After hanging up, Susan stared blankly at the computer screen in front of her.
Ian showed up a while later.
“You’re here, Ian.” Susan jumped to her feet and pointed at the footage. “Take a look at this. I’ve confirmed that something really was off about the way Zaylynn had her nails done. The woman who did her nails just ran away.”
Ian sat down while rubbing his temples.
In fact, he had gotten a few people to look into this matter. After the errand runners had arrived at the university, they spotted two of Zaylynn’s female friends—one of whom was Felicia—carrying the two buckets into campus.
After the girls passed a narrow path surrounded by trees, the errand runners then discovered some traces of phosphate on one of the tree branches.
In other words, this was a planned murder.
“Let’s wait for the cops here,” said Ian after watching the footage. “They’ll definitely find out what else could be behind this. They’re professionals.”
He spoke coldly and relentlessly.
Susan didn’t oppose after finding out the truth, and so the two remained inside the nail salon, waiting for the police to arrive.
As anticipated, a team of police dressed in full uniform showed up ten minutes later.
The captain made his way over to Susan and Ian right after spotting them.
“Good day. I’m Captain of the Crime Investigation Unit. Were you the ones who found a lead?”
“Yes, officer.”
Susan stood up and related her experience here while referring to the surveillance footage.
The captain immediately began a search.
“And this is?”
“This is my nephew, Officer. He-”
“There’s a narrow path with locust trees on both sides on the way to the female dorms on campus, officer,” Ian suddenly chimed in. “If you take a look at the sixth tree on the left, you’ll find what you’re looking for on one of its branches.”
Susan was completely dumbfounded. The young man had calmly relayed his thoughts instead of looking apprehensive like he usually did when dealing with strangers.
Is… he not afraid anymore?
Of course, the captain knew nothing about Ian’s condition, so he gave the latter an approving pat on the shoulder after being provided with such an important lead.
“I’ll do that. What’s your name?”
“Uh… You should get to searching right away, officer. Don’t let anyone ruin your plans.”
Noticing the way Ian’s brows twitched, Susan hastily changed the subject and pulled him over by the arm.
The young man didn’t like interacting with strangers, and he certainly didn’t appreciate being touched by one either.
After lugging him toward her, Susan sighed with relief as she watched the captain leave with his team.
“It’s okay. You can change your clothes once we head back,” she said while rubbing Ian’s shoulder.
The young man said nothing.
He merely gave the woman’s anxious-looking face a quick glance before shifting his gaze elsewhere coolly.
“Okay.”
Eventually, Zaylynn was deemed innocent and thus released.
As for the reason behind the incident, the police believed that Zaylynn had attracted too much attention on campus, which ultimately led to some resentment toward her.
Still, the truth would remain a mystery until the culprit was apprehended.
Speaking of the culprit…
“I’ve received a text from the captain we met that day,” explained Susan while busying herself in the kitchen. “He said they’ve issued a nationwide arrest warrant against that woman from the nail salon. She’s now wanted across the whole country, and they believe she won’t be able to run away for much longer.”
Both young men could hear her. Timothy was reading a fantasy novel while hogging the bathroom, whereas Ian sat in the living room feeding a turtle they and recently bought as a pet.
Ian had nothing to respond with after hearing his aunt’s words.
An arrest warrant?
I guess I’ve overestimated them. Not every cop is as efficient as Uncle Devin is. A lot of them are just trash.
Thinking that, the young man tossed two turtle pellets into the tank.
“You’re feeding him again? You can’t keep feeding the turtle, Ian! He’ll die if he overeats!”
A slim figure walked out of the kitchen just in time to see him feeding the turtle, and the woman swiftly grabbed his hand before scooping the pellets out of the tank.
Ian silently glanced at Susan’s slender hand before looking down, his thick lashes concealing the fluctuating emotions in his eyes.
Timothy walked out of the bathroom at this very moment. “Come on, Susan. It’s just a turtle! Why are you being so dramatic? You scared Ian.”
“Huh?”
Susan quickly came to her senses.
“Sorry, Ian! I guess I overreacted. Don’t panic, okay? I had no intention of blaming you for anything,” she apologized while letting go of the young man.
But in truth, how could Ian ever be upset at her over something like this?
