Chapter 480 The Key Link
I had just retreated to the window when the door to the hospital room suddenly swung open again. The metal hinges creaked, and Daryl and Lucas walked in one after the other, the sound of the metal door handle clashing echoing sharply in the quiet room.
Lucas, with one hand in his pocket, scanned the room, his gaze lingering on Edward's clenched hand and the tear-streaked faces of Edward and Anne.
He let out a disdainful snort, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly with a cold chuckle. "What kind of sob story is this?"
Daryl cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "I'm here today to inform you all of some developments, and it's convenient that everyone is present."
The silver star on Daryl's police uniform epaulet glinted as he moved. His eyes paused on my pale face for a moment, his Adam's apple moving up and down, but he turned to Lucas with a firm tone, "I think Mr. Jackson is mistaken. Ms. York was rescued from an abandoned lighthouse recently and has been receiving treatment and supervision at a police-designated hospital. All procedures are documented."
Lucas raised an eyebrow and sneered, stepping forward. The hem of his white shirt brushed against the medical cart, causing the bottles on the metal tray to clink together. He leaned in, their noses almost touching, the scent of his cologne carrying an oppressive air. "So this reunion scene was arranged by the police? Disappearing for so long and suddenly showing up just as Mr. Howard is about to recover?"
Lucas's eyes were filled with scrutiny, his finger unconsciously rubbing the button on his suit sleeve.
Anne glanced at me, her eyes full of panic and unease. She shrank back, her lower back almost pressing against the metal rail of the hospital bed, oblivious to the thorns of the rose pricking her palm. She stared at the tips of Lucas's polished shoes, her eyelashes casting fine shadows under her eyes, her Adam's apple moving slightly with nervous swallows, like a frightened bird too scared to look up.
"Enough!"
Edward suddenly stood up, wincing in pain but still shielding Anne completely in his shadow, his chest heaving. "Lucas, haven't you had enough? Anne just came back from hell, she's not your plaything!"
"Plaything?"
Lucas scoffed, straightening up and looking down at them with his hands in his pockets, the creases in his suit pants shifting slightly with his movements, "Mr. Howard, don't forget, the key evidence missing from the warehouse explosion case coincides with the time Ms. York was kidnapped."
Lucas deliberately dragged out his words, suddenly slapping the bedside table. The loud smack made Anne flinch, nearly dropping the rose.
Daryl's face darkened, his gaze resting on Anne's pale, trembling figure, his tone serious, "Ms. York, I clearly told you that you cannot contact the involved parties until the investigation is over. Your appearance now only complicates things."
Anne bit her lip, her fingers trembling as they clutched the hem of Edward's shirt. She looked up at Daryl, her eyes red, her voice trembling with a mix of tears and caution, "Daryl, I'm sorry, I missed Edward so much. Knowing he was about to recover, I couldn't help myself... I won't interfere with the investigation, I just wanted to see him."
Before she could finish, Anne quickly lowered her head as her eyes met Lucas's cold gaze, shrinking further behind Edward.
Daryl frowned, looking at Anne's cowering form, he sighed, his voice tinged with helplessness, "I understand how you feel, but the case is sensitive right now, and everyone is watching. Any misstep could cause problems."
Daryl's gaze swept over Edward's tense shoulders and Lucas's mocking face. He paused before continuing, "You all play a crucial role in this. Keeping you apart is for your own safety."
With that, Daryl pulled a stack of documents from his briefcase, the rustling of the pages unusually loud in the silent room.
"This time, we'll let it slide, but it can't happen again. Ms. York must comply with police arrangements and return to the designated hospital ward."
I stared at the documents Daryl pulled out, suddenly noticing the dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept for days.
"Nicholas's case goes to trial next week."
Daryl adjusted his glasses, the reflection hiding his eyes, "But unfortunately, Jeffrey has already fled to the Southeast Region, and Interpol is still tracking him."
Edward's grip on the bed tightened, small beads of blood seeping through the bandage. "So soon? Isn't the evidence chain still missing a crucial link?"
My throat tightened, the salty sea breeze suddenly filling my nostrils. In my memory, the rocks were covered in moss, and Fiona emerged from the shadows, her black hooded cloak billowing in the wind. She held a waterproof phone close to my ear, the cold metal casing carrying the scent of the sea.
"Do you see this?"
Fiona's voice was low, her eyes shining brightly, her fingers moving quickly across the screen, the silver ring on her finger glinting in the dark,
"These are Nicholas's smuggling ledgers, recordings of his deals with Jeffrey, and records of his hired hits. It's all here."
Waves crashed against the rocks, sending up white spray, the salty mist blurring Fiona's outline.
Fiona suddenly leaned close to my ear, her breath cool with the scent of mint. "I've been watching for so long, just waiting to close the net."
Before I could respond, Fiona had already turned and disappeared into the crevice of the rocks, the hem of her black coat brushing the damp surface, leaving only a faint laugh mixed with the sound of the waves.
"Three days ago, I received an anonymous email."
Daryl pushed a manila envelope onto the bedside table, the seal stained with coffee, his fingers tapping the edge of the documents unconsciously, "It contained solid evidence of Nicholas's smuggling and hired hits, including recordings of his calls with Jeffrey. The tech department checked, and the source is completely untraceable."
Lucas's Adam's apple bobbed violently as he bent over to examine the documents, the silver chain on his cufflink slipping out from under his shirt. The photo of Nicholas and Jeffrey toasting made his pupils contract sharply, his fingers repeatedly rubbing the edge of the paper as if trying to erase the image. Anne bit her lip hard, a suppressed whimper escaping her throat, her hand clutching the rose trembling uncontrollably, petals falling onto the bed, mingling with the blood seeping from her fingernails.
And I knew, behind these "anonymous" pieces of evidence was Fiona's reckless dance on the edge of the law. Her final words echoed in my ears, like waves crashing repeatedly against my nerves.
"Ms. York,"
Daryl's voice softened suddenly, the police badge on his chest gleaming coldly, "You were involved in Nicholas's underground dealings and were kidnapped by Jeffrey. If you're willing to testify in court, it could convict Nicholas and potentially reduce your sentence."
The room fell into a dead silence.
Upon hearing that Nicholas would be convicted, Lucas staggered back a step, his lower back hitting the IV stand with a harsh metallic clang. He opened his mouth, his Adam's apple moving up and down, but only a broken breath escaped.
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