Chapter 699:
Their business sedan sped toward the sheriff’s office, reaching it quickly. It was lunchtime, and the officer on duty turned out to be the same disabled man they had met the night before.
Though surprised by their arrival, he listened carefully to their explanation and offered warmly, “If that’s the case, I’ll go with you to Abram’s place. But it’s quite a distance from here, and the mountain roads are harsh, so stay cautious.”
“Understood,” Rylie replied with a soft smile. “My driver is skilled, so there shouldn’t be any trouble.”
The officer gave a slight nod. “Please wait outside for a while.”
Once Rylie and Brad stepped out of the office, a colleague nearby muttered in irritation, “When will they finally stop? Why would your brother’s wife want to run away in the first place?”
Terrell Deleon responded smoothly, spinning his tale without hesitation. “She found out she was taken as an infant, so she’s been causing trouble. Still, she knows my brother’s strength and has quieted down these past few days. The outsiders must have been unsettled, so I’ll take them there myself and clear it up.”
“Very well, but don’t forget the warning. The town’s headman ordered that she must be returned safely, and no mishaps can occur.”
“I understand.”
Stepping out of the office, Terrell quickly sent a discreet message to his brother. “The bait is hooked. Be prepared. A heavy storm is expected tonight, and with it the chance of a landslide. This may be our only opportunity to arrange an accident and rid ourselves of Rylie.”
He then rapped lightly against the window of the business sedan. “Let’s take my vehicle instead. Your car is too large for the narrow mountain paths without guardrails, and I won’t risk any mishaps on the way.”
Rylie and Brad followed him into the police cruiser, which quietly departed through the back gate of the sheriff’s office, avoiding the main entrance altogether. Patrick’s lookout had been keeping watch at the front, but after waiting fruitlessly for an hour, he finally went inside to inquire, only to discover that they had already left some time ago, heading into the mountains to visit Abram’s wife.
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The report reached Patrick, and his face grew grim. “Did you just say Miss Owen went to that butcher’s home?”
The contact responded, “Yes, she went with his brother Terrell, likely just for a standard inspection. Should I tail them?”
Patrick paused in thought before questioning, “When exactly did Abram’s wife appear? It’s been so long that I can’t even recall her background. Go verify it.”
The informant replied, “Understood.”
The police car wound its way up the mountain as storm clouds gathered above. As they neared the peak, a heavy downpour struck, drumming against the glass and leaving the path ahead barely discernible. Even so, they succeeded in reaching their destination safely.
Rylie glanced at her phone. “No service.”
Terrell clarified, “This region falls under a government project meant to assist poor villages. The cell tower only started construction last month, so it’s expected there’s no network yet. But it makes little difference; only a handful of households live here, most of them farmers who head out at dawn and return late, with hardly any time for leisure.”
The downpour had turned the yard into a swamp of thick mud, the damp earth mingling with livestock waste to produce a foul odor.
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