Chapter 124: The Murderer Has Been Caught

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: The Murderer Has Been Caught

I was stunned for a moment and sat bolt upright. "I... I don’t have any missed calls from you guys."

"Last night, Erin Whittaker and Julian Fletcher took it upon themselves to lure out the killer. Erin was almost killed, and Julian got stabbed trying to save her. He’s still in surgery, and the doctors say he’s in critical condition..." Madeline Quinn sounded frantic. "Did that bitch Erin Whittaker call you? It’s a good thing you didn’t come, otherwise..."

Madeline Quinn didn’t say the rest. ’Otherwise, I probably would have met the same fate as Cecilia Caldwell.’

I gasped. ’So Erin Whittaker and Julian Fletcher were scheming against Asher last night, but they ended up luring out the real killer instead, and now something’s happened to Julian?’

"I’ll be right there." ’No matter what, Mrs. Fletcher is still laid up in the hospital. Madeline Quinn said she just woke up, only for Julian to get hurt...’

"Did they catch the killer?" I asked instinctively.

’I called Zeke Shaw the moment it happened last night. Julian Fletcher might be a scumbag, but he’s been working out for years. It wouldn’t be easy for a killer to injure him that badly.’

’Zeke Shaw and his team were right there in Street Alley. It’s a quick trip to the orphanage—they could get there in five minutes. The killer couldn’t have escaped again, right?’

"They caught him..." Madeline Quinn sighed in relief on the other end. Then, her voice trembling with emotion, she said, "Cece... they caught the killer."

’I knew she was saying it for Cecilia Caldwell.’

Her best friend.

For some reason, my eyes started to burn, and I raised a hand to cover my mouth.

’They finally caught him?’

I was probably so emotional that my fingers were trembling.

Everything felt so sudden.

"Even though Julian Fletcher is a bastard who deserves to die... this time, he was actually the one who planned to lure out the killer. Zeke Shaw said the killer is exceptionally smart, leaves no evidence, and has incredible counter-surveillance skills. Julian started staking out the orphanage yesterday. He made Erin Whittaker draw out the killer, saying it was her way of atoning."

The killer has excellent counter-surveillance skills. If the police had tried to use Erin Whittaker as bait, the killer would’ve seen through it instantly. He would never take the bait while under police surveillance.

But if Erin Whittaker ran off on her own and had a meltdown at the orphanage, that would be a different story.

The killer wouldn’t pass up such a perfect opportunity. It was like a fish delivering itself to his doorstep.

"The killer... Who is it?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

Madeline Quinn was silent for a long time before she spoke. "It’s that kid, Ash. After we let him go, he killed again."

I froze, completely stunned.

’It was Ash?’

’I’d always suspected something was off about Ash. He was a minor, only fifteen or sixteen, but his eyes were chillingly cold—not like a boy his age at all.’

After hanging up, I hurried to the hospital. I needed to hear what the police had to say.

This was a serial murder case, not the work of a single person. The surveillance footage alone had captured at least three individuals.

Ash had to be one of those three.

With Ash in custody, the others would surely be identified through interrogation. It was only a matter of time.

When I went downstairs, Asher was in the courtyard trimming flowers. He picked out a few white roses and handed them to me.

I took the flowers, my vision blurring.

I sniffled and managed a smile for Asher.

’This is great. The killer isn’t him...’

’Though he couldn’t be completely cleared of suspicion yet... I think I was already starting to hope he was innocent.’

"Asher, come out with me," I said, holding out my hand to him. "They caught the killer. Something happened to Julian Fletcher, so let’s go to the hospital and see what’s going on."

Asher’s hand stiffened for a moment before he looked up at me. "Really?"

"Yes." I nodded excitedly, my hand still trembling slightly. "The police caught him. It was Ash... We were all deceived by him."

’I hoped Asher had been deceived by him, too.’

The police were fully aware that Asher had arranged for Assistant Foster to sponsor Ash. Now I was afraid Asher would also be investigated as a suspect.

On the way to the hospital, Asher was silent, looking as if he had something on his mind.

Just as we were about to get out of the car, he suddenly shook his head. "No, that’s wrong..."

