Chapter 981
ined attentively, agreeing with Elliot’s reasoned analysis.
He asked, “Elliot, if Nathaniel is going after the Nicholls family, would you assist him?”
Elliot’s eyes darkened, offering no direct answer to the question.
He neither explicitly indicated his willingness to help nor outright refusal.
Being by his side for years, Lionel naturally understood Elliot and dropped the matter.
Back at the National Investigation Bureau, Elliot immediately tasked Lionel with investigating Vanda’s
death.
Lionel interrogated every servant and bodyguard associated with the Nicholls family.
After half a day of investigation, there were no significant leads.
The autopsy results for Vanda revealed she had indeed ingested an unknown substance.
Examining the autopsy report closely, Lionel questioned the coroner, “Can you determine the specific substance that caused her suffocation? And the time frame of ingestion?”
The coroner shook his head and replied, “We didn’t find traces of undissolved substances in Madam Nicholls’s body, but the result showed that an unknown drug had poisoned her. Our speculation is that it may be an illegal drug from abroad.
“As for the time of ingestion, determining the timing is challenging without knowing the exact substance. Some substances have a delayed onset, so it is entirely possible for death to occur after a few days.”
Lionel fell silent, realizing Nathaniel could not acquit himself of suspicion based on the timing of the
crime.
If Romello insisted Nathaniel had stolen the key and went to the top floor during the banquet, Nathaniel
would be in deep trouble.
Lost in thought, Lionel returned to Elliot’s office to report the coroner’s findings.
Elliot’s expression turned serious.
“Summon all members of the Nicholls family for a second round of questioning. I’ll handle it personally this time.”
The servants were individually brought into interrogation rooms at the National Investigation Bureau throughout the afternoon.
Elliot began, “What has the relationship been like between Nathaniel and Madam Nicholls all this time?”
Ellot asked the same question to everyone brought into the interrogation room.
gardener, who typically tended to the garden, replied, “I’m not sure. I haven’t been working for the Nicholls family for very long, just about two years. During that time, Nathaniel was usually busy with the ecial Investigation Department and didn’t return to the Nicholls residence that often. Even when he did come back recently, he never mentioned Madam Nicholls and never asked to see her, especially not to
Romello
Another servant, who had worked at the Nicholls residence for fifteen years, said, “Their relationship wasn’t good. Madam Nicholls disliked Mr. Nathaniel a lot. After all, he isn’t her biological son. He was often scolded by Madam Nicholls when he was young, and perhaps it’s because of that resentment that he ended up killing her!”
However, anyone who had long worked with the Nicholls family had similar opinions.
It all boiled down to Nathaniel being bullied by Vanda in his childhood, then contending for power, being punished by Romello twice.
and
Coupled with his previous misdeeds, they all believed Romello’s speculation–Nathaniel poisoned Vanda.
After a thorough interrogation throughout the afternoon, it was nearing the end of the workday.
With various evidence and testimonies all pointing toward Nathaniel, Elliot felt a bit frustrated and unconsciously reached for a cigarette.
Before he could take a puff, he suddenly remembered Sheena’s strict no–smoking rule.
After all, they had two adorable babies at home who could not stand even a hint of smoke.
If he went back smelling like smoke, he would be in big trouble.
Elliot handed the cigarette to Lionel, offering it to him instead.
Lionel took it and obediently went to a corner of the interrogation room to smoke.
