Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 100: Thickening Mists

"Don't get your socks wet."

Simon pulled a brand-new pair of rain boots from a nearby bag and handed them to Nancy.

Nancy nodded obediently, touched by how thoughtful he always was. With Simon supporting her, she pulled on the boots and began trekking across the muddy flats. Each step made a wet, squelching sound that echoed through the heavy silence of the crime scene.

She crouched down and dipped a finger into the cold river water, sending ripples outward. However, the murky shallows yielded nothing but a few panicked minnows and water striders skittering across the surface. Nancy pursed her lips in frustration; these creatures had minds that were far too simple, their consciousness too fragmented to provide any useful information.

From a distance, Jack took in the entire scene. He had already scouted the water’s edge and remained convinced there was no room here for an "animal communicator" to work.

Simon walked over and crouched beside her, handing her a bottle of water. "Is the water too shallow?"

Nancy shook her head, looking dejected. "There isn't even a single frog..."

Simon gazed out at the shimmering river, his eyes softening as he looked at his sister. "A large wetland like this is bound to have plenty of wildlife active nearby." Noticing her disappointment, he added gently, "We’ll walk slowly along the bank. We’re bound to find a little guy who can help."

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a soothing tone. "The medical examiner said the time of death was late at night. Think about it..." He trailed off, guiding her thoughts. "On a river at night, which animals come out that we don't see during the day?"

Nancy’s eyes suddenly sparked like lit stars. "Black-crowned night herons! And otters! They’re nocturnal!"

A flicker of pride crossed Simon’s face. "Exactly. Our witness is probably tucked away somewhere fast asleep right now. Solving a case takes patience—don't lose heart." He reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, wind-blown from the river breeze. "How about I bring you back here after dark?"

Nancy nodded vigorously. "Deal!"

Hearing their exchange, Jack let out a soft, mocking snort.

Woody, the officer in charge of surveillance, walked over with a grim expression to report to Jack. "Sir, the last time Professor Korbin was seen on camera was three nights ago at 9:40 PM on the scenic path. But the coverage in this area is spotty, and the stretch where the incident happened is a total blind spot. Between that and the poor lighting at night, we couldn't capture what happened next."

Just then, a forensics technician hurried over holding a transparent evidence bag. "Officer Jack, we have a major find! We dug this sandalwood prayer bead bracelet out of the silt. It has the name 'Lane' carved into it."

Recalling the gossip he had overheard earlier, Jack immediately instructed his assistant, "Take this to the onlookers. See if they recognize it as something the victim wore."

Then, Jack pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Hello? I’m sorry to bother you," Jack said, his tone polite and professional. "I’d like to check if a Mr. Korbin held a policy with your insurance company?"

After listening to the reply, a sharp, calculating glint flashed in Jack’s eyes.

Soon, the assistant returned with the evidence. "We confirmed it. The bracelet belongs to Korbin’s grandson, Errol Lane."

Jack took the bag and examined it closely through a magnifying glass. "The stringing holes on these beads show signs of violent tugging."

Combining the high-value insurance policy with the damaged bracelet, Jack felt he had his answer. He shot a glance at Nancy and Simon still crouching by the mud, his eyes filled with poorly hidden smugness and disdain.

Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle engine pierced the air from the road above. A teenager with dyed red hair slammed on his brakes, jumping off before the bike even came to a full stop. He stumbled toward the police line, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the body on the shore.

"Grandpa!!"

Errol’s heart-wrenching scream tore through the silence of the river.

Once the scene had been processed, Professor Korbin’s body was carefully lifted onto a stretcher and covered with a plain white cloth that fluttered in the breeze. The thin fabric clung to the old man's gaunt frame, the hem soaked through by the river water until it was nearly translucent.

Errol collapsed into the mud, his fingers gripping the yellow caution tape so hard his knuckles turned white. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." He sobbed so hard he could barely speak, his face a mess of tears. "I shouldn't have fought with you!"

As he lay there gasping for air, a pair of polished leather shoes stopped in front of him.

Jack looked down at him with eyes as cold as frost. "Errol Lane, you are under suspicion for the murder of Professor Korbin. You're coming with us."