Return Of The Prodigy
Return of the Prodigy Chapter 61

Jake roared, "The next person that tries to cause trouble is coming to the police station with us!"

The Hartleys glared daggers at Adam and his family but did not dare to take further action.

Dave let out a sigh. "All right, we just have to wait until Peter arrives to know if it was a misunderstanding or not. I believe that the mayor and the police won't treat an innocent man unjustly. "I'm sure that Peter isn't the type of person to do something so foolish. Send someone to the hospital to bring Peter here."

Jake interjected, "There is no need. I've already sent the police there."

-

At Lisle's local hospital.

Peter lay in his bed and checked the latest news on Lisle from his phone as he snickered inwardly.

It should be about time. What did Adam choose in the end? Did he choose Katie or Annie?

If he went to save Katie, those criminals must've killed him.

If he went to save Annie... Hahaha, I wonder what kind of face he made when he discovered that it was just a decoy. His expression must've been priceless.

It's unfortunate that I won't get to see it...

Anyway, regardless of his choice, Katie should've been raped and killed already. It's a little annoying that an animal like Edgar got to enjoy such a fine woman, though. He doesn't deserve it.

Damn, the wait for updates is like torture. Luckily, I won't have to wait for long. I wonder what kind of headlines will appear on the news...

Woman Tortured to Death in Lisle's Western District

Or...

Man And Woman Found Dead in Western Lisle's Abandoned Facility: Signs of T*****e Evident

A smile bloomed on Peter's face as he immersed himself in his musings.

At this time, there was a knock on the door, but before he could react, four armed police officers entered the room.

"Are you Peter Hartley?"

Peter was stunned at first but quickly returned to his senses and said with a smile, "Yes, I'm Peter Hartley. Can I help you?"

"You're suspected of being involved in a kidnapping. We need to bring you in for further questioning.

"Handcuff him."

Two police officers walked up to Peter and handcuffed him.

Peter kept his calm and did not struggle, as he had anticipated that something like this might happen. After all, someone had died, so it was natural for the police to carry out a thorough investigation. As there was a history between him and Katie, it made sense to take him to the police station for further questioning. In addition, the fact that the police had come looking for him was actually good news.

These cops look so serious, it could only mean that something terrible has happened...

Katie must have died!

Still, they were quick this time. It's surprising that they got news of the murder in such a short time.

"Fine, I'll go with you."

Peter got out of the bed and calmly followed the police officers outside the room. They headed downstairs and got in a police car.

Five minutes later, Peter's expression started to change. They were not heading to the police station but toward the Hartleys' residence.

Why are they taking me to the Hartleys' residence? Do they want to question me there?

Well, it's not too strange. The higher-ups at the police station are acquainted with Grandfather, and directly taking me to the police station would make things difficult for him. By interrogating me at the Hartleys' residence, they would get what they want, and Grandfather wouldn't be embarrassed. It's an arrangement that would satisfy both sides. Peter relaxed after coming up with this explanation.

The police car sped to their destination, reaching the Hartleys' residence in half an hour.

Peter alighted from the car, but when he saw a certain person among the crowd, he froze on the spot, unable to believe his eyes.

How can she be alive?

How is this possible?

Peter stood before the villa's main gate in a trance. He was shocked and unable to tear his eyes away from the sight of Katie, alive and well-his personal nightmare.

Katie stood in the courtyard with disheveled hair and swollen cheeks, but very much alive.

Peter rubbed his eyes and looked at her feet, where the last rays of the setting sun cast a long shadow.

She's not a ghost, she's real!

How is this possible?

How can she be alive?

HOW?

Was my perfect plan flawed? Did that idiot Edgar ruin it somehow?

Right, where is Edgar? Where is that useless bastard now?!

Countless thoughts flashed through Peter's mind. The joy he had felt before had disappeared, replaced by anger.

"Move!"

One of the police officers frowned and shoved him in the back.

Peter was distracted, and the sudden push almost made him fall to the ground face-first. Only then did he recover from the shock and start facing the harsh reality.

He accepted that his perfect plan had failed. As he did, hatred flashed in Peter's eyes.

I haven't lost yet!

As long as I don't admit it, no one can prove that I was the one to devise this plan. Even if the police arrest me, it'll be useless. They will be forced to release me due to a lack of evidence, and then I'll just come up with another plan to deal with her. Katie, you escaped this time, but I refuse to believe that your luck will always be this good... Sooner or later, I'll be able to kill you! I won't stop until I succeed!

