Trafford’s Trading Club - Chapter 889

Volume 10 – Chapter 40: Complications
The police car parked in front of an old building.

Of course, the two police officers who drove here had left the vehicle. They were in the second-floor unit of this building, with several forensic officers accompanying the team.

There was no doubt that this was a homicide. In common sense, this kind of murder scene should have at least several times the number of manpower deployed here.

But, this time, there were more forensic personnel searching for evidence than police officers maintaining order and looking for clues. As for the so-called maintaining order, there was just a cordon installed by the stairs, even unguarded.

The reason for this wasn’t that the police officers who maintained the city’s order were lazy. Although the city had always been noted with poor public security, the truth was that the major hostage-taking incident last night involving the senate put the situation in chaos. The senate president was assassinated on his way home. At the same time, Bureau Chief Jose was shot and killed by thugs in the theater. At this moment, the entire police system had become chaotic, with the majority of the human resources deployed in other areas.

Various reasons resulted in the arrival of only two police officers.

“Mrs. Riley, please repeat. You’re the master of this house, aren’t you?” A police officer was facing Mrs. Riley with his voice recorder at this time.

Mrs. Riley said, “Yes, my husband left this house to me. There are currently four tenants in total.”

On the other side, the second police officer questioned Arnold, the unit’s tenant, where the murder unfolded.

Of course, the inquiry process here was much more careful. The police officer turned on the recorder and even took down the important clues with a small notebook.

“Are you sure you didn’t know the deceased?” the police officer asked.

“No, I have never seen this woman.” Arnold shook his head.

The policeman snorted coldly, “You said you didn’t know the deceased, so why did she appear in your house? We have checked the door that came in, and there is no trace of damage. Yes, this place isn’t high, and even possible to climb in from the outside. Let’s assume that the dead woman is a thief. But in your room, the only valuable should be the air conditioner in the bedroom, right?”

“Police officer, please listen to me. I don’t know this woman, let alone knowing how she came into my house.” Arnold said hurriedly at this time, “I was at school all night, and I left this morning. The guard can testify for me!”

“Did I ask you this?” The police officer snorted coldly, “What are you so anxiously trying to explain?”

“I…” Arnold swallowed his saliva, and subconsciously supported his black-rimmed glasses, not daring to speak.

From the outside, Arnold wasn’t a college student with a flamboyant personality who liked to chase the trend but like a nerd.

At this time, the communicator worn by the police officer rang.

After listening for a while, he looked at Arnold again and said, “Through the ID card left by the deceased, we found the deceased’s personal information. Guess who this woman is?”

Arnold curiously asked, “Who is it?”

“She’s called Livia. She used to be a sex worker. She has been arrested before. It’s not necessarily her career now.” The police officer stared at Arnold’s eyes and suddenly said, “Sir, do you have a habit of prostituting?”

Arnold was taken aback for a moment and then looked stirred up, “What the hell do you mean? Do you suspect that I’m the murder? Mrs. Riley was there at the time. We both saw someone climb downstairs from my house and escape. It was a woman!”

“Quiet!” The police officer snorted coldly. “You only need to answer the questions I asked. Stop spouting nonsense! Answer me, do you have a habit of prostituting!?”

Perhaps the police seemed overwhelming, Arnold paled and said quickly, “No.”

At this time, another police officer who took Mrs. Riley’s transcript came over, and the two discussed quietly.

Then, the latecomer looked at Arnold and narrowed his eyes. “You said you don’t know the deceased? Then, why did your landlord, Mrs. Riley, tell me that she saw a woman walk out of your house several times?”

“Impossible!” Arnold shook his head, “I don’t know this woman.”

“Really?” The police officer sneered, “In fact, it is simple to prove whether this woman has been here before. There are surveillance videos in the nearby streets, and we can investigate the previous records. At the same time, there are many shops downstairs. If this woman has been here several times, there will be someone who has an impression of her. Don’t you think I’m right?”

Arnold’s face changed slightly at this time.

“You’re lying!” snorted the policeman coldly.

Arnold’s face turned pale. He hesitated, “Police officer, I do have something to hide, but can I tell you alone?”

After the two police officers exchanged glances, they brought Arnold out, “Well, if you are smart, you should tell us the truth!”

“Police officer, I swear, I don’t know this woman.” Arnold swallowed saliva at this time and then hesitated, “But I think I might know why she appeared in my house.”

“You don’t know her, but you know the reason?” The police officer growled after hearing that, “Boy, are you toying with us?”

Arnold shook his palm quickly, “No, no, please listen to me. I have a brother. He might know this woman?”

“Your brother?” The two police officers frowned.

Arnold sighed and said, “Yes, my brother…we are twin brothers. This is true. You should be able to find records in this regard. My brother’s name is Hailey.”

The police officers quickly made an investigation. With the information Arnold provided, the information about Hailey was quickly found out.

Looking at the basic information about Hailey on the phone and the ID photo of Hailey sent from the headquarters, the police compared it with the appearance of Arnold at this time. Then, he frowned, “You’re really twins. You mean your brother brought the victim here?”

“Perhaps, I’m just guessing.” Arnold sighed and said, “My brother and I have a bad relationship. The last time he came to my house was two months ago. But a strange thing happened at the time. The spare key of my house is missing. I didn’t think much about it at the time. But now that I think about it, my brother probably took it secretly at the time.”

The police officer wondered, “Even if your brother took the key away, why did he bring this woman? Why did you and Mrs. Riley see another woman running away?”

