Another thing to take note of was the fact that it was cause by an explosion. Just like what happened a few hours earlier. Coincidence? He thought not. But if it was done by the same person or the same group of people? That, he wasn't sure.
"Does anyone else know about this?" he asked.
"I mentioned it to Father when he regained consciousness. He told me not to say it to anyone," Charles answer. "His reaction was a bit too extreme. Because of that, I subconsciously did not tell anyone about it. Until now, that is."
William Harcourt had an extreme reaction to that information? Maybe it was the start of the other's suspicion towards his children. But if that was the case, Luo Yan could basically clear Charles of any suspicion regarding what happened 20 years ago. But that didn't mean he could absolve him of what happened today.
It's true that he believed the other really cared for Richard thus he couldn't do something as bombing the house while his brother was there. But if like his father, he suspected that one of his siblings did it, he might have orchestrated everything so he could get revenge.
Although, he honestly didn't believe the latter and thought that it was a bit of a reach, he still needed to consider all possibilities.
There were still a lot of things that were pretty much unclear to him. The puzzle pieces hadn't even started to be in place. So, all he could do right now was to gather more pieces until a complete picture was revealed.
"Do you know which specific part of the manor's right wing did the explosion originate?" he continued to ask.
Charles shook his head. "From what I heard, the bombs that caused the explosion were scattered across the manor, throughout a number of rooms."
They were scattered and the first one to go off were the bombs in the right wing. "Is the design of the current Magnolia Manor the same as the one that burned 20 years ago?"
"Yes, up to the tiniest detail."
Luo Yan fell into a deep thought after hearing that. If that was so, then the master's bedroom, as well as this study were both in the right wing. A bold speculation appeared in his mind.
"Do you know which room your brother, Richard, stayed in that day?" he asked, so he could be certain of his assumption.
A look of confusion flashed Charles' face, probably wondering why he was suddenly asking such a thing. But probably because he was still under the influence of alcohol, he didn't think much and just answered it.
"Was it also located in the right wing?"
"No, it's on the complete opposite side. On the left wing."
Luo Yan grinned. Now that just supported his earlier hypothesis. That Richard was not the intended victim. It was William.
Based on the time that Charles returned that night, a busy man like William would have been at his study. The culprit or culprits would have known that. But for some reason, Richard and his son must be near the study when the bomb planted in there went off. Thus, immediately killing them. While William must have been a little further away. Hence, receiving the injuries that he received.
[Ding! Your detective talent discovered an important clue to what happened 20 years ago!]
Luo Yan's smile became even brighter after he heard that. His detective talent activating after he made that conclusion, it was an almost definite proof that the real target was indeed William.
But with this, another problem had arisen.
If William was the real target of that explosion 20 years ago, why hadn't the culprit/s done anything in the past 20 years. Surely, they could have had the opportunity to finish what they started during that time. Google seaʀᴄh novelFɪre.net
The opportunity he had to do that was not just days or months, it's decades. So, why? Why wait this long?
He turned his attention back to Charles. "Did you and your other siblings often meet with your father in the last 20 years after that incident?"
"No. After what happened, Father went to America for an operation and then he decided to stay there to recuperate. The only one who accompanied him was the former butler. If not for the annual allowance that we still received, we might have thought that something has had happened to him. We didn't even know that he started building this… imitation of a manor."
Luo Yan frowned. "Does that mean that you only met with him yesterday?" he asked, feeling a bit incredulous.
"No, ten years ago, he called us and told us to meet him in New York. We were shocked seeing him infirmed and disfigured. We hardly recognized him. If not for his way of speaking, we might think that someone was impersonating him. We only had dinner with him. Then, the next day, we found out that Father had already left with only a message telling us that he would call on us again. That call happened four years later. Then, another one three years ago.
"Anyway, what with all these questions? Does this even have anything to do with what's happening? You're not just wasting my time, aren't you, detective?"
Luo Yan ignored the other's question. A lot of thoughts were coursing through his mind right now. But he couldn't gather everything. He needed more information.
"This will be the last question, Mr. Charles. Then, you're free to go," he said after some time.
"Bloody time. Then, out with it."
"Who was the driver who brought you to the manor the night the explosion happened?"
Charles looked thrown off by the question. But at the end, still answered, "It's Saunders."