Chapter 467 Things Are Getting More Complicated
"It's been a year," Winston said, full of self-blame. "I can't believe it took me this long to realize she was in danger. How did you find out? I went to Fishpond Road, too, but the villagers either avoided talking about Nicole or claimed ignorance. How did you manage to uncover the truth from them?"
"I bought some breakfast at her neighbor's diner and eavesdropped on their gossip," Abella replied.
Winston was speechless. He couldn't believe such crucial information could be obtained so casually.
"Since they are all villagers, they would be on guard if an outsider like you inquired about Nicole's whereabouts. But if it's their people gossiping, it will be different from you," Abella explained.
Winston chuckled bitterly. "I even went to her house and asked her parents directly."
He had been on the verge of madness, unable to find any trace of Nicole. He had to swallow his pride and repeatedly visit the villagers, even her parents.
Initially, her parents claimed they couldn't reach their daughter, and Winston thought they were lying. He believed Nicole had fallen for someone else, and her parents didn't want him to pursue her, so they lied to him.
"Now, it seems that her parents might really be unaware, but I can't be certain. We'll have to wait for the investigation results," Winston said.
"I wonder how she has been living this past year," Winston mumbled to himself. "Why do those people call her a traitor? What kind of situation is she involved in, and is she safe now?"
"Winston, don't worry too much," Abella comforted softly. "Those people also want to find out about Nicole, which means she hasn't shown up yet. She must be in hiding."
"Where could she be hiding?"
Winston couldn't help but feel heartbroken, thinking about the possibility that Nicole had been living in extreme danger and fear for the past year.
It was all his fault! He had believed Nicole's words, thinking she had truly fallen for someone else.
"While Nicole told you that she had fallen for someone else, she also told her foster parents that she had found her biological parents and then disappeared completely from your world. I think both of these stories are not true. She must have had a reason to leave, or it's possible that some other force took her," Abella speculated.
Winston didn't know whether to feel relieved or sad.
He was relieved that Nicole might not have left him because of someone else.
He was sad because there was still no trace of her, and she might have been caught up in a terrible situation, unable to escape safely for the time being.
At that moment, Sam emerged from the side building, followed by a few of his men. They were all wet and covered in blood, indicating that they had used force.
"Boss, those tough guys are not saying a word. They're almost at their limit. If we continue to beat them, they'll be beaten to death," Sam reported to Abella. "I gave each of them the medicine you researched earlier. I'll continue the interrogation when they wake up tomorrow."
"Good," Abella instructed. "Take Winston inside to rest for a while, have someone pour some coffee and get some food, and then I'll go to the lab."
Abella took out two small transparent bags from her bag, each containing a cotton swab with a bit of something on it.
Winston asked in confusion, "What is this?"
"I went to Nicole's house and used the spray in the living room and yard. It had a fluorescent reaction," Abella explained.
"You mean someone was injured? How serious is it?" Winston naturally knew what the spray was, and his heart clenched.
"It's not certain whose blood it is. We need to do a test," Abella explained.
"I sprayed the mist and used a cotton swab to collect the fluorescent dirt and dust. We'll have the results soon. In addition, I found strands of hair in Nicole's room and her parents' room, as well as some nails that I don't know who they belong to; I collected them all."
She then added, "Nails and hair can be used to extract DNA, but it may be too late to extract it successfully. After the blood test results are released, we can compare their DNA to determine whether it's their blood. If it's their blood, it means they were injured at home before, and the living room is the first crime scene, and then they were transferred to the yard, which is the second scene."
Winston was very anxious. How did Nicole's parents get involved in this? How much do they not know about this?
"By the way, boss, this is the hair of those people inside." Sam handed several small transparent bags to Abella, each with some blood on them.
"How much hair did you pull?" Abella took the small bag containing blood and hair, from which she could extract DNA.
The blood in Nicole's living room and yard may also be from those four people inside.
Abella took out another small transparent bag from her backpack, which contained only a little powder. If you didn't look carefully, you might think it was an empty bag.
"What is this?" Winston asked again.
"This was found in Nicole's room, inside a bottle of vitamin C."
Sam was a little puzzled. "Isn't vitamin C supposed to be in tablets? Why is it in powder form?"
"This is not vitamin C," Abella said, looking at Winston again. "One of the ingredients in this powder is a kind of Grass."
A kind of Grass?
Now, Winston could no longer remain calm. His heart felt as if it was being squeezed, and the pain was almost suffocating.
"What is the Grass?" Sam had been with the boss for many years and had never heard of it, but judging from Winston's reaction, it seemed to be something bad.
Winston knew that the Grass was a highly toxic herb. "Are you saying that Nicole took poison? Is it very likely that she is already dead?"
"Not necessarily," Abella said softly, "This kind of Grass can also be used as medicine, depending on the other ingredients. Winston, don't worry too much. Sam, take Winston to rest for a while; I'll go to the lab first."
"Okay." Sam gestured. "Winston, this way, please."
Winston walked into the main building. It was magnificent, with decorations and furnishings that were no less than those of Long Island Manor, but he was not in the mood to admire the surroundings now; his mind was filled with Abella's words.
Sam changed into a different outfit and brought a lot of food and drink.
"Winston, have something to eat first, or you can have a cup of coffee. Let me tell you, this coffee is usually only drunk by our boss, and no one else can get it."
Sam smelled the coffee fragrance in the air; it was really good.
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