The woman seemed surprised by the question. "E-explosion?"
"Yes. Wasn't it the reason why the fire happened in the first place? Because a series of explosion occurred and burned the manor down?" he said, matter-of-factly.
"Y-yes, t-that was indeed the case."
"Was no one caught for that crime that's why your father thought that one of his remaining children was the mastermind?" he asked straightforwardly.
"I say that Father was simply getting on in years," George said. "There's no way any of his children could have done something like that. No, I take that back. Edward is definitely capable."
"What? It's true! Although Charles is insufferable, he doesn't have the guts or the wits to plan something so diabolical. Edward, on the other hand. Well, let's just say if it's something that could hinder his political aspirations, he's capable of anything."
"George, please…" Catherine said in an almost pleading tone.
George only reached for his wife's hand and held it. A little too tight in Luo Yan's opinion. As evidence of how Catherine winced. But her husband only smiled as if he enjoyed it. What a creep.
"You don't have to protect your older brother Cathy. He's not worthy. I'm sure that guy would not hesitate to throw you under the bus if he thought it could save himself."
Luo Yan doubted that the words of this guy bore that much truth. But then again, he's not stupid enough to ignore it. The other might embellish his words, but there's probably still some semblance of truth in it.
"Are you saying Mr. Edward was already in politics back then?" he asked.
"He was trying to be, right Cathy?" George said turning to his wife for confirmation.
Catherine looked like he was struggling whether to speak of this matter or not. But with her husband's 'persuasion', she still relented.
"Eddie, he- he was trying to get into parliament."
"And you know how politics cost money," George added. "So, he had every motive to cause that explosion just so he could stop Father's plan in cutting off his source of income. The same could be said in this current situation."
[And I could also say the same thing to you.] – Luo Yan said in his mind.
"Let's go back to my earlier question," he said, looking at Catherine. "Were you in the former Magnolia Manor during the incident 20 years ago?"
Catherine seemed to be startled that the question returned back to that again. But he still tried her best to answer.
"So was Mr. Edward, I presume?" Luo Yan asked.
Catherine nodded. "He was there with his t-then w-wife."
Luo Yan raised one of his brows. "Is Mr. Edward divorced with this wife?"
"She's dead. Died three years ago," George answered. "Interestingly enough, it was right before our last visit with Father. Young Harry was so bereft, he couldn't go to the Americas because of that. Of course, dear Eddie couldn't miss that opportunity to earn some brownie points. So, even with his wife's death, he still went and visited Father."
Luo Yan took note of that part about Edward's wife dying before the supposed visit to William Harcourt three years ago.
"Then, Miss Catherine, have you noticed anything suspicious during that incident?" he asked.
Catherine was silent for a moment, she looked like he was thinking hard to remember if she indeed saw something suspicious 20 years ago. Then, as if a lightbulb turned on inside her head, her face lightened up as if she remembered something.
"Y-yes, but if I don't know if it's suspicious or not."
"Let me be the judge of that," Luo Yan said, he looked at the other with an encouraging gaze.
"I- I saw Saunders going out of my father's study. I- I found it quite curious."
Luo Yan's brows furrowed. Saunders again? What's up with this chauffeur? "You never questioned him about it?"
"I- I didn't. After that explosion, it- it just completely disappeared from my mind. I-I'm sorry. I—"
Catherine looked like she was about to hyperventilate. But her husband squeezed her hand, making the other wince. It seemed that that woke her up, calming her down in some way.
"Detective, I would very much like for you to not upset my wife any further," George admonished. "She's already very distraught because of father's passing. What does it matter if he saw Saunders? It didn't mean anything. Even if it did, Cathy wouldn't think of that possibility. She's simply not capable."
Luo Yan was this close to lifting the paper weight on the desk and throwing it at George's annoying face. This guy just indirectly told him that his wife was stupid and not capable of intelligent thoughts. And the said wife just accepted that and even nodded as if agreeing.
Seriously, he didn't know which one he should be more annoyed. He had to remind himself that the two were simply NPCs following a programmed script.
He shook his head and just went back to the more important matter – Saunders.
"From what I've been told, the only one that Mr. Harcourt brought with him to the Americas was the former butler. Then, how come Saunders was still working as a chauffeur here?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, detective," George said with a shrug. Then, he stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse us, my wife needs to rest."
Luo Yan nodded. He doubted if could gleam any more information from the two. George supported Catherine and the two walked out of the room. Luo Yan looked down at his notes and circled the name 'Saunders'.
He tapped his fingers on the desk while staring the name. Now, what was your connection to all these, Saunders? No, the more pressing question should be where the other was at this moment.
If Saunders truly ended up suddenly disappearing amidst all these, then, there's no doubt that, in one way of another, he was connected to what happened 20 years ago. Thɪs chapter is updated by Nov3lFɪre.ɴet