Chapter 66: A New Murder Case

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: A New Murder Case

"What’s all the excitement about?" Zoe Sawyer was a little confused. ’Weren’t we just investigating this haunting?’

’Could it be that he’s made a new discovery?’

’That’s it!’

’Heath Hale is so smart, he must have noticed something was off right away!’

At that thought, Zoe Sawyer’s eyes lit up. ’That must be it!’

Lily Golding stood to the side, completely baffled, but the fact that the female ghost was gone was a genuine relief.

"Student Golding, you should come tonight as well. I’ll have Zoe Sawyer come get you then," Heath Hale invited Lily Golding, who was standing nearby.

"Huh? Okay." Although Lily Golding was still very confused, she agreed.

Zoe Sawyer patted Heath Hale’s arm and asked curiously, "Did you find something wrong? Should we report it to the school?"

’We’re from another school. If we’re going to be making a big scene on campus at night, we should probably inform the school authorities, right?’

"We definitely need to notify them. I’ll handle it. You go get something to eat with Student Golding." Heath Hale took out his phone and started using it.

While they were enjoying their meal, Zoe Sawyer suddenly received a text from Heath Hale. It told her to be more affectionate with Lily Golding, to act a bit more intimately, and if necessary, to ask for Lily’s cooperation.

Although she found it a bit strange that Heath Hale would send such a text, Zoe Sawyer did as she was told.

At the same time, she quietly explained the situation to Lily Golding and asked her to play along.

"Lily, I want a bite of yours."

Zoe Sawyer clung to Lily Golding, pointing a finger at the braised pork on her plate.

"Get it yourself." Lily Golding didn’t think much of it. Sharing food was perfectly normal.

"No, I want you to feed me~"

Zoe Sawyer deliberately spoke in a high-pitched, cutesy voice. After she said it, both of them couldn’t help but shudder.

’Is this really necessary?’

’Whatever, it’s a desperate gamble!’

The two looked at each other with indescribable expressions, but thinking of Heath Hale’s specific instructions from the text, they could only grit their teeth and continue the act.

But after just a few more lines, Zoe Sawyer and Lily Golding looked at each other’s faces and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

The closeness between them was plain to see.

And all of this was taken in by the person standing behind them.

"Hey, student? If you’re not getting food, don’t block the doorway!"

The cafeteria entrance wasn’t very wide, and with many people coming and going, having someone stand there motionless was rather obstructive.

Some people whose paths were blocked grumbled a bit, but just as they were about to say more, they were frightened into silence by the person’s sinister glare.

They could only hurriedly pull their friends away.

"You’re not being good, you’re not listening, so don’t blame me. I was going to give you a chance..." The person tugged at their mask, shot a vicious look in Zoe Sawyer and Lily Golding’s direction, then lowered their head and quickly left the cafeteria.

The two of them horsed around for a bit longer before Zoe Sawyer received a text from Heath Hale telling her that was enough.

When the two finished eating and came out, they saw Heath Hale leaning against the wall opposite the cafeteria entrance, waiting for them.

Once they got closer, Heath Hale handed something to Lily Golding. "Student Golding, please keep this with you at all times. If anything unexpected happens, press this button hard, and we’ll get there as fast as we can."

Lily Golding assumed Zoe Sawyer and Heath Hale were worried she’d be harassed by the female ghost again tonight, so she gladly accepted it.

After that, since they all had things to do, the three of them chatted for a few more minutes and then went their separate ways.

On the way back, Zoe Sawyer asked Heath Hale curiously, "Did you figure something out?"

Heath Hale nodded and explained, "The ’female ghost’ is just a little trick. Someone used a special chemical to paint a pattern on the lampshade, and then used a special device to control when the ’ghost’ appears.

While you were eating, I called over two colleagues. I had them ask around and then inspect the lamppost where it appeared. It confirmed my theory."

"So, it’s all just a pointless prank?" Zoe Sawyer frowned. ’If that’s really the case, then this prank is far too malicious.’

Heath Hale shook his head. "That’s not clear yet."

"Then what did you mean about watching the excitement?" Zoe Sawyer asked, confused.

"To maintain campus stability, the plan was to have the school organize a group of people to watch the entire process of the ghost’s appearance tonight. The best way to dispel a rumor is to let everyone know the truth of how it works.

But our plans to watch the show tonight might be ruined. We have something more important to deal with." Heath Hale briefly explained why he had said that earlier.

Then, Heath Hale briefly told Zoe Sawyer what he had seen at the cafeteria entrance.

Even though this Shannon Shelby was wearing a mask and a hat, her build and the way she walked hadn’t changed, so Heath Hale recognized her at first glance.

With his background as an armed police officer, it was easy for Heath Hale to avoid Shannon Shelby’s notice. After observing her destination and her gaze, he sent that text to Zoe Sawyer.

Zoe Sawyer sucked in a sharp breath. ’Is there really something wrong with Shannon Shelby?’

"Doesn’t that mean Lily is in danger?" Zoe Sawyer was anxious. ’Since we know Shannon Shelby might do something dangerous, why did we let Lily Golding go back by herself?’

"First, she was just talking to herself. We can’t define that as a threat, only that she has the idea.

Second, we have no evidence. Making Student Golding leave directly might provoke the other party and lead to an even more serious problem," Heath Hale explained.

When the two returned to the police station, they saw Evan Keller gathering his things, looking like he was heading out on a case.

"What’s wrong?" Heath Hale asked.

"You’re back just in time. There’s been a murder at the school you went to today. We’re about to head over and check it out," Evan Keller explained. Before heading out, he added, "Do you two want to come along?"

"We’re going!"

Zoe Sawyer and Heath Hale exchanged a look and agreed immediately, without a second thought.

Hurrying over, Zoe Sawyer and Heath Hale once again set foot in the school.

They didn’t even need to ask. They could tell where the crime scene was just by looking for the largest crowd of onlookers.

"Make way, make way." Evan Keller pushed through the crowd with Zoe Sawyer and the others.

The scene had already been cordoned off by the police who arrived first.

"Shannon Shelby?"

Zoe Sawyer’s voice was filled with utter astonishment when she clearly saw the person sitting at the crime scene, sobbing.

’Why is she here?’

’Could the victim be someone she knows?’

Just as Zoe Sawyer was wondering about this, Lily Golding’s voice sounded in her ear.

"How... How could this be?"