Chapter 684
The corpse had been swollen pale from the water, but on her neck a deep bruise was clearly visible.
“Look at that! There’s a mark on her neck.”
“What does that mean? Was she strangled?”
“If it were just drowning, her neck wouldn’t look like that.”
“Caitlin was right! Uzma didn’t drown. She was murdered.”
“Then who killed her?”
The family erupted in whispers. Nicoletta’s face darkened, while Fletcher fought to keep calm.
Nicoletta turned sharply toward Caitlin. “Caitlin, none of us noticed that mark. How is it that only you did? Could it be that Uzma’s death, you…”
Her words trailed off, suggestive.
Caitlin gave a cold laugh. “So now you suspect me? If I were the killer, why would I draw everyone’s attention to the fact her death was suspicious?”
Indeed, a murderer would normally try to destroy evidence, not expose it.
Nicoletta pressed harder. “Who’s to say Uzma wasn’t being used as someone’s scapegoat? And killing doesn’t always mean doing it with your own hands. Maybe you didn’t kill her, but what if your people did? Someone here clearly wants to sow chaos in the Jonathan family.”
She had reason to fear. Ignatius had told her what Caitlin had done in the Yuncey family–how she’d turned them upside down, broken them apart in no time at all. Dead bodies, prison sentences, destruction. That woman was ruthless. A smile and the knife went in clean.
Now she was here, trying to play the same game with the Jonathans. Nicoletta could not let her succeed.
The target of her suspicion was obvious: Caitlin, and by extension, Zinnia and Tyler.
But Caitlin stayed composed. “Nicoletta, don’t rush to conclusions. Uzma’s cause of death can be determined by the police. Whether she drowned, whether she was murdered, and who the killer was, they’ll uncover it. I’m only pointing out that this is homicide. If you bury her without investigation, Uzma will have died in vain, and her killer will never pay.”
Her words were sharp, ringing with justice. Nicoletta’s face grew uglier, and she had no comeback.
Fletcher, however, felt cold sweat under his collar. How could they smooth this over quickly?
At last Hector, who had been silent, spoke. “Enough. Caitlin is right. Call the police. Find out the truth of Uzma’s death. At the very least, the girl deserves that.”
35 vouerera
Nicoletta tried again. “Master, if word of this gets out, it could tarnish our family’s reputation. If we handle it as a drowning, give Uzma’s family generous compensation, they won’t trouble us. But if it turns into a murder case, her family may not let it go. The Jonathan family will never know peace. We must be careful not to fall into someone’s trap.”
Hector heard her meaning. She was warning him. Uzma’s sudden death was odd, and Caitlin’s insistence on involving the police might be a ploy to dig into their family.
He hesitated. “Yes… perhaps we should think this over carefully.”
“I don’t think so,” Caitlin cut in, shattering their plan. “Since ancient times, debts must be repaid, and murder must be answered with life. That is the law of heaven and earth. With a killing, how can there be no investigation? Don’t worry–I already notified the police. They’ll be here soon.”
“You…” Nicoletta wanted to lash out, but her words were drowned out by the sound of cars pulling up outside.
The same police officers who had come that morning stepped inside. “We’re with the Regalis police. We received a report of a homicide. Where’s the body?”
“Here,” Devin said, leading them to it.
With the police present, Nicoletta and Fletcher had no choice but to fall silent. Fletcher was uneasy, but he told himself not to fear. Uzma was dead. The dead tell no tales.
The investigation began. Forensics conducted a preliminary examination while the police questioned the servant Lao Xia, who had found the body. He gave his statement.
Then they began questioning the family, asking about Uzma’s relationships, whether she’d had conflicts or quarrels.
The coroner gave an initial estimate: Uzma had died the previous day. The police asked, “Who saw Uzma last?”
A maid spoke up. “I saw her yesterday. She said she was bringing freshly laundered clothes to the master’s room.”
The officers turned to Hector. He shook his head. “She never came. I waited yesterday and today, but she never showed.”
Nicoletta chimed in. “Yes. I was with the master the whole time. Uzma never came.”
No one else could recall anything useful. Finally, the police ordered Uzma’s body taken for further examination.
As they prepared to leave, Caitlin stepped forward. “Officer, I’d like to accompany you. I may have information that could help.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“Because crucial evidence must be given at the crucial moment. If I spoke too soon, no one would have believed me. Now it may be taken seriously.”
20:55 Mon, Oct 6
As she said this, she looked straight at Nicoletta.
The reasoning was sound. The police could tell she had things she didn’t want to reveal in front of everyone. They agreed to take her along.
The patrol car drove off, leaving the family buzzing with speculation. Nicoletta and Fletcher exchanged a look. Neither of them had any idea what Caitlin was planning.
Liliana returned just then, catching sight of Caitlin in the back of the police car. For a moment she thought she was seeing things, but no–it was her. She was being taken away.
Liliana had already heard the news: Uzma was dead, and it looked like murder.
Putting it together, she smirked to herself. So the killer was Caitlin?
Perfect. Let her be convicted, let her rot in a Regalis prison cell.
She entered the hall, passing Fletcher as he rushed out with a grim face, too preoccupied to even notice her greeting.
Inside, the family was still murmuring about Uzma’s death.
Liliana burst out, “Father, Mother–was it Caitlin who killed Uzma?”