Chapter 37: Caught Red-Handed

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Caught Red-Handed

Inside the mahjong parlor.

The bald man scrutinized the two men before him—one fat, one thin.

Their figures seemed to slowly overlap with the images of the two thieves from the surveillance footage.

’Could this young Miss Jennings really have some talent?’

The fat man and the thin man were extremely nervous.

’Shit, we just grabbed the stuff and the cops are here already. Did they find out?’

The thin man mustered his courage. "Officer, this is a misunderstanding! We’re good citizens. How could we possibly steal anything?"

"Yeah, yeah!" the fat man chimed in. "You’ve got the wrong guys!"

The bald man presented a search warrant. "We’ll see if you’re the wrong guys after a search."

Ten minutes later.

They had found nothing.

With none of the stolen goods found, the two nervous thieves instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

A flash of triumph crossed the thin man’s eyes. He chuckled, "See, Officer? Now do you believe us? We’re good citizens!"

Seeing this, the bald man’s expression turned grim.

’He’d been too impulsive, actually listening to some slip of a girl!’

The bald man clenched his fists.

Inky flew over to Renee Jennings’s side and chirped, "Renee, they just hid the gold under those two green tables."

’Green tables?’

Renee Jennings’s gaze shifted, her eyes landing on the mahjong tables.

"Pull out!" the bald man ordered in a low voice.

"Wait," Renee Jennings suddenly said. "I know where the stolen goods are."

The bald man no longer believed her. His brow furrowed in displeasure. "That’s enough! Miss Jennings, we don’t have time to play games with you!"

"Play?" Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow slightly. "Captain Archer, I’m being very serious."

"Hey, lady, don’t you go making false accusations!" the thin man said, disgruntled. "The officer didn’t find anything, which proves we’re innocent!"

"You’re right, they *didn’t* find anything," Renee Jennings said, the corner of her lips curling up. She walked over to a mahjong table on her long, straight legs. "I’m certain you are the thieves who stole the gold and the gemstone necklace."

The thin man said defiantly, "Officer, I want to report her for slander!"

"Sorry, but your complaint is invalid." Renee Jennings smiled faintly and pressed a function button on the mahjong table. "I’m stating a fact."

Seeing this, the faces of the thin man and the fat man changed abruptly, fear and unease creeping into their eyes.

’We’re so dead!’

’How could she know...?’

The central control panel of the mahjong table rose up.

Renee Jennings then pressed the function button on the other table.

A smile played on her fair face as she said unhurriedly, "The gold and the necklace are right in here."

Henry Stark stepped forward and, sure enough, saw gold bars hidden inside the mahjong table.

He glanced over at the bald man. "Captain Archer, the case is solved."

The thin man and the fat man’s faces turned ashen, their hearts filled with regret.

The bald man was in disbelief. He walked over to Henry Stark, and his gaze fell on the gold bars. He was utterly shocked.

’How did she know?’

On the way here, all she did was pet a cat and feed some birds. She didn’t even make a single phone call.

This was simply incredible.

Caught red-handed with the loot, the thin man and the fat man confessed their motive completely.

They had accidentally overheard Ms. Brooks talking to someone, saying she had a hundred gold bars stored at home and had also won a gemstone necklace worth tens of millions at an auction.

Everyone had assumed this was the truth.

The day Renee Jennings went to collect the reward money, she met the victim, Sylvia Brooks, at the police station.

She was wearing a chic tweed jacket and flared jeans, her all-black outfit elegant and simple.

"Miss Jennings, I heard you were the one who found the gold bars and the necklace. Thank you so much." Sylvia Brooks extended her hand.

"I was just in it for the reward money, so you don’t have to thank me." Renee Jennings was wearing a long, camel-colored trench coat, her long, curly hair draped over her shoulders. In two-inch black high heels, she stood half a head taller than Sylvia Brooks.

As she spoke, her slender, pale fingers clasped the other woman’s hand.

Sylvia Brooks hadn’t expected her to be so blunt and felt a growing sense of fondness for her. "You’re a very straightforward person, Miss Jennings."

Renee Jennings was just about to warn her to be wary of the person sleeping next to her when a voice cut in.

"Summer." A young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses walked to Sylvia Brooks’s side. "Didn’t I tell you to wait for me so we could come together?"

Sylvia Brooks chuckled. "I couldn’t help it, Noel. I was too anxious."

Hearing this, Noel Lee affectionately ruffled her hair. "I worry when you come here alone."

"It’s fine," Sylvia Brooks said, amused. "This is a police station. There’s no need to worry."

Renee Jennings quietly watched the two interact.

If she didn’t know this man had orchestrated the jewelry theft, she might have thought he was a good man who doted on his girlfriend.

Sylvia Brooks made the introduction. "Miss Jennings, this is my boyfriend. Noel, this is Miss Jennings. She’s the one who found the gold and the necklace."

Noel Lee looked at Renee Jennings, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes behind his lenses. He smiled. "Miss Jennings, we have you to thank."

’Damn it, this bitch ruined my plans!’

"I was just lucky," Renee Jennings said lightly.

She looked at Sylvia Brooks. "Miss Brooks, could I have a word with you in private?"

Although Sylvia Brooks didn’t know why Renee Jennings wanted to speak to her away from Noel Lee, she nodded.

Noel Lee stared at Renee Jennings’s back, his gaze as venomous as a snake’s.

When they reached the entrance of the police station, Sylvia Brooks was the first to speak. "What did you want to talk about, Miss Jennings?"

Renee Jennings glanced at Noel Lee inside, then said slowly, "Miss Brooks, I happened to learn that this theft is related to your boyfriend. You might not believe me, but it never hurts to be a little more cautious."

Sylvia Brooks stared at her in astonishment. "This..."

Renee Jennings gave a faint smile and turned to walk back into the police station.

Noel Lee glared at her, his eyes filled with hostility.

Renee Jennings ignored him completely. After collecting the reward money, she was about to leave when the bald officer walked up to her.

She gave a slight nod in greeting. "Captain Archer."

"Miss Jennings." Captain Archer invited her for coffee nearby.

Renee Jennings’s tone was calm. "There’s no need for coffee. If you have something to say, Captain Archer, just say it."

"Then how about we talk in the conference room?"

"Fine."

In the conference room, Captain Archer apologized for doubting Renee Jennings the day before. "I was out of line. I’m sorry, Miss Jennings."

"It’s fine," Renee Jennings said, unconcerned. "It’s understandable."

Captain Archer was relieved to see she didn’t hold a grudge.

’This Miss Jennings is so capable. He might need to ask for her help with difficult cases in the future.’

’If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he truly wouldn’t have believed it.’

’This young woman was simply incredible.’

Before leaving, Renee Jennings left him with one last sentence. "Captain Archer, there were actually more than two thieves."

Captain Archer was holding his thermos, about to take a drink. Hearing this, he froze completely.

’What does she mean?’

’More than two thieves?’

Sylvia Brooks was also reeling from Renee Jennings’s words.

That evening, Noel Lee wrapped his arms around his girlfriend on the sofa. "Baby, you seem a little out of it today. What’s wrong?"

Sylvia Brooks stiffened, a flicker of unease in her eyes. "Do I? I’m fine."

Noel Lee rested his chin on her shoulder. "Isn’t it a good thing that we got the gold and necklace back?"

"It is a good thing." Sylvia Brooks subconsciously pulled away from his touch and stood up. "I’m just thinking about work. I’m a little tired. I’m going to my room."