Chapter 152 The Woman Hidden Behind Jerry

Chapter 152 The Woman Hidden Behind Jerry

Tessa could only offer Calista some reassurance. "If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility."

"I'm just scared I'll never get to work with Ms. Garcia again." Calista's eyes welled up, and her voice was thick with emotion.

Tessa felt a sharp pang in her chest, like someone had squeezed her heart.

"Well, you'll have to ask Ms. Saunders if she can help me deal with Oliver ASAP." Tessa tried to lighten the mood.

The pressure suddenly shifted to Chloe, and her expression turned serious. "I'll do my best."

For their first meal back in Majestic City, Chloe treated everyone to dinner.

By the time they got home from the gathering, it was already late.

Just as they were getting ready to rest, they received a call from the police station.

Tessa had saved the officer's number from their previous contact.

"About Jerry's case—we've found a potential lead. If you have time, please come in as soon as possible. We need you to confirm whether it's connected to Oliver."

What timing. They'd just gotten back to Majestic City today, and now this development. Tessa quickly agreed.

"We'll be at the station first thing tomorrow morning."

The breakthrough in Jerry's case left Tessa too excited to sleep well.

The next morning, a little after six, Tessa was already pulling Ryan out of bed.

Outside, the morning fog hadn't lifted yet—everything was a hazy white.

Ryan sighed helplessly and reminded Tessa, "Isn't this a bit too early? Even if we go now, the police probably won't be ready."

Tessa laughed. "I know, I know. I'm just so excited thinking we might finally crack this case."

After sitting around the house for another hour or so, they finally headed out, arriving at the station just as the officers were starting their shift.

The medical examiner was still eating his breakfast sandwich when he looked up and saw them. He blinked in surprise.

"What case have you two gotten yourselves mixed up in now?"

Stereotypes aren't helpful. Tessa shook her head. "Last night an officer called and said they'd found some leads in Jerry's case. He asked us to come in early to go over the details."

"'Go over the details,'" the examiner chuckled. "You corporate types and your professional jargon. If I didn't spend so much time reading online forums, I'd barely understand half of what you say."

A couple of minutes later, the officer arrived.

They exchanged nods in greeting, and he led them into his office.

"Previously, we'd determined that Jerry had a complicated social network but no reliable friends. Nobody really knew him. But during yesterday's routine screening of known offenders, we found Jerry's former roommate."

Tessa felt a surge of hope, her pupils trembling slightly. "Where is he?"

If he was involved in the case, he might actually know what Jerry had been up to.

"Hold on," the officer said, pouring each of them a cup of warm water and setting the cups in front of them. He continued calmly, "This roommate was recently caught using illegal substances. He had an episode in public, our people spotted him, and he was sent to the Majestic City mandatory rehab facility."

"That's why Derek slipped through our initial investigation of Jerry's social connections."

"What kind of substance was he using?" Tessa pressed.

Maybe Derek could be another breakthrough—one that would lead them to more clues.

"A new designer drug called 'White Mist.' According to users, it makes you feel like you're walking through thick fog, like your mind's been wiped clean. All your troubles just vanish instantly. That's why we named it White Mist."

Tessa nodded slowly. Beyond finding a lead in Jerry's case, she felt like she'd stumbled onto a golden opportunity.

"Would it be possible for us to interview this Derek? Would that interfere with any ongoing investigations?"

The officer looked conflicted. "The Majestic City detective division stays pretty busy. As a general rule, for public safety reasons, we don't recommend civilians getting directly involved in investigations. But if you two want to help out, you can."

"Thank you."

Ryan quickly thanked him, and he and Tessa left together.

The warm water in the disposable cups gradually cooled. The officer thought about the challenges they'd likely face and frowned slightly.

Whoever investigated this case would run into serious obstacles.

He hoped they'd make it through safely.

Tessa and Ryan headed straight to the Majestic City mandatory rehab facility.

The interior design reminded Tessa of a preschool—large blocks of bright colors everywhere.

But after looking at it for a while, it did seem to lift one's spirits. Perhaps it was some kind of psychological therapy.

After the director explained their purpose, they were granted access to Derek.

He was a thin, wiry man, about 5 feet 7 inches tall. He shuffled when he walked, looking listless, with dark circles hanging heavy under his eyes. He studied Tessa and Ryan with curiosity.

In short, he didn't match his name at all, giving Tessa the feeling they'd found the wrong person.

"You're Derek? Jerry's roommate?"

Derek's reactions were extremely slow due to long-term drug use. After hearing her question, he took a long moment before finally nodding.

"The cops already asked me yesterday. I haven't seen Jerry in ages."

"We don't need you to repeat what you've already told them," Tessa cut him off, speaking rapidly. "You two lived together every day. You must know Jerry's business pretty well. Before he disappeared, did Jerry do anything suspicious?"

Derek's eyes rolled slowly. "You trying to bust us for drugs?"

"I didn't know White Mist was illegal. I just thought it was like coffee—made your heart race after you took it—"

"I'm asking you about Jerry." Tessa's words yanked his wandering thoughts back on track.

Derek's eyes rolled halfway around again. His whole demeanor radiated gloom and depression.

"...Didn't they say Jerry's already dead? Why are you still investigating him?"

"We're investigating him 'because' he's dead. He committed a crime right before he disappeared."

Derek grunted. "I don't know what Jerry did. We weren't close. We just split rent on a place in Majestic City."

What kind of real connection could be born in a tiny rental? What could two drug users possibly share with each other?

Ryan's brow furrowed tightly. "As far as we know, you were the only person Jerry had contact with before he died. If you won't talk, I'll have to assume Jerry's death is connected to you. Which means the first thing you'll do after leaving rehab is go to prison."

Tessa added, "Voluntary manslaughter—you'd be looking at at least ten years, right?"

Derek was silent for a few seconds before finally choosing to cooperate.

"Around that time, I kept seeing Jerry with some woman. I figured she was his girlfriend. Heard she had money. But we never talked, so I don't really know her."