Arnold shook his head, “How do I know this? I have already said it. I only came back from school early in the morning. I don’t even know what happened here! But…”

“But what?” the police officer asked.

Arnold frowned, “After hearing you say the victim’s identity, I remembered something from the past. When my parents were still alive, my family of four still lived together. My brother… Hailey frequented the Red Light District at that time. He would even bring the girls home directly to save cost. Somehow, the victim is also a prostitute, so I have reason to believe that Hailey secretly brought people here when I was not at home and did those things.”

The policeman snorted coldly, “Since there is such an important clue, why didn’t you tell me at first? Instead, wait until we find out that you are lying before confessing it?”

Arnold seemed to be anxious, grabbing his hair in pain and squatting on the ground.

“Because I don’t want people to find out that I have such a brother. Police officer, if you find his information, then you should know that my brother…Hailey, what kind of person is this scumbag? Theft, drug use, fights, illegal racing, jail time… I think his file should be as thick as a dictionary! What about me? Since I was a child, I have studied hard, with excellent academic performance. I also worked hard. And, I was admitted to this prestigious university now. In the eyes of others, I’m a promising person. I don’t want people to know that I have such a twin brother.”

As if unable to control his inner emotions, Arnold suddenly raised his head and roared, “Can you understand that feeling? In this world, there is a person who looks exactly like you, but he has done all the bad things! Every day, I don’t know how many people hate this face behind my back! Every day, I don’t know how many people are looking for this face for revenge! You… Can you feel the fear and understand the hatred in my heart?!”

“Recently, because of my good grades, the department gave me an additional scholarship. My tutor recommended a great internship company.” Arnold took off his glasses, covered his eyes, and wept, “If someone knows that Hailey is my twin brother and knows that he may be involved in the murder, then all my efforts I have been working hard on, all… all…”

With his shoulders twitching, the young man in his early twenties squatted in front of the two police officers, crying silently.

The police officer, who had interrogated Arnold from the beginning, shook his head, took out a pack of tissues, and patted Arnold on the shoulder, “Alright, we will verify the things you said when we go back. Of course, you didn’t give us the important information in the first place. It’s also a fact that you didn’t cooperate with us at the start. But, forget it, we won’t pursue this matter for the time being.”

“So, do you know your brother… I meant Hailey. Do you know where he is? Or how can I find him?” Another police officer asked at this time.

Arnold wiped his eyes, put on his glasses back, and shook his head. “I don’t know where he is. He has always been looking for me on his initiative. Sometimes even if I avoid him, he still can find me. Seriously, where can someone like him stay put? Probably, he is at a woman’s house, tomorrow at another woman’s house, maybe the day after tomorrow in the casino, and then the day after tomorrow in jail.”

The police officer took notes and then asked, “Then, when was the last time he came to see you? Do you remember the exact time he visited you previously? Did he say anything to you at that time? Did he mention anyone?”

“It should be late October, around the 25th.” Arnold frowned, “I don’t remember what he said. I didn’t want to talk to this guy at all. I just treated him perfunctorily all the time.”

“No clues? Think carefully. Anything can be helpful.” The police officer asked.

Arnold rubbed his forehead, then hesitated, “Oh ya, he seemed to have said that he will have money in two days, and then he will buy me a big house.”

Arnold shook his head and sneered, “What kind of money can someone like him have? Even if he does, I’m afraid I don’t know where he got it. I don’t want his dirty money!”

The two police officers continued to ask Arnold a lot of things later and then told him to keep in touch and be available at any time. They drove away once it was late in the evening.

Mrs. Riley didn’t know what the police officer said after taking Arnold away. At this time, she asked, “Arnold, are you okay? They didn’t do anything to you, right? Talk to me. If they bully you, I will sue them! This group of people who do nothing! They only know how to bully us!”

“No, no, it’s fine. They just asked me for some details.” Arnold shook his head and comforted, “They are kind to me. I’m just curious how the victim came in.”

“Yeah, how can these two women come in? It’s weird.” Mrs. Riley suddenly looked at Arnold weirdly, “You… you don’t know?”

Arnold smiled bitterly, “If I knew, I wouldn’t have such a headache. Unfortunately, now they are still locking down the scene, and I don’t know where I can stay for today.”

Mrs. Riley nodded and said suddenly, “It’s a pity. The sewer pipe in my house just cracked, and it stinks! Otherwise, it will let you stay for a few nights. How about you find another place outside to stay for a while? Don’t worry. I can reimburse you.”

“No thanks, I’ll go back to school. There is a resting place over there.” Arnold looked at Mrs. Riley, who suddenly put a little distance. Without saying anything, he lowered his head, “I…I will go back to school first.”

“Then… well, be careful.” Mrs. Riley nodded and didn’t urge him to stay.

…

“Sir, do we believe what this kid said?”

In the distant police car, a dialogue between the two police officers began.

“It isn’t about believing it or not.” The one who was asked casually said, “We shall go to the university and investigate. Then, let’s check on Hailey. In addition, we have the victim’s phone. Let’s go back, unlock it, and take a look at the call records. Also, let the forensic team give us the results as soon as possible. We need to do things according to the procedure.”

“Alright.”

The companion didn’t say much. The police system was chaotic. Several factions had already begun to take action, wanting to snatch the vacant position left after Chief Jose’s death.

At this moment, the police officer who was being asked suddenly said, “Is it possible?”

“What?”

“These two brothers. The older brother is a criminal, and the younger brother is a future social elite.”

“Possible.” He responded calmly.