I’m afraid that he will...”
Victor interrupted, asking directly, “How long will he be sentenced to prison?”
“It’s uncertain, but it won’t be less than ten years,” the policewoman replied.
At that moment, Victor sensed Estelle tensing up in his embrace. He gently caressed her head to comfort her and said soothingly, “Let’s drop the subject. Don’t be afraid. Let’s head home. The children are waiting for us. Madam, may we leave now?”
The policewoman reminded them, “Miss Hudson is the victim and a witness in this case. She’ll need to sign the conversation record before leaving.” She handed a piece of paper to Estelle.