The Warden of The Witches

Chapter 16:

Suspect

Five minutes later, in the warden's office.

Aiden sat down in his seat, took off his police cap and placed it on the desk, then looked up to see Veronica still standing with her hands tied. He gestured to a nearby guest seat, "Please, have a seat."

Veronica nodded and sat down Carefully.

"Would you like something to drink? Tea? Coffee?" Aiden asked casually.

Veronica shook her head, looking a bit reserved.

Aiden stared at her for a moment, unable to suppress a smile. "It feels like it's only been one night, yet your whole demeanor has changed."

When they first met, Veronica seemed like a cat on edge, full of distrust towards everyone around her. It felt like if anyone dared to touch her, they'd get a piece of their skin torn off.

But now, that hostile aura of hers that kept people at bay seemed to have disappeared.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Veronica looked at Aiden and asked.

"I just came back from the Mounted Police Department."

"Have You met with Bruce?" Veronica widened her eyes.

"Yeah, I had a few words with him," Aiden nodded. "The kid didn't admit anything, but personally, I think he's the one who got you into this mess.

I Just asked a few questions and he was practically wearing a sign that said 'guilty conscience.' Now, I'm leaning more towards believing you've been wronged."

Thinking back to Bruce's pitiful face, Aiden smirked in contempt.

Veronica fell silent for a moment, gripping her left wrist with her right hand, digging her nails into her flesh.

"I cared for him like he was my own brother, hoping he'd become an upright officer. How could he... do this?" She squeezed out words tinged with resentment and disappointment.

"So, that's exactly what we need to figure out," Aiden tapped the table with his knuckles, reminding Veronica to focus back on him.

"What?" Veronica snapped back to attention.

"I can tell, he's clearly uneasy about betraying you. Whether it's a guilty conscience or fear of exposure, there has to be a reason for him to betray his benefactor to protect another real culprit"

"You're planning to... start with his motive?" Veronica caught on.

"You're finally using your brain," Aiden smiled knowingly.

"Exactly. To make someone take such a risk, the most common reasons are personal feelings, self-interest, or coercion.

The real culprit must possess at least one of these factors.

From what you know, who does he have a closer relationship with in the Mounted Police Department? Is there anyone who could make him willingly do something like this to protect them?"

"No," Veronica shook her head without much thought.

"To be honest, the atmosphere within the Mounted Police Department... isn't great. Newcomers like him, without connections and a timid personality, are bound to face ostracism. It's common for them to be given menial tasks by the older officers. I've already been the one who's looked out for him the most in the entire force."

"Workplace bullying? So, coercion is a possibility," Aiden mused, his arms crossed. "Does he have any leverage that someone might have on him?"

"As far as I know, he doesn't, and... I find it hard to imagine anything worse than this," Veronica thought calmly.

"Indeed. How's his financial situation?"

"Not great either. I've heard him talk about it. He comes from a single-parent family; his mother is a textile worker. They borrowed money from all over the place just so he could attend the police academy. The salary of a probationary officer isn't high, only a bit over four pounds a month. Their life is considered quite tight..."

"So, it's high likely," Aiden rested his chin on his hand in thought, suddenly recalling something. "By the way, do you remember the people who were assigned to patrol during the time frame of the incident?"

Veronica understood immediately why Aiden was asking this – under normal circumstances, mounted police were only allowed to carry their guns while on duty.

If the suspect was focused to the Mounted Police Department, then those few mounted officers who were patrolling in the neighborhood at the same time as her on that day would be the prime suspects.

"I remember, I remember very clearly," Veronica replied with confidence.

"are you sure? It's been over a month"

"After I was arrested, I've been recalling that day almost every day," Veronica said earnestly. "Before the mounted police go out on patrol, they have to assemble and form up, so I have an impression."

"That's perfect," Aiden snapped his fingers. "Among these people, is there anyone with the capability to pull off something like this?"

Veronica understood his implication. Providing false testimony and pinning a murder on someone else was no small matter.

If the real culprit used coercion to force Bruce Kane into doing it, without having any leverage, they must have had some significant background or special tactics.

If the real culprit used bribery, then they must have a certain level of financial power.

After mentally going through each of those people one by one, she had an answer. "There's one."

"Tell me about it."

"His name is Jialong Rowton..."

Veronica had barely started, and Aiden's brows furrowed. "Jialong?"

"What's wrong?" Veronica blinked in surprise.

"Nothing much, but I think I've seen this person at the police station before," Aiden waved his hand. "So, this Jialong, does he have a significant background? Or is he just wealthy?"

"As for his background, it can be considered somewhat influential. His father seems to be a councilman in Silver City, and he himself used some connections to secure his position in the mounted police.

Most people in the force know about it, and he often boasts about it," Veronica explained slowly. "As for money, he should have some. He's known for spending lavishly in the force.

Besides that, he always carries a gold pocket watch with him, never leaving it behind. The watch bears the emblem of his family, and he often flaunts it."

"Sounds like a foolish land owner son" Aiden comented.

"That's one way to put it. It's said that his father became a councilman only in recent years.

The so-called family he often talks about only gained prominence after his father became a councilman. Calling them political upstarts wouldn't be an exaggeration," Veronica scoffed, twisting her mouth in disdain.

"That guy himself is a complete scoundrel, he's not short on money, but he still goes around extorting in his own jurisdiction."

"It sounds like you really hate him."

"I've had my issues with him. He once tried to make me his mistress and was rejected by me," Veronica answered with a stern face, clearly repulsed by the memory. "In addition to that, I've also reported him for bribery."

"I see," Aiden recalled the chubby officer named Jialong, who nervously barged into the meeting room, interrupting his conversation with Bruce. He nodded thoughtfully, "This guy, he's quite a suspect."