Chapter 99

Zoey pointed to a small room nearby. "Everyone's here except the mayor."

"Let's start with Hugh!" Robert said, turning back to the makeshift interrogation room. Just as he was about to enter, he remembered something and glanced at Charles. "Oh, Charles, Chad won't be out for a while. Can you check if he has any close relatives around? We need to figure out what to do with the kid."

"Got it, I'll handle it now."

With Dennis and Charles gone, it meant Zoey could join in on the interrogation.

When it was Hugh's turn, he was still putting on airs.

He found a comfortable position on the chair, lounging as he looked at the two cops across from him. "Let's get this over with, officers."

"Name," Robert demanded, his tone sharp and serious.

"Hugh. Didn't you already get that down? It's clearly written on your records," Hugh replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Robert didn't give him any leeway. "Answer what you're asked, no extra nonsense!"

Seeing that Robert wasn't someone to mess with, Hugh's attitude softened a bit. "Officer, I have things to do. Can we speed this up? I'm running out of time."

"Age."

"44. I look young, don't I? People always say I look like I'm in my twenties."

Robert, who had been ignoring him, looked up and couldn't help but chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing." Robert stifled his laughter and got straight to the point. "The villagers, including Janet's mother, told us Evan was supposed to get married. Is that right?"

"Yes, but what's that got to do with anything?"

"You should know who Evan was supposed to marry."

"How would I know? I'm busy with the factory all day. My wife handles the household stuff, and my mom deals with Evan's matters. I don't have time to meddle in his affairs," Hugh replied, sounding impatient, as if he wanted to brush off the matter quickly.

"Evan is your little brother, and you don't know who he is marrying." Robert clearly didn't buy it. He observed Hugh's expression closely and continued, "Do you know Janet? The whole village knew Evan was supposed to marry Janet. You didn't?"

Hugh's face showed a flicker of panic, his brows furrowing deeply. But he quickly regained his composure, pretending it had nothing to do with him. "Janet? I really didn't know... But if it was her, and she's dead now... Evan's life is just too tragic. Brain damage from a fever as a kid, and now his fiancée dies..."

"Do you interact with Janet often?" Robert added.

Hugh quickly distanced himself. "I'm busy and only come home every few days. We might pass each other on the road, but that's it. No other interactions."

"No interactions at all?" Robert confirmed.

"Right, I don't know her. We're too far apart in age to be friends. I really don't know her."

"Good!" Robert had been waiting for this. The interrogation had been recorded from the start.

Robert asked directly, "Then explain why the cops found your semen in Janet's body." He showed Hugh the test report. "Not just her, but in two other victims as well."

"What? That's impossible! Are you framing me?" Hugh didn't even look at the report, immediately flying into a rage.

He stood up abruptly, trying to use his loud voice to cover his guilt.

"We cops don't frame innocent people," Robert said calmly, watching Hugh's every move. "We're giving you a chance to explain. Why so agitated?"

Hugh's chest heaved with anger, his heavy breathing audible. He continued to argue, "Where did you get that report? Are you trying to trick me because you have no evidence? I'm telling you, it wasn't me! If you wrongfully accuse me, I'll fight you to the end!"

"Alright, no need to get so worked up," Robert tried to calm him down, knowing that overweight people often had health issues. If Hugh fainted, the interrogation would be delayed.

Robert kept his cool and asked, "On the night of the incident, the 20th, between 11 PM and 3 AM, where were you? Do you have an alibi?"

"Of course, I was at home sleeping. I have to get up early for work," Hugh said, then quickly corrected himself. "Wait, what date did you say?"

"20th," Robert repeated.

"Right, the 20th. That night I wasn't home. Work was busy, so I went to a bar to relax. I didn't get back until 1 or 2 AM. By then, my wife and everyone else were already asleep."

"Do you have any receipts?"

"Receipts?" Hugh didn't expect them to be so thorough. He stood up again, furious. "Are you really cops? Don't you understand how things work? Do you know who I am? People are eager to treat me. I don't need to pay!"

Robert wasn't fooled by his bluster. He'd seen it all before. "Then give us the contact information of the person who treated you."

"Do I need to have everyone's contact info? That would be beneath my status as a factory manager!"

"So, you don't have it."

"No, they don't deserve my contact info!"

Robert knew he was lying but recorded everything according to protocol.

"Alright, I think I've got most of your statement."