Peter suppressed the rage in his heart and tried to appear calm as he walked to the courtyard.

"Sir, we've brought Peter Hartley here as you asked."

Jake nodded and said in a cold voice, "Peter Hartley, you're suspected of kidnapping and premeditated murder. You better start confessing your crimes."

"Kidnapping? Premeditated murder?" Peter said calmly, "Sir, I don't understand what you're talking about. I have done nothing of the sort."

Jake's face darkened. "Are you trying to feign ignorance? You wired money to Edgar Thatcher so that he could hire wanted criminals to intercept and kidnap Katie Hartley. Then, you instigated Edgar to carry out the attempted murder of Katie Hartley. "We checked your bank account and confirmed that the cash in Edgar's possession matched the amount you wired him. This is hard evidence, so you'd better start talking!"

Peter pretended to be shocked and blurted out, "What? Edgar kidnapped Katie and tried to kill her?

"Sir, it's true that I wired money to Edgar, because he had requested my help, as a friend. He said he wanted to do business with me, and needed some help raising the capital, so I transferred him a sum of money. How am I supposed to control how he handles that money?

"Sir, Katie is my cousin. Even if we have our differences, I wouldn't go so far as to have her kidnapped or killed!"

The other family members rushed to defend Peter.

"Yeah, I told them that it had to be a misunderstanding. There was no way Peter would do something like this."

"Indeed. Peter just took pity on Edgar Thatcher and lent him some money. As for what Edgar did with that money, it has nothing to do with Peter."

"Yeah, if I take a loan from the bank, it's not like the police will blame the bank if I commit some crime."

Jake's face fell. He was furious, but there was nothing he could do. In fact, he had no proof that connected Peter to the crime, and there was no money, either. The whole factory had burned to the ground with Edgar's corpse inside it, so there was no cash to be found at the scene.

Jake had said those words because he was following Adam's instructions. He trusted Adam's judgment, but he was also a member of the municipal government. He could not overstep his boundaries and have the police arrest people without enough proof. What should I do? Jake turned to look at Adam.

"Your plan wasn't bad," Adam said calmly, "and you did your best to make sure that things couldn't be traced back to you. However, there were some flaws."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Peter sneered. "If you want to accuse me of something, bring out the evidence."

"Do you want the evidence? You shall have it then."

As Adam spoke, a car hurried toward the villa and stopped in front of the main gate. A person alighted and shouted, "I have proof!"

All the people at the scene were stunned.

Peter turned around and frowned, his expression becoming serious.

Two figures got out of the car and reached the courtyard. They had long hair that fell to shoulder-length and curvaceous, womanly bodies. Their identical appearances immediately caught the attention of the onlookers. Why are they here?

Peter's frown deepened. Those were the twin sisters he had hired to please Edgar-Emma and Renna Holmes.

After Edgar's wife divorced him, Peter had instructed the twins to stay by his side so that Edgar would stay committed to the plan.

Did that stupid son of a bitch say something he shouldn't have while getting his rocks off? Peter started to become anxious, and he cursed Edgar inwardly.

"What proof do you have?" Jake walked up to the sisters, surprised that someone had come to their aid in such a timely manner.

"A recorded call." Emma took out a phone from her bag and fiddled with it for a while. Soon, they heard a man's voice.

"Did you replace the right person for the job?"

As soon as they heard this voice, all the people at the scene were stunned. It was Peter's voice.

Katie looked at Peter in disbelief.

Was it really him? Everything I went through today was part of his plan...?

How could he be so cruel? Was he willing to have me raped and killed over a construction project?

Katie felt as if a knife had stabbed her through the heart.

The recording continued.

"Yes, I found some criminals. All of them are wanted for murder," replied Edgar.

"Very well. Tell them to come to Lisle as soon as possible. I don't want to wait any longer. After you kidnap Katie, you can do whatever you want with her," said Peter.

"Don't worry," Edgar assured. "I'll be very good to her. I'll teach that slut what despair feels like. She'll regret rejecting my proposal. I'll ruin her, f**k her to death, and..." Edgar's disgusting words were enough to make whoever heard them angry.

Katie, who had almost been raped by him, shivered.