Chapter 180: I Must Catch the Murderer

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: I Must Catch the Murderer

The two of them did indeed go to the restroom during their shift, but always in a group with several others. They had no opportunity to act alone.

The police at the time even brought in all the workers from both workshops and questioned them one by one, confirming the couple never had a single opportunity to act alone.

Thus, they were cleared of suspicion.

But after examining the crime scene, the police turned their attention to the victims’ neighbors.

The lock on the door was undamaged, and none of the windows were broken.

This meant either someone had knocked and the two girls, recognizing them as an acquaintance, opened the door, or the killer had a key to their apartment.

That was the only way they could have gotten in without making a sound or alerting anyone else.

With the parents cleared, the most likely suspects were the neighbors.

Among them, the police focused on the neighbor who had spoken up earlier, the one who claimed to have heard the father’s voice.

They took her back to the station and interrogated her thoroughly, but found nothing.

Since they couldn’t confirm she was the culprit, the police couldn’t keep her detained and had to let her go.

However, it wasn’t a total dead end.

The neighbor testified that her dowry had been a watch. When she heard the voices and went to knock on the door, she had specifically checked the time. It was around 11 PM.

She said she heard not only what sounded like the man of the house but also the youngest girl’s voice. The two of them, father and daughter, exchanged several sentences.

They were speaking in low voices, probably because it was late and they didn’t want to wake the neighbors.

The neighbor didn’t think anything of it. After knocking once, she went back to sleep. The next morning, she heard a loud KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK from outside.

She was a little confused when she saw the couple standing outside, thinking the husband had just returned only to go out again.

It wasn’t until the door was forced open, revealing the brutal scene inside, that she realized something terrible had happened.

The neighbor was quickly cleared of suspicion.

Other witnesses came forward who could corroborate her story; they had also heard the knocking and a faint reply that sounded like the husband.

After that, the police treated the entire building as a list of suspects, then proceeded to eliminate them one by one.

They searched the entire building and the surrounding area, but still found nothing.

The entire police department poured eighty percent of its resources into the case, even bringing in outside help, but they still came up empty-handed.

"Something about this feels strange." Zoe Sawyer stared at the passage describing the conversation between the father and daughter, lost in thought.

Heath Hale followed Zoe Sawyer’s gaze to the passage she was staring at. "The police at the time considered other theories," he explained. "For instance, that the killer might have known how to mimic other people’s voices."

’Voice mimicry!’

’Or, more accurately, vocal mimicry!’

Zoe Sawyer’s eyes lit up. ’There might not be many people who can do vocal mimicry now, but back in the sixties and seventies, there must have been plenty!’

’But if I can think of it, the police back then surely did too.’

Sure enough, as if on cue, Heath Hale placed another report in front of Zoe Sawyer.

"The police asked the couple if they had made any enemies or had any financial disputes with anyone, but it led nowhere."

"The neighbors could also attest that the family was kind and good-natured. If anyone asked for help, the couple would never refuse as long as it was within their ability."

"The two girls were also well-behaved and obedient; they were either at home helping with chores or playing with friends downstairs. All the neighbors had a very high opinion of the family and never imagined they would suffer such a tragedy."

’Simple social circle, no financial disputes.’

’Harmonious relationships with neighbors, everyone in the building cleared, and not a single clue found at the scene.’

’No wonder the case went cold and remains unsolved to this day.’

"The couple was only in their twenties when it happened. Afterward, they kept working, all while waiting for news from the police. They’d come by every few days to ask about the investigation’s progress."

"Now they’re in their nineties. They never had any more children, and their health is failing. If it weren’t for their determination to see the killer caught, they probably wouldn’t have made it this long." Heath Hale had clearly familiarized himself with the case, and he couldn’t help but shake his head as he spoke.

This case became a thorn in the side of the police department over there. They would periodically reopen the investigation, but too much time had passed, and too little evidence remained. They had nothing to go on.

But whether for the sake of the elderly couple who had waited so long for the truth, or for the three innocent children who died so senselessly...

...they had to solve this case.

It was the only way to give them closure.

They couldn’t let the old couple go to their graves with this regret.

The provincial bureau had also kept this case in mind. When they learned that the higher-ups were launching a special initiative to clear cold cases, they immediately brought this one forward.

After being passed around, the case eventually made its way to Varden and landed in Zoe Sawyer’s hands.

This was, in a way, a test for Zoe Sawyer.

If she could crack this one, others would likely be sent her way.

After reviewing the entire case from start to finish, Zoe Sawyer took a deep breath, picked up the first file, and memorized the detailed time and address written on it.

Zoe Sawyer looked at Heath Hale, her eyes filled with resolve. "I’m ready!"

Recalling Zoe Sawyer’s earlier reaction, Heath Hale said worriedly, "If it’s too much, we can wait. This case has been cold for decades. One more day won’t make a difference."

The case was important, but Zoe Sawyer’s physical and mental well-being were important too.

Zoe Sawyer thought of the three children’s gruesome deaths and their parents, who were still waiting for the truth. She shook her head, refusing Heath Hale’s well-intentioned offer. "I can do this. I want to solve this case as quickly as possible and give those three children and their parents some closure."

’It’s been over fifty years. The killer might already be dead.’

’But the truth of the case shouldn’t be buried with them.’

’If we don’t solve this now, that couple might never learn the truth. They’ll go to their graves haunted by it.’

That wasn’t an outcome Zoe Sawyer was willing to accept.

’I have this ability; I should be using it to do more.’

Zoe Sawyer knew she was something of an idealist, but she was also thankful that she could put her abilities to their greatest possible use.

Seeing her so determined, Heath Hale didn’t try to dissuade her further.

As Zoe Sawyer stood at the entrance and reached for the doorknob, Heath Hale reached out and took her by the wrist.

Zoe had looked deeply unsettled just from seeing the photos. Now she was about to witness the scene firsthand.

Heath Hale worried the shock would be too much for her to handle all at once.

He met Zoe Sawyer’s astonished gaze with a small smile. "I’ll go with you."

"...Okay!"