Percival had never intended to summon Richard, but since Baron wanted Richard there, he had no objections.

The tale of his grandparents and Baron was something he had heard since he was a child. His grandmother had been pivotal to both men.

If they wanted to settle old scores, Percival was willing to let them.

Upon hearing that Percival had unearthed the murderer of the dear old lady, Richard dropped everything and bolted over to the Brooks Mansion.

Bursting through the door, he was brimming with urgency. “Percival! Baron just told me over the phone that you found out who killed your grandma. Is it true?”

With a nod and a knowing glance at Thomas, Percival affirmed, “Yeah. Take a seat. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Thomas dragged over a chair, and Richard plopped down eagerly. “Alright! Let’s see who murdered your grandma. Just give me a name, and I’ll break their damn kneecaps!”

His gaze purposefully swept towards Judith.

Baron had hinted over the phone that Judith was tied up in this mess.

Richard settled in, but Baron did not have anyone to fetch him a chair. So, he grabbed one himself and sat down.

Percival scanned the room, pulled out his smartphone, and handed it to Thomas. “Project this.”

His phone had a built-in projector, a feature Thomas had used countless times. He quickly set it up.

“Open this photo,” Percival instructed Thomas, then turned to Judith. “After the tragedy with my grandma, the police locked down the scene. You, being her close friend, were interrogated. This was your statement from back then.”

The statement seemed clear-cut, leaving no room for suspicion.

to

Percival, wondering

Percival spoke calmly, “This statement is perfect. Too perfect,

home for three days around the time of Grandma’s dinner party. Witnesses confirmed that.

flicked to

Judith went pale.

How could this be?

had covered her tracks perfectly. How had

through the crowd, their gazes shifting

“You sneaky witch, Judith!

quick to intercept. “Calm down. Let’s get the full story

composed, countering, “What does this photo prove? I was

some podunk town for

mention of the incident nearly sent Richard

tired of the local Rivenwood cuisine and craved something new. Somehow, they settled on this little town with a rumored fantastic hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Richard had questioned the choice, having never heard of the place, but Dahlia showed him an ad from

the restaurant’s reputation and learning about a nearby church said to be powerful, they booked their visit

a nanny for safety,

did he allow Dahlia to

tragedy struck that evening – a fire claimed the lives of

arrived, Dahlia, her

The devastation was incomprehensible.

but concluded it was intentional

had passed, and the pain was as

I supposed to know where they were dining? They didn’t even

voice dropped an octave, his eyes narrowing. “And

switched to

showed a call from Judith’s family landline to Dahlia, made by

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