Chapter 14
Rachel wasn’t scared at all. “What are you doing? Forcing a confession in public? Is there no
e no law and order in this world?”
“Law and order? Paying back debts is only right. Even if we take this to the police, you’ll still have to pay us!” someone said.
“That’s right, pay up! Our nice home was ruined because of you. We deserve compensation for emotional distress!” another added.
“Don’t waste your breath with her. If she won’t pay, she’s not leaving!”
Rachel didn’t want to argue with these people. She tried to take out her phone to call the police, but a curly–haired woman quickly stopped her. “What are you doing? Trying to call for backup?”
Let go. If you keep this up, don’t blame me for being violent!” Rachel said.
Violent? How bold! Are young people these days so shameless? The woman reached for Rachel’s phone without fear.
Rachel pushed her away, but the woman missed and got angry. She raised her hand high, ready to slap Rachel. At that moment, a man in a floral shirt grabbed Rachel’s hand. She couldn’t break free.
It was obvious these people were working together, trying to make things difficult for her.
Just as the slap was about to land, someone caught the woman’s hand in mid–air and gently pushed her back. She stumbled and took a few steps back.
“Planning to assault someone in broad daylight? Want to end up in jail?” Charles walked up to the man in the floral shirt, staring at him coldly.
The man saw Charles’s refined and wealthy appearance and knew he was someone he couldn’t mess with. He slowly let go.
“What happened?” Charles asked Rachel.
Rachel quickly explained how she had been randomly attacked as soon as she got here. Before she could finish, the police arrived.
“Officer, you’re just in time. This woman’s house caught fire, and our homes suffered too. You have to do something!” one of them said
Yeah.
our nice house was about to be moved into, and now it’s ruined. We’re homeless! What are we supposed to do?” another added.
The police officer who arrived happened to be the one handling the fire case. Seeing Rachel’s expression, he guessed there was some friction and asked her, “Are you okay!”
the surveillance I fixed yesterday. I suspect
Rachei shook her head, hesitated for a few seconds, and then handed over her phone. “This is th someone set the fire on purpose.
“Why didn’t you bring such important evidence sooner?” The officer took the phone and gave it to a technician to copy
The man in the floral shirt, hearing about the surveillance, looked nervous and kept glancing at the phone in the officer’s hand.
Charles noticed this and asked in a deep voice, “Sir, you seem very concerned about this?”
this is my home. I want to find the culprit,” the man said.
“Of course,
ing in a run–down apartment in the north of the city. How w did you
“Is that so! But according to my investigation, you’ve been living in a suddenly afford a house in such a high–end neighborhood?”
“What do you mean? Just because I don’t have money, I can’t buy a house?”
The curly–haired woman chimed in, “That’s right. You rich people are just too condescending!”
“Kandall, you’re an Uber driver with over two hundred thousand in debt. How did you suddenly buy a house in full within a week?” Charles asked.
“What do you mean?” Randall asked
“Nothing much. I’m just curious how you rot rich to
you got rich so quickly and reached the peak of life in a
“Can’t I win the lottery?
9:53 AM et c
Chapter 11
“Even a ten–dollar scratch–off ticket has records.”
Upon hearing this, the troublemakers clearly lost their confidence.
At this point, Charles decided to stop pretending and laid out his findings. “According to my investigation, you all are new residents here, right?
“Moreover, based on your spending levels, how could you afford such expensive school district houses? I seriously suspect you’re connected to the arsonist. Maybe some of you even know the culprit?
As soon as he said this, the people around them got scared and backed away,
“You’re slandering!”
“Yeah, what nonsense!”
“Officer, this gentleman is a lawyer. He speaks and acts based on reason and evidence. Whether what he says is true or false, we’ll find out once we take these few people back for investigation, Rachel said.
As soon as she spoke, the crowd that had just been huddled together scattered like birds and beasts.
After the people left, the police officer said earnestly, “Ms. Sampson, we will continue to investigate the evidence you provided. If you find anything else, please contact us promptly.”
After seeing the police off, Rachel went to check the house. The walls, charred by the fire, were pitch black. After being sprayed by high- pressure water hoses, they were unrecognizable, with no trace of their former appearance left.
Rachel stood at the door for a moment, planning to go inside, but Charles stopped her. “Wait until the police finish their investigation before going in.”
“What do you mean?” Rachel asked.
Charles pursed his lips and looked at Rachel for a few seconds, “It’s dangerous.”
Rachel was moved by his intense gaze. She held his gaze for a few seconds before shyly averting her eyes. “Well.. okay, I… come back later.
On the way back, both of them seemed a bit awkward.
Eric, who was driving in front, kept glancing back, puzzled by the sudden chill between the two. As he was hesitating about how to break the silence, both of them spoke up at the same time.
“I wanted to ask- Rachel began.
“You’re planning to- Charles said..
Rachel pursed her lips, giving Charles a chance to speak first, but he said, “You go ahead”
“You mentioned that the neighbors who caused the trouble earlier were acting strangely. What exactly did you mean?” Rachel asked.
“Given their income, they can’t afford such expensive houses. I’m still looking into the specifics.”
Rachel nodded, believing him, without noticing that Charles seemed to be holding back,
After driving for a while longer, Charles asked Eric to pull over.
As they got out of the car, Rachel noticed that Charles looked a bit upset. Thinking about the trouble she had caused him lately, she said shyly, “Mr. Lopez, I really troubled you today. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”
Charles nodded, and Rachel closed the door and left
“Boss, why didn’t you just ask Ms. Sampson about the gemstone pendant directly? Eric asked as the car started.
Charles looked at the shrinking figure on the platform, then stared straight ahead.
In the Zevon Group building, having learned from the last experience, the receptionist didn’t dare to stop Rachel this time. Rachel pushed open Andrew’s office door without any trouble
Chapter 14
“What are you doing here?” Andrew asked.
Faced with Andrew’s displeased expression, Rachel frowned and feigned urgency. “Andrew, are you even human? Jennie was burned in the fire, and you, as her father, are still in the mood to work?”
Upon hearing this, Andrew dropped the pen in his hand and looked at Rachel with disdain. “Rachel, I just don’t get it. Why don’t you just live a peaceful life instead of always stirring up trouble? Are you crazy or something?”
Rachel glared at Andrew with red eyes. “What do you mean?”
“What do I mean? One minute you say Jennie is dead, and the next you say she’s burned and hospitalized. Do you really think I’m that gullible? Jennie is perfectly fine at that lawyer’s house. Rachel, what good does all this fuss do you?”
G
