Chapter 73: Lily Golding Knows the Situation?

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Lily Golding Knows the Situation?

As he spoke, Simon Shelby’s expression twisted with ferocity and resentment.

’I appeared because she wanted me to, and now that she doesn’t need me, she wants to just cast me aside? Burn the bridge after crossing it?’

’Fat chance!’

’She’s stuck with me for life!’

"Did she think I wouldn’t know just because they were writing notes to each other? I can pretend to be a girl in front of so many people, so I was confident her boyfriend wouldn’t notice me for a while." Simon Shelby’s expression was bizarre, then the corners of his mouth twisted into a ferocious sneer. "Then, when he wasn’t paying attention, I stabbed him once, right in the heart. I killed him.

But that idiot Shannon Shelby had to wake up right then. She tried to use her other hand to fight me for control and ended up getting her palm sliced open, leaving such a gaping hole in our story." As Simon Shelby spoke, he glared at Evan Keller, his face a mask of bitter resentment.

But then, as if a thought occurred to him, his expression turned smug. "I have a dual personality. Medically speaking, I’m insane. And insane people don’t go to jail for murder. There’s nothing you can do to me."

With that, Simon Shelby laughed out loud.

He could already picture himself walking free.

Evan Keller closed his notebook and straightened the photos on the table. He then walked over to the grinning Simon Shelby. "Whether a murder committed by someone with a dual personality is a crime does depend on the circumstances," he said. "But one of the determining factors is whether your mind was clear at the time of the act—whether you were capable of sound judgment and whether you were in control of your actions."

"Based on your own account, you meet all those conditions. Therefore, you can still be convicted. And for the record, mental illness is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Don’t think you can use it to do whatever you please."

This wasn’t the first time they’d dealt with a murderer with a dual personality. Once it was determined the perpetrator was lucid when they committed the crime, they were sentenced accordingly.

Why did these people think they could commit a crime and avoid prison simply by saying, "I’m insane"?

Did they really think the law was a joke?

With that, Evan Keller and the recorder ignored the stunned Simon Shelby and walked out of the interrogation room with their materials.

As the interrogation room door closed, everyone saw Simon Shelby having a meltdown inside.

"Alright, the important part’s taken care of. Next, we’ll just do a quick run-through with Lily Golding," Evan Keller said, stretching. Without a pause, he headed for the interrogation room across the hall.

To avoid any conflict of interest, Zoe Sawyer chose to watch from the window with Heath Hale.

Things with Lily Golding were much simpler. After asking a few routine questions, Evan Keller told her everything about Shannon Shelby.

"Oh my God! She has a dual personality?! No wonder Shannon’s behavior seemed so strange sometimes, like she was a completely different person. I can’t believe it’s actually true!" Lily Golding covered her mouth, her expression one of utter shock.

Evan Keller raised an eyebrow. "You never noticed anything unusual before?"

"No, I didn’t. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, so I’m always studying like crazy just to keep up with my classmates. Most of the time, I’m holed up in the library."

"I’m actually not in the dorm all that much. Maybe I noticed something was off before, but I didn’t think much of it, and then I just forgot," Lily Golding explained, touching her nose and tugging at her sleeve.

Evan Keller nodded. "Alright, we have a better understanding of the situation now. We can’t let you leave just yet, so we’ll have to ask you to wait here a little longer."

After he spoke, Evan Keller walked to the door and placed the milk tea and fruit that Zoe Sawyer had prepared in front of Lily Golding. "The bureau is investigating other cases right now and we’re short-staffed, so we’ll need you to bear with us for a bit."

Lily Golding quickly waved her hands, insisting it was no problem.

Then, as if she’d thought of something, Lily Golding looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated.

With an encouraging look from Evan Keller, she said, "If I remember correctly, I saw Aunt Monroe with Shannon a few times. It looked like Shannon was buying something from her, but they were too far away for me to be sure."

"Alright, I understand. Thank you for your cooperation," Evan Keller said, nodding at Lily Golding.

When Evan Keller and the recorder came out, the two people waiting by the door immediately went up to them.

"Evan, was Lily just lying?" Zoe asked. "Heath taught me that when people lie, they usually show some visible signs. Lily’s speech sped up, her story had some contradictions, and her body language increased—she touched her nose and tugged at her clothes."

"Those are all signs of lying." Zoe Sawyer frowned as she looked at Evan Keller, her voice hesitant.

She didn’t want to admit it, but every point matched.

It made it impossible for her to ignore.

Evan Keller nodded. "Yes. It’s hard to say about the other things, but we can be certain of one thing: Lily Golding knew that Shannon Shelby had a dual personality."

"She might have discovered it on her own, or Shannon might have let it slip by accident."

But they couldn’t figure out the specifics right away, so they had no choice but to have her remain at the station for the time being.

They could only let her go once they confirmed she had no real connection to the murder.

For a moment, Zoe Sawyer didn’t know what to say. She wanted to argue that Lily wasn’t that kind of person, but they hadn’t seen each other in years, and they didn’t talk online very often either.

People change, and you never know when.

"Don’t overthink it. It’s not something you can control," Heath Hale said, patting Zoe Sawyer on the head and motioning for her to keep up.

The matters of these two were relatively straightforward. The next person, Director Lane, was the real tough nut to crack.

And then there was Aunt Monroe, who knew more than she was letting on and was hiding things.

"Should I give it a try? Maybe I can open a door, see the scene, and crack the case in one go?" Zoe Sawyer said, pushing thoughts of Lily Golding and Shannon Shelby to the back of her mind as she excitedly raised her hand.

In the past, the furthest she had ever gone back was to the previous night’s events.

This was her first time trying to look back on something that spanned more than a decade!

’If I can pull this off, maybe I can solve some of those old cold cases?!’

’I had a feeling my door ability had leveled up, but I haven’t actually tested it out yet!’

At the thought, Zoe Sawyer rubbed her hands together excitedly.

’I’m an official employee now, after all. A chance to solve a case, gain experience, bring peace to the victim’s family, *and* earn credit and seniority for myself? I’m all for it!’

’Maybe if I get enough experience, I can level up and finally get one over on Heath Hale!’

’Just imagining Heath Hale having to use a respectful title when addressing me...’ Zoe Sawyer could hardly wait.

Zoe Sawyer’s petty ambitions were written all over her face.

Evan Keller and Heath Hale, of course, saw it plain as day.

Heath Hale rapped her lightly on the head. ’Is that all you can think about?’

"Stop dreaming," he said. "If we really can’t get anything out of them, *then* you can work your magic. Deal?"