Chapter 201 Patricia Is the Real Murderer!
Not long after, Juniper heard a car engine in the yard.
Magnus had left without giving her a chance to hesitate.
Maybe it was for the best. After all the hurt, it was finally over.
If they kept dragging it out, she couldn't give him what he wanted anyway. If only she could go back seven years, stay in that small apartment with Magnus, and freeze time at the purest moment of their love.
Seven years, now impossible to bridge.
Juniper sat by the bed, unable to sleep. Suddenly, the phone rang, breaking the silence. The caller ID showed Sinclair.
She hesitated for a moment before answering, "Hello?"
"Juniper?" Sinclair asked.
"Yes, what's up?" Juniper replied.
"I just got back to the Imperial Capital from Oakvale County. You saved me and my baby last time. Are you free tomorrow? I'd like to treat you to a meal," Sinclair said.
"No need, it was just a small favor. Besides, I'm leaving the Imperial Capital tomorrow," Juniper declined.
Sinclair was surprised. "Leaving? Where to?"
"Back to Southern City," Juniper answered.
"And you and Mr. Blackwood..." Sinclair inquired.
"We've reconciled," Juniper said.
"Will you come back to the Imperial Capital? I haven't thanked you properly," Sinclair asked.
Juniper smiled. "It's okay, there's always time."
She thought, 'I'll have to come back to see Jenny anyway. There will be opportunities in the future. This isn't the last time, is it?'
In Maple Villa, Sinclair felt a bit lost after hanging up. Patricia, passing by with a face mask on, overheard her talking to Juniper. She'd been having nightmares about Juniper finding out the truth and coming after her with a knife, waking up in cold sweats.
Triggered, Patricia snatched Sinclair's phone, checking the call log. "Why did you call Juniper? Are you close with her?"
Sinclair frowned. "Give me back my phone. Who I call is none of your business. Besides, didn't Michael tell you to move out tomorrow? Why aren't you packing?"
Patricia clutched the phone tightly, ripped off her face mask, and shouted, "Did you badmouth me to Juniper?"
"Badmouth you? What are you talking about? I'm not you, thinking everyone's out to get you. Just give me my phone back!" Sinclair retorted, trying to grab it.
Patricia, enraged, refused to give it back. "You eavesdropped on me talking to my brother outside the study last time. Did you hear something? I'm telling you, you heard wrong!"
"What are you talking about? Patricia, can you stop being ridiculous?" Sinclair asked.
"Juniper's mother's death has nothing to do with me! Stop badmouthing me to her! Her mom was killed by Magnus' crazy mother! What does it have to do with me? If you dare to talk nonsense to Juniper again, I'll tear your mouth apart!" Patricia shouted.
Sinclair's eyes widened. "How do you know who killed Juniper's mother? Were you there?"
Patricia was clearly guilty. "I... Whether I was there or not is none of your business!"
"Patricia, did you kill Juniper's mother? You lied to Michael!" Sinclair accused.
"Stop talking nonsense! I didn't!" Patricia snapped.
Patricia was cunning and spoiled, with a bad character. But Sinclair couldn't be sure she would dare to commit murder. Her face turned cold. "Give me back my phone!"
Patricia refused, so Sinclair snatched it back!
Patricia gritted her teeth and warned, "Michael will be back soon. I'm warning you, don't talk nonsense in front of him!"
Sinclair said, "If you didn't do it, why are you scared of me telling Michael? Patricia, if you really did something wrong, you should turn yourself in! This is murder!"
Patricia was furious, her face red. "I didn't do it!"
"You better not have!" Sinclair snapped, then took her phone and went into the bedroom.
She thought to herself, 'It's just a phone call with Juniper, yet Patricia's reaction is way too intense. Something's not right…Could Patricia really be the culprit behind Juniper's mother's death?'
She tried calling Juniper again.
But this time, the phone rang for a long time before a mechanical female voice came through the receiver, indicating that the other party's phone was powered off.
Once suspicion arose, it was hard to stop.
Juniper had saved her life. Although it was abrupt to visit her in the middle of the night, Sinclair was leaving for Southern City tomorrow. Previously in the hospital, Juniper had said she and Magnus would never be together again. She had also overheard Patricia saying that Juniper and Magnus could never reconcile because of Juniper's mother's death. These bits of information were like pieces of a puzzle.
Sinclair put on her headphones and played a recording.
While Patricia and Michael were arguing in the study, Sinclair couldn't make out much of the conversation. However, she did hear something about a murder, which triggered her suspicion, prompting her to hit record.
The recording was faint, even at maximum volume, it was hard to discern.
She could only vaguely hear Michael asking, "Does Juniper's mother's death have anything to do with you?"
Patricia's voice was trembling as she responded, "Michael, let me explain, I didn't do it! I just saw..."
The rest of the recording was too muddled with background noise for Sinclair to understand clearly, no matter how many times she replayed it.
Sinclair's anxiety grew stronger as she lay in bed, unable to sleep. She had thought about informing Michael, but she doubted he would believe that Patricia could be a murderer.
In Michael's mind, his sister might be difficult and temperamental, but a killer? He wouldn't believe it.
But Sinclair had seen Patricia's bad nature. She thought, 'If I give this recording to Juniper and let her judge; if it turns out Patricia is the killer... will Michael hate me?'
Sinclair hesitated for a moment. But this was murder. If Patricia was the killer, Michael would be covering up for her. She called Michael, and he answered quickly.
"Michael, how long until you get home?" Sinclair asked.
"About an hour or so. It's late; you should go to bed. No need to wait up, the party isn't over yet," Michael replied.
"Oh, okay. By the way, Juniper saved me last time, and I want to buy her a gift. What's Mr. Blackwood's address?" Sinclair asked.
Michael was naturally grateful to Juniper for saving Sinclair and the baby, so he said, "I'll send you the location."
"Okay." Sinclair wanted to say more but held back.
After hanging up, she received Michael's location, Royal View. Juniper hadn't left tonight, so she should be at Royal View. She changed clothes, grabbed her phone and car keys, and headed to the yard. Michael had bought her a car for convenience after returning from Oakvale County.
Soon, Patricia heard the engine in the yard from upstairs. She opened the curtains and her heart skipped a beat!
She thought, 'Where is Sinclair going so late? Is she going to tell Juniper I'mthe killer?
'If Juniper really suspects, Magnus will know too, and even Michael won't be able to protect me.'
Patricia panicked instantly. If Sinclair revealed any clues about Lyra's death, even without evidence, Magnus had a hundred ways to make her confess! She grabbed her car keys and drove after her! She couldn't let Sinclair tell Juniper about this!
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