Devil's Whisper Chapter 117: Echoes of a Promise

“Juan Luu is officially registered in the national identity card system, and his entire family tree is filed under the Luu surname,” Jason said, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Kate, the morning light filtering through the windshield catching the intensity in his gaze.

“So, you’re suggesting there’s a strong possibility that Lowan Box and Darrel Luke were just fake identities used by Juan Luu?” Kate asked, her voice rising with a mix of intrigue and excitement.

“Exactly,” Jason replied, his voice steady yet carrying a weight of certainty that resonated deep within her. He met her gaze for a heartbeat longer than necessary, his lips twitching into a faint, knowing smile that made her stomach flip. “In fact, there’s more to the story of Juan Luu, and it’s starting to look really suspicious.”

“Suspicious how?”

Jason leaned back slightly, gathering his thoughts for a moment, his broad shoulders pressing against the seat as he exhaled a slow, measured breath. “Well, during my investigation, I came across something significant,” he said, his voice dropping to a low, deliberate cadence that sent a thrill through her. “Juan Luu has a criminal history. He was arrested a while ago for assaulting one of his coworkers. The charges were eventually dropped when the coworker changed his mind, and Juan was set free.”

“Wait a minute. What exactly happened? Why did Juan beat up his coworker?”

Jason’s expression darkened, a shadow crossing his features as he turned his head slightly, meeting her gaze with a look that was both fierce and tender. “According to the FIR, Juan had a history of temperament problems. One day, he flew into a rage when his coworker made some disparaging remarks about cults, calling them nothing more than a breeding ground for misleading the younger generation. Juan, who had a deep connection to these cults and believed they were a force for positive reform in society, lost it. He beat the hell out of his coworker.”

Kate processed the information for a moment, her lips parting as she absorbed the weight of it, her mind racing alongside her heart. She tilted her head, her hair brushing her cheek as she spoke again, her voice thoughtful and soft, a whisper meant just for him. “So, Juan had a short fuse, and this wasn’t a one-time incident,” she said, her eyes locked on his, searching the depths of his gaze. “Sounds like he was the type who couldn’t control his temper, and when things didn’t go his way, he’d lash out. And it also seems like he felt the need to impose his views on others, no matter the cost.”

Jason nodded grimly. "That’s exactly it. His temper and his desire to impose his own beliefs on others make him even more dangerous." After a brief pause, he continued, "Here’s another layer to the story. Juan Luu is actually the first cousin of Shawn Paula. Their relationship is complicated, to say the least. They’ve been at odds for years. In fact, they haven’t seen each other in over six years because of a deep-seated enmity."

Jason paused for a moment, his expression growing more serious. “Juan Luu once told Shawn Paula that he would one day make him suffer by taking everyone close to him,” he said, his tone low and grave, each word deliberate. “He swore he’d make Shawn’s life miserable, leaving him with no one left to care for him.”

Kate’s face darkened as she pieced it all together, her breath catching as the implications crashed over her like a wave. “And now… now, Shawn Paula is in the ICU, and his only daughter is dead, lying in the morgue,” she said, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of it. “It’s almost like Juan Luu’s threat has come true.”

“Exactly,” he said, his voice tinged with a quiet fury that mirrored her own. “It’s starting to look like Juan Luu is the killer we’ve been hunting all over Adelaide.”

“So, what’s our next step?” she asked, her voice soft but firm, her eyes locking onto his with a mix of determination and longing she couldn’t suppress.

“We’re heading straight to Juan Luu’s house,” Jason said. “I’ve got a search warrant, and my team is already there, waiting for us to arrive. We need to search every corner, every room, every inch of that house to find anything that ties him to this case.”

Kate turned to Jason with a furrowed brow, her curiosity sharpening as she leaned closer, her shoulder brushing the console. “But how did you get a search warrant?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. “We don’t have enough hard evidence to pin anything on him yet.”

