Chapter 421: Clues

Tessa hid behind the police officer, nervously touching her lips and blinking rapidly.

Wendy looked at her and asked, "Hey, can I ask you a few questions?"

Tessa was taken aback and pointed at herself, "Me? Your hotel killed Maeve, what else is there to ask?"

Her eyes darted around, avoiding Wendy's gaze.

Wendy wasn't ready to give up easily, "It's just a few simple questions. Why are you so scared?"

In front of the police, Tessa couldn't keep refusing without raising more suspicion. She reluctantly nodded, "But I can only answer selectively."

Wendy asked, "What's your name?"

Tessa frowned impatiently, "Why do you need my name? What does it have to do with Maeve's death?"

Ignoring her resistance, Wendy continued, "You said you stayed in Maeve's room for a long time."

"As far as I know, you entered the room at 5:45 PM, and five minutes later, at 5:50 PM, a waiter came to deliver food. From the time you returned to the hotel until now, did anyone go to the bathroom?"

Tessa instinctively touched her neck and glanced inside the room where the police were taking photos and collecting evidence.

She steadied herself and said, "No, none of us went to the bathroom."

Wendy stared at her, confirming again, "Are you sure?"

"Sure! It's only been about an hour, how could I get that wrong?"

At that moment, a police officer came out of the room with a camera and said to the captain, "Captain, we're done with the photos."

Wendy suddenly turned to the officer with the camera and requested, "Can I see the photos? Just the one of the bathroom. It might help with the investigation."

The captain nodded slightly, and the officer handed the camera to Wendy, who flipped to the bathroom photo.

Wendy looked at the empty toilet bowl in the photo and then fixed her piercing gaze on Tessa, "You're lying!"

Tessa's face turned pale instantly, but she stubbornly replied, "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm telling the truth. How can you say I'm lying?"

Wendy didn't beat around the bush and said to the captain, "Captain, our hotel's cleaning staff clean the rooms when guests are out. This room was cleaned at 5:30 PM, fifteen minutes before Maeve and this Miss returned. Our cleaners usually place a toilet freshener in the bowl. If this Miss is sure no one used the bathroom, then how did the freshener disappear?"

The police captain looked at Wendy and then turned his cold gaze to Tessa, "You'll all come to the station with me and explain everything."

Wendy added, "We should check the toilet, maybe even dismantle the plumbing. We might find crucial evidence."

Although this might temporarily shut down the hotel, it was necessary to avoid a murder scandal.

Meanwhile, in the Harvey Group building miles away, Gilbert had just finished an important meeting.

He hadn't even returned to his office when he heard a new email notification on his computer.

He opened it and found an audio file from Wendy.

After listening to the recording, Gilbert jumped up from his seat.

A death at Rocky Island Resort was no small matter!

If the news spread in Aurora City, the Harvey Group's stock price would plummet, and all their efforts would be wasted.

He was anxious and rushed to the police station.

Soon, Wendy was released on bail.

However, Rocky Island Resort was ordered to temporarily close.

Gilbert came to pick up Wendy, gently comforting her on the way, "Wendy, don't worry too much. Once the truth is uncovered, the hotel will reopen."

Wendy shook her head slightly, her eyes dark with complexity, "It's not that simple. The mastermind isn't even trying to hide. Lakewood Island's revenue has always been affected by Rocky Island. Sophie's move, though not unexpected, came too suddenly."

She had thought the Russell Group's business troubles would be her main concern, but Sophie acted quickly against Rocky Island.

Gilbert pondered for a moment and hesitated, "Maybe she suspected the wine incident was related to you."

Wendy scoffed, "I didn't expect her to be so capable, cutting off the Harvey Group's wine supply and still managing to source it from abroad."

After a moment of silence, she continued, "Gilbert, Sophie is indeed a tough opponent. She'll stop at nothing to achieve her goals, treating others' lives like ants. The worst part is she harms so many people and still gets away with it."

"Didn't you get Beck's testimony?" Gilbert asked.

Wendy nodded and sighed, "Yeah, but what about Madeline? The college girl who was pushed off the rooftop. She initially wanted to die, then struggled to live, only to be cruelly pushed off. The culprit is still thriving in Aurora City. After all this time, there's no evidence, and Madeline's death was ruled a suicide."

Without Sophie's confession, there was no solid proof linking her to Madeline's death.

"Who said there's no evidence?" Gilbert smiled at Wendy.

Wendy's heart skipped a beat, her eyes filled with surprise and curiosity, "Gilbert, did you find something?"

Gilbert shook his head with a smile, "Don't you remember? The biggest flaw is in the autopsy report."

Wendy paused, trying to recall.

The autopsy report stated a natural fall, but she remembered the body had clear bruises on the back; the scene investigation report showed no signs of struggle, yet the scene was a mess with evidence of a fight.

Wendy suddenly realized, her eyes wide, "Right, the breakthrough is with the coroner and the investigation team!"

She had been too focused on external clues, neglecting this crucial point.

Gilbert nodded, "Luckily, I had someone redo the investigation report. Now we just need the real autopsy report. I believe the coroner has a genuine one."

Hope rekindled in Wendy's eyes as she looked at the distant sky, seemingly promising Madeline, "You see, I'll catch her soon."

Back at Harvey Manor, Gilbert's assistant rushed over with a file.

Gilbert immediately opened it.

Wendy asked, "Gilbert, did you find anything?"

Gilbert smiled and handed her a bank transfer record and a hospital payment receipt, "Within this week, the deceased's account received three transfers totaling one million dollars, enough to cover her mother's treatment."

Wendy looked at the medication names on the payment receipt: Regorafenib, Donafenib... all for treating liver cancer.

It seemed Maeve's mother had liver cancer, and to ensure her mother received treatment, Maeve chose to end her own life.

Wendy felt a mix of emotions, unsure what to say.

Trading one life for another's chance to continue, in this harsh reality, the poor and terminally ill were so pitiful and helpless.

"Did you trace the source of the money?" Wendy asked.

"We traced it to an account, but it was closed yesterday. The account holder is a stranger," Gilbert said, focused.

Wendy stared at the writing on the transfer slip, lost in thought, then suddenly remembered, "What about Tessa, who was in the same room and witnessed Maeve's death? She must be Sophie's spy."

"We're investigating," Gilbert said, his expression serious.

The investigation proved the suicide was unrelated to Rocky Island Resort.

This conclusion came not only from thorough tracing but also because the suspects' extreme reactions raised police suspicion.

A criminal psychologist at the station immediately saw through the woman's lies.

Ultimately, Sophie's plan wasn't flawless. It wasn't that she didn't think it through, but she was too eager.

She wanted Rocky Island Resort shut down quickly, as she and Liam couldn't ignore the daily massive losses.

Although Rocky Island Resort wasn't directly responsible for Maeve's death, it happened there, tarnishing the hotel's reputation. Sophie partially achieved her goal.

Amid the Rocky Island turmoil, Lakewood Island thrived, much to Sophie's delight.

Meanwhile, Lydia received a reduced sentence for good behavior.

With her child still young, the judge showed mercy, educating her before granting her freedom.

Her baby was still in swaddling clothes, and Lydia looked at him tenderly. Outside, a driver waited to take her home.

Juniper didn't care about Lydia's past mistakes; she only had eyes for her grandson.

Seeing Lydia approach with the baby, Juniper eagerly rushed forward.

"Why didn't you shield the baby from the sun? His skin is so delicate, UV rays can easily harm him."

She carefully took the baby from Lydia, gently playing with him before handing him to the waiting nanny.

Turning back, Juniper saw Lydia staring blankly ahead, her expression gloomy.