One Hundred and ninety one

CHAPTER 191

"And, oh, this is good news. Let's forget about the mayor, he'll only comment if we succeed or fail. This is information found by Peter." Everyone was now looking at Peter, and Peter lifted his face proudly. Well, he was indeed a competent and passionate junior detective. "Peter, can you share that information with the people in this room?"

"Sure, Chief."

Peter opened the journal on the table, and then looked at his colleagues in turn. "I looked into the murders of Jason and Jill, and it turns out they both had a similar pattern, killed and then dumped in the water. But what really connects the two of them? The answer is their children."

Noel asked, "What happened to Jill and Jason's children? Jill's daughter died poisoned, while Jason's children have not been found until now."

Peter nodded his head. "That's right. But as it turns out, Princess Jill and one of Jason's sons, have a congenital disease that requires them to be hospitalized in a pediatric hospital. It's a rare genetic disease, and doctors are still doing great research to find a cure, but according to medical records, this disease does lead to cancer and the doctors agreed to call it cancer if they had to explain it to the media. These children were treated in the same hospital, in the same ward."

Hendrick finally dared to speak out. "So, the parents could have met while treating the children at the hospital?"

"It's possible," Peter said, he then continued, "We can link the deaths of the two victims, Jill and Jason, if we find out whether these two people had a business relationship or not. And I'm still looking into whether they both knew Ace or not."

Noel nodded in understanding. "That's good information, Peter. We finally know that the two victims had an attachment. But, have Michelle and Edward also had any dealings with the children's hospital, where the children were treated?"

Peter looked at Nicholas, he hadn't gotten that far. So the expression on his face turned uncomfortable. Peter looked at Nicholas guiltily, while Nicholas raised both eyebrows in curiosity. "I, haven't gotten any information to that extent. I will look into Michelle and Edward."

Noel agreed with Peter's intentions. "Maybe we can combine the information after the audit results from the Alpha Company's financial team, Michelle and Edward's company have been officially released. According to my information there, the audit results will be completed in one week, Alpha Company has already announced new managerial changes and apparently, Alicia will be one of the candidates to succeed the company based on the inheritance letter from Michelle and Edward."

Nicholas muttered, "I haven't had a chance to talk to Alicia about this yet. Last night was really bad. We almost got Ace, but he got away after kidnapping Alicia."

Elden raised his hands in the air, then he drew people's attention. "I've heard about Ace kidnapping Alicia, but I don't know why he didn't attack you and chose to run away. Even though in the forest, that masked man shot you, Chief."

Everyone immediately speculated.

"What you said is true, which means there could be two different people in this case. Two people with different goals too. You can't rule out the possibility, Nick," Noel suggested.

The tension in the room continued as the team absorbed Peter's statement about the relationship between Jill and Jason. Two murder victims whose cause of death was still in question. Noel's mind was already racing, connecting the dots that could potentially unravel the mystery that had gripped the city.

Noel leaned forward, her eyes narrowed in contemplation. "Peter, dig deeper into Ace's background. If he has any involvement with the hospital, it might explain why he's targeting these families. And Elden, find out more about the masked man who shot me. We may be dealing with two separate threads in this complicated network. Maybe you should schedule yourself to go into the forest."

As the team split up to carry out their tasks, the mood in the room changed from uncertainty to determination. Nicholas, deep in thought, realized that there was more at stake than they thought. The specter of a second player in this deadly game added a layer of complexity that fueled their urgency.

"Alpha Company is a large national company, could it be one of the sources of the hospital's investors?" A possibility sparked from Noel, it was a logical thought. He looked at everyone in the room, asking for approval. "If we can prove their connection, this will be a big clue for us."

Noel's mind was buzzing with newfound purpose. The revelation about Jill and Jason's intertwined fates through their sick children sparked a determination to unravel the mystery shrouding the city. As the team splits up to perform their tasks, Noel sits at her desk, contemplating the intricate web they face.

Meanwhile, Peter digs deeper into Ace's background, tracing every piece of information available. He traces Ace's ties to the children's hospital, discovering hidden connections that hint at a more sinister motive behind the targeted families. Ace, it seems, has a history with the hospital, which raises questions about his involvement in a complex web of more than just criminal intent.

Elden, on the other hand, is focused on unraveling the mystery of the masked man who has shot Noel. His investigation takes him down a dark path, uncovering a clandestine organization that operates in the shadows of the city. The masked man's affiliation with this mysterious group hints at a wider conspiracy, adding an extra layer of complexity to this already complicated case.

Nicholas, haunted by the events of Alicia's recent abduction, finds himself torn between his personal problems and professional obligations. He seeks solace by connecting the dots between Ace, the masked man, and the hospital. The realization that they may be dealing with two separate threads in this complex tapestry of crime only strengthens his resolve to bring justice to the affected families.