“Commissioner Bob came through for us,” he said, his tone low and conspiratorial, meant just for her. “He helped me secure the warrant. Not sure how he managed it, but I’m not asking questions.” He paused, his eyes flicking to hers, and the intimacy of that shared secret sent a flush across her cheeks. “And we also obtained some crucial CCTV footage that could really strengthen our case,” he added, his voice dropping softer, a quiet promise. “It might link Juan Luu directly to Sasha Paula’s death.”

“What CCTV footage? What’s on it?” Kate raised an eyebrow, her curiosity palpable as she shifted closer, her knee brushing his thigh—a fleeting touch that sent a jolt through her, igniting the air between them.

Jason gave her a cryptic look, his eyes darkening with a mix of caution and something deeper—something that felt like longing. “I’ll fill you in once I’m absolutely certain,” he said, his voice a husky whisper that brushed against her senses like a caress. “I need to see the forensic report first. Once I have all the pieces, I’ll share everything.”

Kate’s curiosity burned, but she respected his decision to hold off, her trust in him a quiet warmth in her chest. “Alright,” she said, her voice soft and yielding. “I’ll wait for the details.”

She leaned closer still, the distance between them shrinking until she could feel the heat radiating from him, the faint scent of his cologne wrapping around her like an embrace. Her heart raced, her breath shallow, and she couldn’t help herself—her eyes dropped to his lips, her body tilting toward him as if drawn by an invisible force. She wanted to kiss him, to close the gap and feel the roughness of his stubble against her skin, the strength of his mouth claiming hers. Her lips parted, a heartbeat away from his, but then she froze, pulling back at the last second, her chest heaving with the effort.

The face of Samuel flashed through her mind—her fiancé, the man she’d once promised herself to, though suspicion gnawed at her that he might be tangled in this conspiracy. Guilt and duty warred with the fire Jason had ignited in her, a storm of longing and restraint that left her trembling.

And beneath it all, a deeper truth—she couldn’t afford to love anyone, not until this case was solved, not until the killer’s mask was torn away. She pressed herself back against the seat, her hands curling into fists as she fought the ache in her chest, her eyes darting to the window to escape his gaze.

Jason’s breath stopped when Kate leaned in, his heart slamming against his ribs as he felt the whisper of her nearness, the promise of her lips so close he could almost taste her. Then she pulled away, and a frustration surged in his chest, sharp and raw, a longing he couldn’t voice. He saw the shadow cross her face, the flicker of conflict in her eyes, and he knew she was thinking of Samuel—the man who still held a claim on her, even if Jason suspected he didn’t deserve it.

He gave a slight grunt, a low sound of discontent, and shifted his gaze to the right, where Henley Beach stretched out beyond the window, its pristine shoreline shimmering under the late afternoon sun. The golden hue of the ocean glinted like molten light, a serene contrast to the storm brewing inside him, and he gripped the wheel tighter, his knuckles whitening as he wrestled with the ache of wanting her—fully, completely—and the knowledge that she wasn’t his to take, not yet.

The car sped on, the silence between them thick with unspoken words.

Five minutes later, Jason’s car turned onto a narrow street lined with old trees. Kate noticed a handful of police cars parked at the end of the street.

Jason parked the car and stepped out, his boots hitting the asphalt with a deliberate force. He walked to the front of the car, scanning the area. His gaze fell on the police officers who were already on site, standing by, waiting for their next orders.

"Sir, this is the house," Oliver said, his voice tight with anticipation as he pointed toward a two-story house at the end of the driveway.

Jason nodded, his focus unwavering. "Alright, let’s do this."

Oliver walked toward the front gate, his footsteps firm as he approached the house. He rang the bell, and after a moment, the door creaked open. A woman stepped out, her eyes filled with confusion. She glanced at the cluster of police officers on the other side, her brow furrowing.

"Yes?"

"Is this Juan Luu’s residence?" Oliver asked calmly.

"Yes, it is. But what brings you here?"

"We need to speak with Juan Luu. Is he home?"

"Yes, he is," the woman replied.

Jason exchanged a quick glance with Kate, then nodded.