Chapter 138
Frank was filled with confidence, especially with Ashton and Briar both encouraging him.
Brandon added fuel to the fire, cheering, “Exactly! Not everyone can be as badass as Mr. Wade and the others, right? Go for it!”
With everyone backing him, Frank returned to Shoneport University, planning to start tailing Sawyer that very evening.
Watching Frank leave, Hamish looked a bit worried. “Ashton, you’re just gonna let that kid go? What if he gets caught? Could be dangerous.”
Ashton wasn’t concerned at all. “No need. He’s a Wade. Not just at Shoneport University. Even in Shoneport, no one dares touch someone from the Wade family. Unless someone doesn’t care about surviving in this city anymore, nobody would lay a finger on him.”
Briar leaned on her palm thoughtfully. “Mr. Wade, if no one dares to go after your family in Shoneport, then maybe… those two murdered girls weren’t, the real targets? Maybe it was me all along?”
The Wade family was the head of Shoneport’s four great families. They were indeed untouchable. So if Sawyer’s goal wasn’t the Wade family but her, maybe it was just a poor plan with too many holes… and they underestimated how much Ashton cared about her.
Ashton paused. “That’s possible.”
Briar had voiced the very concern that Ashton hadn’t wanted to say out loud. The same suspicion that Hamish had kept in his heart. ‘What had Briar done back in Qathana to attract this kind of attention? Enough to get targeted right after returning to Dasmieca, with two lives lost just to try and take her
out?‘
He thought maybe it could be related to her classified, untraceable personal records.
Hamish didn’t speak, clearly agreeing with Briar’s analysis.
Briar lowered her eyes. “Mr. Wade, how about we let…”
“No.” Ashton cut her off before she could finish. “This happened in Shoneport, at Shoneport University. There are plenty of people to handle this. There’s no reason for a little girl like you to stand out and take the hit. Just listen,”
Briar thought she would just investigate it secretly.
The next day at Shoneport University, the campus radio kept looping two announcements between classes.
The first was an update on the investigation into the two murdered girls. Because of how serious things were, the police had set up a special task force and promised to crack the case within a week, so both the victims and everyone at Shoneport University could get some closure.
The second announcement was all about Briar, the campus celebrity everyone had been talking about lately.
Ever since school began, rumors, both good and bad, had been circulating about her. The school urged students not to spread baseless speculation, especially the false and malicious claims that Briar was the murderer. They emphasized that such behavior would be met with serious consequences..
Punishments ranged from public reprimands and serious demerits to full expulsion and removal from academic records.
When the official list of punishments came out, it shocked many.
Especially the three students who were expelled. No one felt sorry for them. And the one who received the most severe demerit was revealed to be none other than Briar’s half–sister, Beatrice. The entire campus was in an uproar.
No one saw that twist coming, but honestly, it made sense. Anyone with half a brain could tell Briar wasn’t the killer. No one committed a double homicide and then calmly showed up for class the next day.
14:17 Sat, 16 Aug
Chapter 138
She was just an 18–year–old girl. Her psychological resilience would have to be superhuman,
“Briar! Our advisor is taking our research group to the hospital for an internship today. You’re on the list. Don’t be late!”
Briar had just arrived at the lab building when she was stopped by James, the group leader.
“Oh, alright. Got it,” Briar replied blankly. Traditional medicine internships were treated just had basic colds and headaches.
pretty boring. Most of the patients who were allowed to be
James handed her an intern badge. “We’re meeting at the west parking lot of the lab building at 10 am.”
Turning around, he spotted Frank walking in, with dark circles under his eyes and yawning. James quickly handed him his pass too. “Prince Frankie, here’s your pass. Ten o’clock sharp, west parking lot of the lab building.”
Frank groggily replied, “Got it…”
Briar looked at him, concerned by how out of it he seemed. “Didn’t sleep well? Did you find something?”
Frank looked like he had a lot to complain about. With a sour face, he grumbled, “I didn’t sleep at all! Got dragged around all night.”
Briar was shocked. “You got discovered that fast? No way! Your tracking skills are really that bad?”
Feeling thoroughly insulted, Frank looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered his voice. “You guys were right. Sawyer is definitely not just some regular guy. I only followed him for half an hour during his night jog, and he already found me.”
Briar raised an eyebrow. “Being discovered after half an hour? That’s actually pretty impressive.”
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