Chapter 387: The Boss Is Dead, His Family Can Get a Smaller Share

Chapter 387: Chapter 387: The Boss Is Dead, His Family Can Get a Smaller Share

That seemed to connect all the pieces.

Normally, a family like this should grow larger and larger, but the Crowe family’s numbers were dwindling.

Officer Lee quickly sat back down, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

Residence records were relatively easy to investigate, and soon enough, files on all the Crowe family members had been pulled up.

Seeing row after row marked "Deceased," everyone couldn’t help but rub their arms.

Aside from Clark Crowe’s grandfather’s branch of the family, everyone else was dead.

The causes of death were varied, ranging from car accidents and other incidents to drug overdoses or being beaten to death for having an affair.

However, Zoe Sawyer and the others noticed that the deaths with suspicious causes all occurred abroad, while the deaths of the Crowes within the country all appeared to be accidents.

The bodies couldn’t be transported back from abroad and had to be cremated there. So even if there were suspicious circumstances surrounding their deaths, there was no evidence left to prove it.

"It’s too much of a coincidence. Besides, all the Crowes are currently abroad. When the time comes, the ’truth’ will be whatever the survivors say it is." Heath Hale quickly pieced everything together.

All they would have to do is find an excuse—say they all went on a group trip and ran into some disaster, leaving no survivors. Then they could legally inherit the entire Crowe family fortune.

Even if the police back home suspected something was wrong, there would be nothing they could do without evidence.

If that was really the case, then things were about to get ugly for the Crowe family. Someone had already died.

That meant there was bound to be a second victim, and then a third.

The only questions were who the next victim would be, and who the killer was.

"I found something. The parents of some of the women who married into the Crowe family suspected something was wrong after their daughters had ’accidents’ and filed police reports.

But according to the records from that time, the incidents all took place abroad. We didn’t have enough evidence or the jurisdiction for an international investigation, so the cases had to be shelved." Officer Lee’s fingers flew across the keyboard as he rapidly relayed his findings to the group.

"Looks like we’ve stumbled into a major case, huh?" Heath Hale rolled his shoulders, his tone tinged with resignation. He looked at Zoe Sawyer, his eyes full of teasing. "When our Captain Sawyer takes the field, she’s worth two of anyone else!

Just like that, another major case lands in our lap."

Hearing Heath Hale’s teasing, Zoe Sawyer shot him an eye-roll. Taking advantage of their proximity, she balled up her fist and gave him a punch on the shoulder.

Evan Keller ignored their horseplay. After staring at the files for a moment, he said, "Alright, knock it off. When you two go back there, you need to be extra careful.

Considering the trouble brewing in that family, whether the two of you can even get out of there safely is a serious question.

While ensuring your own safety and Wendy Dawson’s, do your best to gather evidence of the Crowes’ crimes. Save whoever you can."

Upon hearing their assignment, Zoe Sawyer and Heath Hale stopped their antics and accepted Evan Keller’s orders with solemn expressions.

The team discussed the plan a little longer, and once they confirmed nothing had been overlooked, they dispersed.

Back in her room at the manor, Zoe Sawyer felt a sense of unease as she recalled what she’d overheard earlier.

She looked at Heath Hale and said, "I have a bad feeling something else is going to happen tonight. Especially considering that threat from Clark Crowe.

He doesn’t seem like the type to let things go."

Heath Hale had also heard Clark Crowe’s threat to his aunt loud and clear, so he knew what Zoe Sawyer meant. "It’s possible. Should we go check it out?"

Meanwhile, after carrying Wendy Dawson back to their room, Clark Crowe gently changed her into a comfortable nightgown and tossed the black dress she’d been wearing far away.

"Clark, what exactly happened while I was unconscious?" Wendy Dawson asked, staring at Clark Crowe, who was crouched in front of her.

’And what was that they were shouting? That I was a jinx... that I’d caused First Uncle Crowe’s death?’

Wendy Dawson’s mind began to wander. Although First Uncle Crowe ran with a questionable crowd and spent money like water, there was no denying he had been very good to the younger members of the family.

She and Clark Crowe weren’t even officially married, yet the first time they met, he had given her an expensive set of jewelry.

First Uncle Crowe’s wife seemed to look down on her, but perhaps because it wasn’t her own son who was marrying her, she was still good at keeping up appearances.

She often asked about Wendy’s well-being and had even offered to take her for spa days and trips, acting just like a loving elder.

And now, having just woken up completely in the dark, she had been inexplicably branded a jinx.

’And what was the deal with that bizarre outfit?’

"First Uncle went to the wine cellar to get some wine. He wasn’t watching where he was going, fell, and was crushed to death by a wine barrel.

His wife and the others are overcome with grief, so they weren’t thinking straight when they spoke. Wendy, I’m sorry for what they said. I promise I’ll talk to them. I won’t let it happen again." Clark Crowe’s explanation was evasive. He took Wendy Dawson’s hand, his words ringing with sincerity.

As he spoke, his thumb unconsciously caressed the back of her hand. His words sounded plausible enough, but Wendy Dawson’s brow furrowed.

They had been in love for several years and knew each other like the backs of their own hands.

So, Wendy Dawson knew all of Clark Crowe’s little tells when he was lying.

’He just lied.’

’But what was there to lie about in that explanation?’

’Was it the part about First Uncle falling, or the part about talking to the family?’

Wendy Dawson was desperate to press him for details, but her own situation was unclear, and Zoe Sawyer wasn’t around. It was better to play it safe and pretend she hadn’t noticed anything.

"Fine, I get it. I’m tired, I’m going to sleep now," Wendy Dawson replied dismissively, pulling the covers over herself as she lay down.

Wendy Dawson understood Clark Crowe, but he understood her just as well.

He could tell at a glance that she was upset with him for not being completely honest.

Clark Crowe had no choice but to abandon his plan to go see Aunt Crowe that night. He obediently lay down beside Wendy, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"Just give me a little more time," Clark Crowe whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Once I’ve sorted everything out, I’ll tell you the whole story."

Wendy Dawson didn’t reply, lying perfectly still with her eyes closed. In her mind, however, she was already planning to find Zoe Sawyer first thing in the morning.

’As for that ritual?’

’To hell with it!’

The atmosphere between the young couple was tense, and the situation in the other three households wasn’t much better.

Second Uncle Crowe was lounging on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, his tone jaunty.

"Big Brother’s dead, and his son isn’t married. That means we can give his branch a smaller share."