I faltered, looking at Asher. "What’s wrong?"

"It’s wrong. The timing is wrong. He wouldn’t let himself get caught at this point in time."

Asher muttered, seemingly calculating something in his head.

The timing.

Something was off.

"Could it be... that Julian Fletcher’s plan tricked him into coming out?" ’If Julian’s scheme threw a wrench in the killer’s plan, then of course the timing would be off.’

Asher shook his head. "Julian Fletcher... is an idiot."

In Asher’s eyes, Julian Fletcher wasn’t capable enough.

I shook my head. "Julian Fletcher isn’t dumb. He was top of their class."

He was also known as a finance prodigy, a rising star in the business world who made the Fletcher Group’s value skyrocket right after taking over the family business.

’I was just making an objective analysis, not trying to praise Julian Fletcher in any way.’

’Julian Fletcher did have his strong points.’

Asher puffed out his cheeks and snorted. "Idiot."

To a genius like him, Julian Fletcher was just an idiot.

’It’s like the stories say: didn’t all those Ascenders who endured countless hardships just end up as another face among the hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers sent to besiege the Monkey King?’

’And among mortals, weren’t every single one of those Ascenders considered outstanding? Geniuses, even.’

I sighed and took Asher’s hand. "In any case, now that they’ve caught one of the killers, they’re sure to get the rest."

Asher remained distracted.

My eyelid kept twitching, too. I was thrilled that they had caught the killer, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all too simple.

’Julian Fletcher is capable, but could he really outsmart the killer?’

With Ash’s arrest, Owen Foster, who had been in contact with him and sponsored him, was also brought in for questioning.

However, Owen Foster’s answers were flawless, and the killer didn’t try to frame him, so he was released fairly quickly. He just had to remain available for further questioning.

"Julian Fletcher’s condition isn’t looking good." Zeke Shaw was waiting outside the operating room, rubbing his temples.

"He said he wanted to atone... that he couldn’t involve the police. It’s ridiculous... Cecilia Caldwell is already dead. What good is his atonement now?" Zeke Shaw’s voice was hoarse as he grumbled.

"He said he had wronged Cecilia Caldwell. He knew something would happen to him, but he made a deal with Erin Whittaker to draw out the killer anyway."

When Erin Whittaker refused, Julian Fletcher forced her, telling her it was a debt she owed to Cecilia Caldwell.

From the police’s perspective, this kind of behavior was reckless.

But at least they did catch the killer. The price, however, was far too steep.

"Ash confessed to masterminding the murders. The timelines he gave all match up. But... he refuses to give up the other two people, his two accomplices." Zeke Shaw looked up at me, then glanced at Asher.

’I knew he suspected Asher.’

"Based on the surveillance footage, none of the suspects had a build as tall as Asher’s. You can disguise your height to look taller, but you can’t make yourself look shorter," I explained instinctively, trying to defend Asher.

Asher stood behind me, his eyes fixed on me.

He murmured for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Zeke Shaw. "He wouldn’t let you catch him that easily. It’s wrong... The timing is wrong."

Zeke Shaw frowned, not yet understanding what Asher meant.

Asher just kept repeating that it was wrong.

"The kid was wearing a wig. He has severe burns on his head and body, so he’s completely bald. He’s a severe burn victim, and his internal organs are failing. He doesn’t have much time left. His lungs can barely function on their own. He said he just wanted revenge—revenge on the person who set the fire at the orphanage all those years ago. He claims he planned everything."

Because of his severe burns, Ash has no hair and no fingerprints. That’s why he left no trace besides his footprints.

As a severe burn victim, he’s lived in constant pain for the past few years. The hospital prescribed him anesthetic painkillers, which explains how he had access to those drugs.

The police had already traced the drugs back to him, and it all lined up. The timing of it all was just too convenient.

"He still won’t name his accomplices." Zane shook his head at Captain Lowell.

Just then, a female officer took a call. "Captain Lowell, Ash says he’ll name his accomplices, but on one condition: he wants to see you!"

Zeke Shaw stood up and glanced at me. "I have to head back."

But Asher suddenly reached out and grabbed Zeke Shaw’s arm. "It’s wrong... It’s wrong."