Chapter 685

So who was it that helped Brandon and Helen Ross change their names, slip away unnoticed, and apply to universities abroad—paying their tuition for several years, no less?
Other than Isabella Austin, Emily Blair couldn’t think of anyone else.
No wonder they’d vanished so mysteriously not long after graduation. No wonder Matthew Ross only searched for a month before giving up. No wonder he’d gone to such lengths on Isabella Austin’s behalf.
No wonder Matthew Ross was capable of such unconscionable things.
With his abilities, there was simply no way he could have sent his younger siblings to study overseas, let alone cover their tuition and living expenses. Only Isabella Austin could have pulled that off for him.
After reaching this point in her investigation, Emily couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect for Isabella’s skill and patience. The woman had spun a web of deception all for the sake of getting her hands on Rose Ward’s piano compositions.
Emily finished reading through the files and let a wry smile play at the corner of her lips.
She looked up at the driver. “Take me to the police station on Eastside Avenue.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the driver replied.
When Emily stepped inside the station, a familiar female officer spotted her. “Here to see Matthew Ross again?”
She said “again” because Emily had been coming by every few days, and every time she asked to see Matthew Ross, she’d been turned away.
Emily nodded. The officer patted her shoulder, sighing. “I’ll go ask, but you probably know what the answer will be. Don’t get your hopes up.”
She turned to leave, but Emily stopped her. “Wait-could you deliver a message for me?”
The officer looked puzzled. “What message?”
Emily gave a faint smile. “Could you ask him if he knows Peter Clark and Amanda Clark?”
The officer cocked her head. “Who are they?”
Emily paused for a second. “I’d like to find out myself. Maybe if you mention their names, he’ll actually agree to see me.”
“Alright,” the officer said, though she sounded unconvinced. She told Emily to take a seat and went off to check.
A few minutes later, the officer returned, looking more curious and skeptical than before. “He said he’ll see you.”
Emily smiled and stood up. “Thank you. Would you take me over?”
The officer grabbed her arm, peering at her suspiciously. “Hold on, what’s with those two names? As soon as I mentioned them, his face went pale. What are you two up to?”
Emily’s lips curved. “Officer Emily, just let me talk to him first, alright?”
The officer frowned, but finally let go. “I don’t know what’s going on, but don’t cause any trouble in there.”
“Of course, don’t worry,” Emily said reassuringly.
Inside the visitation room, behind a glass partition, Matthew Ross sat waiting.
He was thirty-four, and looked every day of it—thin, hunched, dressed in a faded blue-and-white uniform. His face was sallow, cheeks sunken, the skin under his eyes bruised with exhaustion. He hadn’t shaved; a patchy, dark stubble shadowed his jaw. The overall impression was one of neglect and defeat.
Recently, the results of the medical malpractice investigation had come in. Matthew and his colleagues had made a serious error and would be held criminally responsible. He wasn’t leaving the police station anytime soon.
It was Emily’s first time seeing Matthew Ross in person. Her gaze remained calm and steady.
But Matthew, when he saw her enter, seemed electrified. His bleary eyes widened in shock, and he slammed both palms down on the table, his breath coming fast as he watched her approach.