Chapter 318

When Mike and his crew got to the hotel, they walked in like regular guests and were hit by the loud hum of a vacuum cleaner as soon as they stepped out of the elevator.

"This place is crazy noisy," Mike grumbled, eyeing the bent-over janitor.

They didn't give the janitor much thought.

When they got to the journalist's room, they used a key to get in.

Right away, a weird smell, kinda like blood, hit them.

Mike's face changed, and he dashed into the room.

On the bed was someone wrapped in blood-soaked sheets.

Mike went over and pulled back the sheets. The journalist had a bullet hole in his forehead, eyes shut like he was sleeping.

Furious, Mike slammed his fist on the bed, then stormed to the next room and banged on the door.

After a few seconds of knocking, a young guy with messy hair and dark circles finally opened up, looking like he hadn't slept all night.

"What's the deal? Waking me up like this, who are you guys?" the young guy snapped at Mike.

Mike grabbed him by the collar, yanked him out of the room, shoved him against the wall, and growled, "Next, I'll ask and you'll answer. Say one more stupid thing, and I'll cut off one of your fingers!"

Scared stiff, the young guy just nodded.

"Someone next door got killed. Did you hear any gunshots?" Mike asked.

The young guy's eyes went wide, and he yelled, "Someone got shot next door? It wasn't me! I don't even have a gun!"

"I'm not saying it was you. Did you hear any gunshots?" Mike barked, smacking the guy's head.

The young guy shook his head. "No, I didn't hear any gunshots. All I heard was that damn vacuum cleaner; it was so loud I even cursed at it."

"The vacuum cleaner?" Mike muttered, piecing it together.

"Damn, the vacuum cleaner covered the gunshot!" Mike's face darkened. He led his team to find the janitor.

But by the time they got downstairs, the janitor was gone.

Mike got in touch with the hotel manager and found the vacuum cleaner. Inside, they discovered a bullet casing.

Mike quickly reported back to Michael.

Michael didn't blame Mike and his team. He knew how ruthless the other side could be.

Whether it was Odette getting poisoned in the hospital or the shootout with John in the abandoned factory, it just proved how savage they could get.

Mike and his team finding the journalist shot as soon as they arrived meant he was being watched. When the other side sensed trouble, they sent someone to take him out.

"I'm getting more curious about the folks backing Bianca. Who's got the guts to pull off such ruthless moves here?" Michael mused, his eyes cold and calculating.

Meanwhile, after a long day at work, Isabella was about to head out when the cops showed up again.

Seeing the familiar face of Officer Brenda, Isabella sighed, "Officer Pena, how many times have we met this month?"

Brenda shrugged. "Honestly, I don't want to be here either. Frequent police visits aren't exactly a good look."

Brenda plopped down on the sofa like she owned the place. She'd been here so often, it was almost routine.

Isabella sighed and told Juliet, "Go get Officer Pena a cup of coffee."

Juliet nodded but Brenda waved her off.

"Let's skip it. I just need to ask a few questions and then head back to the station." Brenda rubbed her forehead, looking exhausted. She'd been swamped with cases, one after another.

Isabella waved Juliet away and sat across from Brenda. "What's up this time?"

Brenda wiped her face and said, "A journalist who interviewed you got killed. Our investigation shows he was spreading false stuff about you and Mason online."

Isabella's brows knitted together. Half-joking, she said, "So now you're saying I have a motive to kill?"

Brenda sighed, "Guess who found the body first?"

Isabella raised an eyebrow, "I have no idea. Just tell me, I hate guessing games."

Rolling her eyes, Brenda said, "It was someone from the Williams Family. Naturally, they called the cops."

Isabella looked at Brenda. "Now I'm curious. You're talking about Mason's guys, not John's, right?"

Brenda nodded. "See my problem? Mason's got a motive too. When will these big families chill out? The complaints at the station are endless."

Isabella ignored Brenda's griping. She thought for a moment and said, "Mason's guys wouldn't be that sloppy. If they wanted someone gone, they'd make them disappear quietly, not in a busy hotel."

"Yeah, only people from big families know their own tricks," Brenda teased, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Isabella threw up her hands. "You don't always have to zero in on me and Mason. Sure, we have motives, but think about why this guy was spreading those nasty rumors and who put him up to it. I doubt a journalist would take on big families solo. Someone had to be behind him, and now they want him to shut up."

Brenda nodded, showing she was on the same page.