Chapter 165

As soon as Kathy woke up, I couldn't wait to ask her the question.

Kathy looked annoyed. "Don't even get me started. It was my own fault for getting caught."

"Wasn't Brandon supposed to be with Maeve at a hotel? I was so mad, I decided to stake out the place. Sure enough, I saw them go in again."

"So I thought I'd snap a few more photos. But just as I saw Brandon enter the hotel, the next second he was right beside my car."

We all exchanged glances, stunned.

"Forget whether it's possible or not, it sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie."

"Exactly. At first, I couldn't believe it either. I thought I must have been mistaken. But it was definitely Brandon. He was standing by my car window, knocking and asking me to get out."

Kathy shuddered at the memory. "Of course, I couldn't get out. That would have confirmed I was stalking him. So I rolled down the window and asked him what he was doing there."

She vividly described the scene. "Brandon looked at me suspiciously and asked if I had seen anything."

I looked at her. "What did you say?"

"Of course, I said I hadn't seen anything. What if he kidnapped me on the spot if I admitted it?"

"I told him I was there to meet a friend and asked him what he was doing there. He said he was meeting a client. I knew he was lying, but I didn't dare call him out."

"Luckily, I hadn't taken any photos. Otherwise, it would have been a whole different story if he saw them."

"I guess that's when Brandon realized I was back in Skyview City. If your plan is what you say it is, that's when he factored me into it."

I nodded. "You're right. Looking back, Brandon and Maeve going to the hotel might have been a ruse. Brandon usually respects Karen. No matter how much of a jerk he is, he wouldn't be fooling around at such a critical time."

"So there must have been someone else at the hotel. They used the hotel as a cover to meet someone."

Simon snapped his fingers. "You're right. That's definitely the answer."

Savannah asked, puzzled, "So who were they meeting that was worth risking the company's reputation?"

Simon and I exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Earl."

"If Renee and her crew have a mole in our police force, they would know Earl is now our prime suspect in the Jason case. So he wouldn't show his face in public. The only person worth all this trouble for Brandon and Maeve to meet would be him."

"It seems they haven't fallen out. They're still thick as thieves."

I couldn't help but smirk. Brandon's recent display of anger and dissatisfaction with Earl was all an act. This family really knows how to put on a show.

"So, is it possible Earl is still in Skyview City?"

"After all, Karen isn't dead yet. Wouldn't he want to see her one last time?"

Simon shook his head. "Not sure. We had people block all exits from the city on the day of the explosion. We checked the airport and train stations for any sign of Earl."

"If Earl shows up, we'll know right away. But so far, nothing."

"So, I think he's still in Skyview City. Worst case, he's already slipped out quietly. If that's the case, catching him will be a lot harder."

The atmosphere in the hospital room grew heavy. We all understood the gravity of the situation.

If Earl had indeed fled abroad, it would mean Jason's murder might go unresolved, and we would have no way to catch him.

Simon suddenly tried to lighten the mood. "Don't worry too much. Our police system is pretty advanced. If we haven't found him, it means he's still in Skyview City. We'll find a way to catch him."

We nodded, hoping he was right.

After talking all morning, we were all a bit hungry. Savannah and I decided to go out and get some food.

Kathy needed rest, so she quickly lay back down.

Savannah took me to a well-known soup restaurant nearby to get some nourishing food for Kathy.

But we ran into the last person we expected-Brandon.

As soon as we got out of the car, we saw Brandon getting out of his car across the street. He looked surprised to see me.

"Wife? What are you doing back here?"

"Kathy's in such bad shape. How could I not come back? She's seriously ill. As soon as I heard, I rushed back. Why didn't you tell me?"

Brandon hesitated for a couple of seconds before feigning surprise. "Kathy? What's wrong with her? I didn't know she was sick."

His surprise was clearly an act. I couldn't help but scoff. "Don't tell me you don't know about the recent explosion. Kathy was kidnapped."

"I really didn't know. If I had, I would have gone to see her. How is she now?"

"She just woke up. She's doing okay. We're getting her some food. What are you doing here?"

"Uh... I'm meeting a client."

His hesitant tone made it obvious he was lying, but I couldn't call him out on it now. I just nodded.

"By the way, what's with the rumors about you and Maeve online? Do you know how much the company's stock has dropped? I rushed back partly because of Kathy and partly because of this."

"Didn't I tell you not to let your personal issues affect the company?"

Brandon was taken aback and quickly apologized. "Wife, wife, you misunderstood. There's nothing between Maeve and me. The media is just making things up. I'm already planning to sue them."

"I wasn't lying to you before. You're the only woman I'll ever have. I don't know where the media got the idea that Maeve and I went to a hotel."

"Don't worry. Once the investigation is over, I'll give you the truth. The company's stock will recover. Trust me, wife."

He seemed confident because he believed he hadn't gone to the hotel with Maeve.

I stared into his eyes. "If you didn't go to the hotel, what were you two doing there?"

"Meeting a client. Maeve introduced me to a client she's close with. I thought going together might help build a rapport."