Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 486: The Hidden Truth

"Nancy," Captain Simmons’s voice came through the receiver, clear and heavy.

"Regarding the case of your father, James, we need to update you on the latest progress of our investigation. The original police records state that while on his way home from work, he jumped into traffic to save a young boy who had dashed into the road. He was struck by a muck truck that failed to brake in time and died at the scene."

Nancy’s fingers trembled as she held the phone. "I know. He was recognized for his bravery afterward, but he was never officially designated a martyr."

"Yes," Simmons said gravely. "That is one of the reasons we reopened the case. The truck driver from back then finished his sentence, but we recently brought him back into custody for further interrogation. At first, he insisted it was an accident caused by brake failure."

Nancy caught the underlying meaning in his tone. "So, there is a new discovery?"

Simmons replied, "This time, we used the latest forensic technology to perform a complete reconstruction of the vehicle wreckage and the accident scene data. The technical analysis shows that given the road conditions and speed at the time, even with a faulty braking system, the driver had more than enough time and space to take emergency evasive maneuvers or, at the very least, decelerate significantly."

His tone shifted, becoming stern. "The simulation results clearly indicate that before the impact, the vehicle showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, it maintained its speed, and there are even traces of acceleration."

Nancy’s breath hitched. "Which means the driver hit him on purpose. It was murder."

After confirming her suspicion, Simmons continued. "Furthermore, in our background check of the boy your father saved, we found he suffered from a severe congenital illness and passed away a few years ago. As for his parents, they moved away shortly after the accident. Their current whereabouts are unknown, but we are actively searching for them."

At least there is a lead, Nancy thought. She gripped the communicator tighter. "Is there anything I can do to help with this investigation?"

Simmons spoke with the soothing tone of an elder. "Leave this investigation to the police. There is a far more important mission for you and your brother."

Nancy perked up immediately, but Simmons did not reveal the mission right away.

Instead, his voice grew even more somber. "National Security made a breakthrough in the investigation of Anders. We suspect that your father’s death was not only connected to the Summers family but likely involves Golden Rod, a cross border criminal syndicate based in the Tripoint region. It is very possible his death was a retaliatory hit by Golden Rod."

"Tripoint? Retaliation?" Nancy’s brow furrowed.

She was no stranger to that name. Tripoint was not an official geographical location, but rather a lawless no man's land near the southwestern border of Dracovia. It was a constant source of trouble for the border, threatening the safety of citizens in all neighboring countries. Smuggling, trafficking, fraud. The outlaws there were beyond ordinary criminals. They were ruthless, lacked any moral compass, and were truly the definition of evil.

Simmons continued, "We strongly suspect James’s death was a deliberate act of revenge by Golden Rod. Ten years ago, the group’s then leader, Colton Augburn, was shot and killed on the spot by your father, who was serving as a sniper during a joint border operation. James participated in multiple special operations against Tripoint crime and was highly decorated. However, on the eve of the final, critical operation against the group, he was suddenly transferred from the front lines. His mission was terminated, he was sent to the rear, and he was eventually moved to a secondary role."

Nancy’s heart sank. "Why was the mission terminated so abruptly? Was he... injured?"

Simmons’s tone dropped lower. "During that final operation, information was leaked. The police paid a heavy price with many casualties. Afterward, an anonymous tip was filed, alleging that James had defected and colluded with Golden Rod to leak the intel."

"That is impossible!" Nancy blurted out. "Is there any evidence?"

"There was no direct evidence," Simmons said, his voice tight with suppressed frustration.

"But at the time, the internal affairs team had several indirect leads that didn't look good for him. For instance, the specific timing and route of the operation were known to only a few core members. James had gone out on personal business within forty eight hours of the mission, and a portion of his movements could not be fully verified. Additionally, when clearing the communication logs of a suspicious middleman later, they found an encrypted, brief signal that appeared to point toward the encrypted frequency James was using at the time. Finally, the details in the tip were too specific. Someone who wasn't a core participant wouldn't have known them."

Fearing Nancy might be overwhelmed by the weight of this information, Simmons softened his voice.