Chapter 147: Coincidence
My sources of information come from the police and medical departments. On one hand, it's because I know Edgar and he gives me access. On the other hand, it's just a professional habit.
I found the same information that Lucas did, but when he collects intelligence, he pays attention to social incidents.
His exact words were, "The world's most lies and secrets are hidden in social news stories."
Lucas found out that two days before Beckett's accident, a female tourist was brutally murdered at that scenic area.
The scene was clean - the killer left no clues. Based on the killing method, the murderer was likely Albino.
"Beckett recovered in the hospital for half a year. During that time, he met Gerald, and after being discharged, he joined Gerald's medical team," Lucas said.
"In those six months, they went to three countries and over a dozen cities together." Lucas handed me his tablet. "This is news from the cities they visited."
I frowned deeply. The three news reports in my hand were all about young women who had been brutally murdered and found dead in their homes.
One was single, one had a boyfriend, and one was a single mother. When the single mother died, her three-year-old child was sleeping in the bedroom.
"Gerald's medical team has a program that provides free medical help to low-income women. The single victim and the single mother both received help from this service." Lucas tapped the tablet screen with his finger. "And this other victim with a boyfriend was a rich girl. Supposedly she had pursued Beckett."
"Are you saying Albino is targeting women connected to Beckett?" I blinked, my thoughts a bit confused.
"Who knows if they actually knew each other - could just be a coincidence." Lucas shrugged irresponsibly.
"If you really care about it, we can go grab Albino and ask him, but we're not cops, so there's no real benefit to doing that."
Lucas had a point. I thought about it and didn't dig any deeper.
That evening when I got home, the lights were on.
The four of us siblings can freely come and go from each other's houses. I guessed it was Brian or Marcus at home. When I went inside, besides them, Jacqueline was there too.
"Bella, I came to hang out with you." Jacqueline complained a bit childishly. "What took you so long to get back?"
I saw her sitting next to Marcus and knew that wanting to hang out with me was just an excuse - Marcus was her real target.
But Marcus seemed completely oblivious to Jacqueline's feelings.
"Finally, you're back." Brian pointed at Marcus and Jacqueline, smiling helplessly at me. "These two are so childish. They've been arguing non-stop. I look at case files at work during the day, and at night I have to play judge for them. I'm exhausted."
I walked behind Brian and massaged his shoulders. "Thanks for putting up with it."
I'd only massaged him for a few moments when Brian felt bad for me and told me to sit down and rest.
Marcus was a bit jealous. "Bella, you only massage Brian, not me."
Jacqueline immediately said, "You want a massage? I can help you!"
Marcus glanced at her. "If I refuse, you're not going to cry and run off again, are you?"
Jacqueline's face turned bright red - partly from shame, partly from embarrassment.
I could see that Marcus didn't seem interested in Jacqueline, and Jacqueline's tactics for pursuing men were really clumsy.
Brian tried to ease the tension. "Marcus, Jacqueline ran off last time because you made her mad. Why do you keep bringing it up?"
Marcus cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I didn't do it on purpose. Besides, I don't believe Beckett is the Miracle Surgeon. I'm not wrong!"
Brian said, "What's there to argue about? Jacqueline is younger than you. It won't hurt you to give in a little."
Marcus turned his head away and said nothing.
Jacqueline punched Marcus's arm. "I don't need you to give in to me!"
Brian tilted his head and whispered to me, "These two don't stand a chance."
I nodded in agreement and changed the subject. "Jacqueline, how did you meet Beckett?"
"Gerald treated my grandmother, and that's how I met him." Jacqueline's temper came and went quickly. "Oh right, I heard you have a way to help Beckett recover his memory. Is that true? You're amazing!"
I explained to her, "It's not certain I can help him recover his memory. It's just that there's a blood clot in his brain pressing on a nerve, and we can remove it."
Jacqueline continued, "That's still amazing. Gerald couldn't do anything about it before."
I asked curiously, "Who told you about this? Beckett?"
Jacqueline nodded.
"Are you two close?" Thinking of Lucas's words and the Albino situation, I was a bit worried.
"Beckett helped a lot when my grandmother was being treated. My mom really likes him." Jacqueline glanced at Marcus and deliberately said loudly, "Beckett is very gentle and patient - completely unlike some people!"
Marcus snorted. "Your eyesight is bad. I think he's very fake." After saying this, Marcus took out his phone, opened a shooting game, and put on his headphones.
In the end, Jacqueline left angry.
After she left, Marcus was still confused. "She said she came to see Bella, and now she's leaving? What did she even come here for?"
Two days later, Gale gathered the three of us siblings together.
Marcus asked eagerly, "Gale, what do you need us for?"
Gale was still far away in Dawnharbor. Through the video call, he told us, "Dawnharbor's five-year family hunting competition is about to start, and the Sorelli family has received an invitation."
As soon as he finished speaking, Marcus rolled up his sleeves. "So we're all going over there?"
Brian thought for a moment. "We can't all go. Someone needs to stay in Starstream City. I'll stay behind."
Gale hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "The hunting competition is in ten days. Bella, arrange your affairs and leave next week."
I nodded seriously, taking this matter very seriously.
The spring hunt is a thousand-year-old tradition in Dawnharbor. In the past, only nobles held hunting competitions, hunting one or two animals and praying for a good harvest all year. Common people held gatherings and made food to celebrate.
After the five major families rose to power, they held a family hunting competition every five years. On the surface it's friendly exchange, but in reality it's about dividing territories and splitting profits.
Not every gang family receives an invitation. Receiving an invitation means recognition of the family's strength.
The Sorelli family had returned too recently, but we also received an invitation. I wondered what the five major families were plotting.
Just as I was preparing for the hunting competition, an unexpected person came looking for me.
"Albino?"
He had been wandering around near my house and was caught and brought into the yard.
I glanced at his arm. The hand that Clarence had cut off last time had been reattached. I'd guessed as much before, but a reattached arm is never as flexible as the original.
He was holding the hand of a teenager about thirteen or fourteen years old. The boy was short and thin, gripping Albino's sleeve tightly, looking around curiously, and even flashing a silly smile at Adrian who was pointing a gun at him.
The boy was carrying a small suitcase.
"What do you want from me?" I asked.
Albino's lifeless eyes stared at me as he slowly said, "I'm here to inform on someone."