Chapter 280
Chapter 280 The Culprit
“| know that this isn’t Harbor City nor your territory, but I’ll accompany her.” Jeffrey consoled him with a whisper when he saw Cyrus getting agitated.
“Accompany her?” Cyrus gave a cold smile. “Do you think you’re the aegis of Melanie or something?” There were some murmurs from the people around them who were watching, as well as Leo’s coughing every now and then.
Melanie gave Jeffrey a look. When she saw the certainty in his eyes, she knew that he had made arrangements. She calmed down a little and walked over to hold Cyrus’s hand and said...
“It's alright, Master. Let’s go home... There’s no use throwing temper tantrums, right?” “What temper tantrums?! You're the one that’s being forced to stay here, not me!” Cyrus pretended to be frustrated and pushed her hand away before he got back into his car with his crutch.
When the convoy finally reached the banquet hall on the island, they saw Joseph waiting for them with a group of people behind him. When he saw Melanie get out of the car, he couldn’t help saying...
“Congratulations, Miss Melanie! You're finally cleared of suspicion!” Melanie looked confused, and the people around her didn’t seem to understand either.
Then, a small group of officers ran over and reported to the high-ranking officer. “Report, sir! The murderer has surrendered himself! We've interrogated him about how he committed the crime, and there’s no discrepancy with the evidence we’ve gathered.”
“Who is it?” The high-ranking officer asked.
“The culprit is an ex—staff from Shadow Group. He murdered Charles because of a personal vendetta. He was hiding right behind the stage when the ceremony was taking place. That was a blind spot for the security cameras. That was why the camera missed him.
“The only reason he fired at Elder Gibson was to shift suspicion so that he could have enough time to hide the taser gun and escape,” the officer reported.
“Then why did he surrender himself?” the officer asked. “Perhaps he had a change of heart.” Joseph let out a laugh. “If there’s anything you want to ask, just ask away. But can you free Miss Melanie now?”
The officer didn’t dare to speak much since Joseph was personally helping Melanie, and so he nodded and led the other officers to the interrogation room that was prepared on the island.
Melanie looked at the officers with a slight frown. “The real murderer had confessed...?” “Feeling something amiss?”
Joseph asked.
With Joseph taking the lead, the others followed him inside. Those who weren't important didn’t follow them once they knew the results. When Joseph saw that there was no one else behind him, he raised his head and looked at Melanie. “Do you think that there’s something fishy about the culprit who surrendered himself?”
Melanie didn’t immediately respond. It was simply too much of a coincidence for this culprit to surrender using his personal vendetta as the reason he committed the crime. It immediately cleared everyone that was
on the stage of any suspicion.
Joseph saw through her thoughts and asked, “There are no outsiders here. Why don’t you tell me what you think?”
Melanie raised her eyes and glanced at Jeffrey and Cyrus. They were all looking at her, as if there was something they couldn't say.
With a smile, she said, “Since the real culprit had already turned himself in, as the ex-primary suspect, | better shut my mouth up. I’m not brave enough to make any more analysis.”
“Haha!”
Joseph laughed loudly. “Even then, you are of a quick mind. You know that things aren't as they seem.”
“| won't even attempt to show off my intellect and compare it to yours, Mr. Joseph. This is the Yorks‘ territory. Everyone here is your family’s guest. You are the most knowledgeable about all their preferences and animosities toward each other. | wouldn’t dare make any presumptions.”
“Good!” “A good answer!”
Joseph smiled as he was satisfied with her answer. “Your praises have instead made me unable to question anything else!”
“Let's go!”
Joseph tapped the armrest on his wheelchair and asked Melanie and the people behind him to catch up. When | heard that you've regained your freedom, | asked the servants to prepare a feast for you. Let’s go in!”
Melanie blinked and followed behind him without a change in her expression.
Just like she had said, this is the Yorks‘ territory. It was a place where the highest-ranking member of the local police force had to restrain himself because of Joseph. Would they really be so nonchalant about the identity of the real culprit who had killed Charles?
From the moment that Charles was killed, Joseph had been mostly indifferent to everything. So, she guessed that he had already accepted the assassination!
No matter if the culprit was from the Yorks, or if the Yorks were complicit in the murder, they were not planning 213
undone, they were all beneficial to the Yorks.
“Let me push your wheelchair, Grandfather.”
At this time, the soft and clean Leo walked from behind, taking over the wheelchair from the butler’s hands. “Why are you here?”Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
Joseph turned around and asked.
“It's all thanks to him for being here today. He helped me a lot,” Melanie said in a gentle tone.