Chapter 184: Give Me One of Your Children

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Give Me One of Your Children

After the children’s father finished recounting his memories of Lumpy Lloyd, Chief Lee asked the pivotal question.

They were no fools. The father understood why Chief Lee was so concerned about a former neighbor, a man who had been dead for years. His voice trembled as he said, "That’s right. Because of that thing on his neck, he never had any friends growing up, let alone a girl willing to marry him. Naturally, he never had any kids."

At this, the father finally dredged up a specific memory. "I was raised by my grandparents. The year before it happened, my wife and I took our two kids back to our hometown to visit them—well, to visit their graves and have a little chat. On our way back, we ran into Lumpy Lloyd. When he saw my two children trailing behind me, he suddenly came right up to me and told me to give him one of my daughters. He said he could raise her to be his wife, and then he’d have someone to give him children."

Of course, the father refused. In fact, knowing Lumpy Lloyd’s character, he packed up their things that very day and left his hometown, returning to the factory.

The entire interaction had been just a few sentences, and they’d had no contact whatsoever afterward. Who could have imagined he would hold onto that, find an opportunity to sneak over to the factory, and murder all three of the children?

"Why didn’t you ever tell me about this?" The children’s mother grabbed her husband’s arm, her expression distraught.

"How could I tell you something like that? I figured we were leaving right away and would never cross paths with him again. Why would I tell you just to make you worry?

You were already heartbroken over the miscarriage. Telling you then would have been the truly irresponsible thing to do." The father’s expression was one of helplessness.

On the way back, he even made sure to tell the two children not to mention the incident to their mother because she wasn’t feeling well.

And just as he’d thought, after they returned, they never heard anything more about Lumpy Lloyd. Gradually, the father and his two daughters put the incident out of their minds.

If Chief Lee hadn’t suddenly produced that sketch, he might not have remembered for some time—if ever—that he’d once had a conflict with such a person.

"Based on evidence from our informant, we are almost certain the killer was this Lumpy Lloyd," Chief Lee said, not wanting to keep them in suspense. Now that he had the answers he needed, he laid out the details of the case for the elderly couple. "As for the motive, it was likely because he had no children and was going to die without an heir. Driven by revenge, he orchestrated this crime."

More specific details, however, would have to wait until his team could investigate the location and see what they could uncover.

The children’s father shook his head in disbelief. He never imagined that the entire tragedy stemmed from his refusal of the man’s outrageous demand for his daughter.

And that the man, enraged and humiliated by the prospect of dying without an heir, had come and murdered his children in retaliation.

They had no reason to believe the police were just fobbing them off with a convenient scapegoat.

Lumpy Lloyd had been dead for decades. If the investigation hadn’t truly led to him, the police would have had no reason to bring him up—to say nothing of the uncannily accurate sketch.

"So what happens now? The man’s dead. Does that mean you’re just dropping it?" the man sitting beside them demanded, his tone sharp as he looked at his heartbroken aunt and uncle.

They were the victims’ family, they had been seeking justice all this time. Was it all just going to be swept under the rug because the culprit was dead?!

There was nothing Chief Lee could do. The law was clear on the matter.

Given their circumstances, they couldn’t even sue for damages.

As the man was fuming with indignation, the children’s mother reached out a hand to stop him. "Hush, dear. I know you feel this is unjust for our sake.

But your uncle and I made our peace long ago with the idea that we might never find the killer in our lifetime. Knowing the truth now... at least it’s some form of closure for our three children."

It had been so long, so long they had given up all hope.

To finally know the truth before their time was up was more than they could have hoped for.

The man looked like he wanted to say more, but seeing the expressions on his two elders’ faces, he held his tongue.

Back at the Varden West Precinct, Zoe Sawyer watched the elderly couple on the video feed, and an idea began to form in her mind.

"Thanks. I’ll buy you dinner next time we get a chance." After tossing out the line, Chief Lee ended the video call.

He had to take his people to search Lumpy Lloyd’s old home; perhaps something might have been left behind.

It was a long shot, but it was worth a look.

As for Zoe Sawyer, the moment the call ended, she turned and headed for the records room.

Heath Hale started to follow her but was stopped by his chief from behind.

"Interested, are we?" The chief handed Heath Hale a bottle of mineral water. "If you’re interested, you need to make a move. Keep dragging your feet, and you’ll find someone else has already won her over."

He wasn’t blind. It was obvious Heath Hale was interested in Zoe Sawyer.

If the two of them could get together, it would be a win-win. Not only would they be keeping an experienced SWAT officer, but it would also stop other guys from getting any ideas about Zoe Sawyer.

That way, even if he himself got promoted, Evan Keller would be able to keep Heath on the team.

Heath Hale twisted off the cap and took a long swig before shaking his head. "No. Zoe’s not in that headspace. If I actually made a move, I’d just be pushing her away."

Things were fine as they were. Zoe Sawyer had a good impression of him and didn’t resist when he got close.

Whether it was the slow-boil approach or just maintaining the status quo, he was fine with it.

If he actually confessed, he’d probably find Zoe keeping her distance the very next day.

Heath Hale wasn’t willing to take that gamble.

The chief took a slow sip of water. ’Oh, well. Young people’s problems are for young people to solve,’ he thought. ’Better if I don’t stick my nose in.’

Zoe, meanwhile, was jogging back to the records room, in too much of a hurry to notice that Heath Hale hadn’t followed.

Just as she got to the doorway, she saw Beau sitting there, playing a tile-matching game on Barry Quinn’s phone.

"Beau, I need your help!"

Beau looked up at the sound of Zoe’s voice. "What’s up?"

At the same time, he handed the phone back to Barry Quinn, who was next to him, and followed Zoe inside.

With one person describing, the other drawing, and with the help of the photos from the case file...

Soon, Beau had produced an A4-sized family portrait.

The subjects of the drawing were the three unfortunate children and their parents.

"So you rushed back in such a hurry just to have Beau draw this?" Heath Hale was standing behind Zoe Sawyer now, a faint smile touching his lips as he looked at the portrait in her hands.

But it was a kind gesture. Back in that era, and given their financial situation, the family likely never had the chance to get a formal portrait taken.

Beau’s drawing would, in a way, make up for that regret.

Zoe carefully rolled up the portrait, her voice tinged with resignation. "It’s the least I can do."