One Hundred and sixty seven

CHAPTER 167

"This corner has a window with a trellis, while that side has no trellis." Nicholas pointed to the far end, to the box-sized window whose curtains were burnt. "The fire department arrived thirty minutes after the fire started. That's long enough for the whole house to catch fire."

Noel found himself agreeing with Nicholas' statement. One hand felt the table that was now lying on the floor. It looked burnt, with half of the table black and the legs looking fragile.

"This still doesn't explain why Michelle was hit by the table and died on the spot. Her head was indeed injured, probably hit by this table. But, how?"

Nicholas and Noel exchanged glances. "Was Michelle framed, invited to go to this area and then hit her head on the table. So, this table would be the only evidence and reason why Michelle could have died instantly."

"Doctor Harris said that it was a quick death. Death caused by a fatal injury. How hard was the blow to Michella's head that she hit the table and died instantly?"

Nicholas furrowed his brows, deep in thought. Noel, who was still surveying the charred remains of the room, couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than met the eye.

"I think we're missing an important piece of the puzzle," Noel mused, tracing his fingers along the edge of the burnt table. "The fire itself doesn't explain how Michelle got under this heavy piece of furniture. It's as if someone deliberately orchestrated the events that led to her death."

Nicholas nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the room for subtle clues. "What if Michelle was already unconscious or unable to move before the fire broke out? That would explain why she couldn't escape the flames."

Noel's mind whirled with possibilities. "Maybe she was lured here for another reason. A fake meeting, perhaps, or a trap. The real question is, who wanted Michelle dead, and why go to such lengths to make it look like an accident?"

"I've checked with Alpha Company, but they don't want to issue any statements. Unless Alicia requests it since she will be the one to continue the company."

Hearing such strict rules, Nicholas narrowed his eyes suspiciously. It felt like Nicholas was about to get involved with a serious case. He asked, "What are they doing?"

"After Michelle and Edward's deaths, they will be auditing the financial management and internal managerial systems. Their lawyers will meet with Alicia to notify her of the will and divide the inheritance and company assets that should be Alicia's personal assets."

"That sounds like... they have a fancy company and a lot of money," Nicholas guessed.

"Alpha Company works in the national media field, they have a lot of backing. And yeah, you're right, they're very rich."

Nicholas chuckled amusedly, he girded his loins and raised his voice. "If Alicia is the sole heir and she will remain wealthy, why does she have to work part-time at Uncle Chuck's shop? This is ridiculous."

"The process of giving away assets and so on does have to wait for the ongoing audit, Nick. It's not as easy as it sounds, Alicia will get the money after all the cases are over and we will get the company's financial statements after the audit is done."

There was a pause, Nicholas didn't answer right away. "What about the bank statements of Michelle and Edward's accounts?"

"We also still need to wait, I think the bank is communicating with Alicia's family lawyer," Noel explained, he shrugged his shoulders and continued, "Michelle and Edward seem to have prepared a lot for the worst."

"Is this because they are businessmen?"

"I think they're hiding something, I heard... Michelle is still good friends with Alicia's previous adoptive parents. They're all connected from the past."

Nicholas raised his eyebrows. "Do you think Alicia knows something she's not telling us?"

Noel sighed, her gaze shifting to the remnants of the once elegant carpet. "It's hard to say. But Michelle's relationship with Alicia's previous adoptive parents adds another layer to this mystery. What if there was an ulterior motive, a grudge stemming from their past?"

Nicholas' mind was filled with possibilities. "So, Michelle and Edward are not just successful businessmen; they are entangled in a web of personal connections, secrets, and perhaps, betrayal."

As they explored the room further, Nicholas noticed a strange pattern on the walls - scorch marks that appeared to be intentional. "Look at this, Noel. These marks don't correspond to a random fire. It's almost like a message, a cryptic symbol left behind."

Noel studied the markings, her detective instincts kicking in. "Could it be a warning? Or a signal? Michelle may be involved in something much more complex than a business deal gone wrong."

Nicholas looked around, his eyes narrowed. "We need to dig deeper into Michelle's past. Find out who might have had ill intentions towards her. And why frame her death in such a dramatic way?"

Noel gave a long mutter, then looked around suspiciously.

"We can include business rivalry in the list of motives for Michelle and Edward's murder. I'll check with Alicia, see if she knows what her parents do and how their business works. Maybe we can get an outline of how Alpha Company runs while waiting for the audit team to finish."

"It will probably take a few months until the audit is complete, if Alicia knows a lot it will be better."

Nicholas took off his latex gloves, "But I don't promise to force her. After all, she is in an unstable condition."

"You want to check the backyard? I thought you wanted to check everything twice," said Noel, to which Nicholas immediately agreed.

"Sure, let's see if we can find a way out through the backyard." Nicholas pointed to the windows beside him and said, "He must know how to get in and out without getting burnt in a fire."

"Well, that's true. He started the fire and left, should we check for people who might have burns on their bodies?"