Chapter 758
Captain Rafferty''s face was a mask of cool detachment as he awaited the conclusion of their heated
exchange.
"We''re up to speed on the matter," he finally said, his voice even. "Should the investigation yield any
results, rest assured, we''ll notify you promptly. We don''t let criminals slip through the cracks on my
watch."
"My father-inw hasn''t done anything wrong!"
Kaitlyn, unable to contain herself any longer, wrenched free from Vivienne''s grasp and stormed out.
Rafferty caught sight of Kaitlyn, his gaze faltering for a moment. "Kaitlyn? What are you doing
here?"
Vivienne and Percival exchanged a puzzled look.
Did they know each other?
Kaitlyn''s face, flush with anger, paused in surprise upon seeing a familiar face.
Her cool gaze settled on Rafferty as she scoffed, "So it''s you. After all these years, you''ve climbed
the ranks to captain. Seems the Abernathy family holds your elder brother in high esteem."
Rafferty''s brows knitted together as he retorted, "My career has nothing to do with my brother."
"Whether it does or doesn''t isn''t my concern. The moment my family was torn apart, your family
became my sworn enemies!"
After a brief pause, Kaitlyn''s gaze softened, her voice suppressing the bitterness, "I didn''te
here to stroll down memoryne with you. My father-inw is innocent, and Cassidy''s suicide had
nothing to do with him!"
N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.
Rafferty''s eyes flickered; he was about to exin that he wasn''t in charge of this case.
Cassidy''s mother, Zinnia, moved forward, tears streaming down her face. "Nothing to do with him?
Does that mean we''re framing him? That old coot – if not for the fact that our Cassidy was rtively
unharmed back then, I would''ve had him behind bars already!"
Zinnia sobbed inconsbly, "You''re his daughter-inw; of course, you''ll defend him! Officer, my girl
was bright, and on the verge of college graduation. If not for that man''s actions years ago, causing
her depression, why would she have taken her own life?"
Kipling nced between Kaitlyn and Rafferty, adding, "Exactly! Julian was no good to begin with.
Captain Rafferty, don''t let your connection to his family cloud your judgment!"
Halfway through his rant, he remembered the instructions from Asher.
Kipling''s voice grew stern, "And why isn''t the deputy captain handling this? He''s the one dealing
with our case. Why are you here? I demand to see the deputy captain!"
"Choosing your own detective at the precinct?" Vivienne''s gaze was icy as she nced at Kipling,
"Do you need me to deliver his head to you directly?"
"And who the hell are you?" Kipling''s beady eyes lit up upon seeing Vivienne, his lecherous gaze
traveling over her.
Percival''s expression darkened, a chilling aura emanating from him. He stepped forward, shielding
Vivienne, his long finger jabbing towards Kipling''s eyes, his voice as cold as ice, "Eyes are precious.
If you don''t want them, I''ll dly relieve you of them."
Even Zinnia, who knew the threat wasn''t directed at her, couldn''t help but shiver.
Kipling, at the eye of the storm, would have copsed if not for the support of the reception desk.
Just who was this man?
The Grimshaw family never mentioned Julian being connected to such a terrifying person!
"Percival Ellington?"
It was the first time Rafferty had seen someone so boldly threaten another in front of the police.
He nced at Percival and upon seeing his face, stiffened.
As the younger son of the Schram family, he recognized the man before him. His cold gaze
narrowed briefly before returning to normal, "What''s your connection to Kaitlyn?"
Percival looked down at him, not finding a match in his memory, "You know me?"
Rafferty replied, "I had the honor of attending the Ellington family''s g with my rtives once.
However, Mr. Ellington, you were preupied with your fiancée at the time, so you didn''t notice
me."
His gaze shifted to Vivienne, "I assume this must be your fiancée, Ms. Hawthorn."
Vivienne remained silent, her gaze casually assessing Rafferty. Despite his outwardly upright
appearance, she was skeptical, thinking back to Kaitlyn''s earlier words.
With a calm voice, she stated, "We''vee to take Julian home."
Her statement was simple yet resolute.
Rafferty frowned, "That may be difficult. We follow procedures here!"
Vivienne smiled, "Procedures? Do you have evidence?"
Before Rafferty could respond, Kipling interjected, "Who says we don''t have evidence? Zinnia,
where''s the diagnosis of Cassidy''s depression? Show them, so they can''t use their status to abuse
us!"
Zinnia''s eyes flickered as she rummaged through her bag, eventually producing two crumpled
papers, "My daughter has been suffering from severe depression since high school. It only
improved slightly over the years. If not for seeing that wretched Julian, why would her condition
rpse? Please, officer, you must seek justice for my daughter!"
As Vivienne nced over the scribbled words, she scoffed, "Severe depression inherently carries a
risk of self-harm. How can you be so certain her rpse was triggered by seeing Julian? If I''m not
mistaken, Julian hasn''t left his house all day."
Her clear eyes seemed to pierce through deception.
Vivienne''s gaze swept over Kipling and Zinnia, not missing the evasive look in their eyes. "Don''t tell
me you''re trying to say that your daughter saw Julian at the Littleton estate?"
Kipling and Zinnia stuttered, unable to form coherent sentences. Today''s events had caught them
completely off guard. They had only managed to concoct a usible excuse, but where would they
have found the time to fabricate evidence?
As panic set in, a clear voice echoed from the depths of the police station.
Everyone turned toward the sound to see a graceful youngdy walking slowly down the corridor.
Beside her was a police officer, both of them supporting an elderly couple.
"Sadie! Julian!"
The dim lighting of the station''s hallway lingered until the group reached the main lobby.
It was only then that Kaitlyn could finally see who the two people being supported were. Catching
sight of their condition, tears welled up, and she rushed toward Julian!
Under the bright lights of the police station, the elderly couple''s faces were ashen, their lips tinged
with blue.
The light summer clothes they wore did nothing to hide the welts and bruises covering their bodies.
Upon closer inspection, it was evident that they barely had the strength to speak.
Fingers, lips, and even their legs were trembling.
The once bright eyes that Vivienne was used to seeing whenever she visited the Littletons now
lacked any trace of vitality.
Hearing his daughter-inw''s voice, Julian mechanically turned his neck, his eyes clouded and
unfocused, too weak even to open his mouth. His cracked, purplish lips parted just slightly, and with
that, Julian''s knees buckled, and he copsed to the floor!