Chapter 620
Chapter 620:
Recalling the investigative tactics Ashton had once used, Alisha cast a quick glance at the autopsy report on Craig, which she held.
She began circling the room, her face brightening as a thought struck her. “According to the forensics report, Craig died from a ruptured carotid artery. Blood would have spurted out with the force of his heartbeat, yet the splatter here is barely three feet.”
A glimmer of understanding flashed across Abrial’s face. “Are you saying… Craig didn’t die here?”
Alisha nodded, her mind piecing it together. “Exactly. For one, you said your fingerprints should be here, but they’re missing, which means someone scrubbed this place clean. Second, given the blood pattern and the nature of his injury, it’s likely Craig was killed somewhere else and then brought here. The scene was staged to incriminate Ashton, leaving only his and Craig’s fingerprints. If we can locate the real crime scene, we might unearth proof that Ashton isn’t the killer.”
As Alisha spoke, she lowered her gaze once more, combing over the room for any overlooked clue.
Just then, the quiet was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps.
Both women instinctively looked up, just as Zane stepped in, pushing the door open.
The sight of Alisha in the room brought a flicker of surprise and alarm to Zane’s face, but he quickly masked it, assuming a stony expression as he demanded, “Alisha, what exactly are you doing here?”
Alisha and Abrial were taken aback by Zane’s sudden arrival, but Alisha swiftly gathered herself, rising to her feet with a calm resolve.
“This case reeks of foul play,” she stated firmly. “Ashton had no reason to kill Craig, and I returned to dig deeper, to find the truth buried beneath the lies, and to clear Ashton’s name.”
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A shadow flickered across Zane’s face, his expression tightening at her loyalty to Ashton.
But he masked his disdain behind a polished veneer of reason. “Alisha, all the pieces are here,” he said, his voice smooth as oil on water. “Every clue points to Ashton. He was the only one near the victim. If it wasn’t him, then who?”
Abrial’s brow furrowed, her words ready on the tip of her tongue, but Alisha held her back with a quiet glance.
“Since when did fingerprints become the final word?” Alisha challenged, her voice steady. “Doesn’t it cross your mind that the killer might’ve worn gloves to cover their tracks?”
Hearing her argue in a way that echoed Ashton’s own defense, Zane couldn’t help but scoff, a bitter smile crossing his lips. “Alisha, you’re still so naive,” he sneered. “You’ve never seen Ashton’s true colors.”
With a sharp look at Abrial, he added, “Who says Ashton had no motive? Word has it he’s seeing Rosalie, the eldest daughter of the Campbell family in Inewood. His entire career has ridden on her influence. But here in Staville, he’s tangled himself with Abrial, the Carter family’s eldest daughter. Suppose Craig stumbled upon Ashton and his new fling—Ashton might’ve killed him to keep Rosalie from finding out and losing his position.”
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