MTLNOVEL Chapter 151 Harry, have you ever killed anyone? _2
"Additionally, through Mike Smith's financial accounts, I found he had frequent financial transactions with a private clinic called XX. Go take a look there. You might find something useful."
"Thank you, Daisy. If there's any new information, let me know right away."
"Got it, Detective Dean!"
The phone call ended.
Harry immediately said, "Dean, I know that private clinic. It's a famous underground clinic in Los Angeles, often treating gang members for gunshot wounds and other tricky injuries. Aside from not being cheap, it has a good reputation in the underworld!"
"Good, you drive and lead the way!"
The two bid farewell to Holz and left once more.
「Meanwhile.」
At Mike Smith's villa, Ona was patiently feeding Little Mike.
Little Mike was still concentrating intently on the oversized book in his hands, but now he rhythmically opened his mouth, waiting for Ona to feed him.
After eating, as usual, Ona prepared to go downstairs.
Suddenly, a familiar yet strange childish voice called out to her, "Ona..."
Surprise shone in Ona's eyes. She turned around and, looking excitedly at Little Mike, said, "Little Mike, you haven't spoken to me in a long time!"
Little Mike didn't look up, his tone indifferent as he said, "Such meaningless exchanges are a waste of my precious life. Were the people who came today from the detective bureau?"
Ona regarded Little Mike with a puzzled look and nodded hesitantly. "Yes, there was a small matter, they..."
"Mike Smith is dead?"
CLATTER.
The plate in Ona's hand fell to the floor.
She stared dumbfounded at Little Mike, finding the familiar face in front of her now utterly unfamiliar.
After a long pause, Ona licked her lips and asked in astonishment, "Little Mike, you weren't really autistic?"
Only then did Little Mike lift his head. A peculiar smile appeared on his handsome little face as he said, "I just feel that interacting with you stupid creatures is a waste of my life."
As he spoke, he rubbed his cheeks and sighed faintly, "When Mike Smith is buried, send a white chrysanthemum on my behalf. He was ignorant, somewhat perverted, and he killed my dog. Still, those people also purged him of his sins. I hope he goes to heaven with joy in his heart."
After speaking, he bowed his head once more, earnestly returning to his reading.
A long while later, Ona came back to her senses.
She glanced at the frail, pale-faced Little Mike, then at the dropped plate on the floor, almost believing she had just imagined it all.
Yet the plate at her feet was clear evidence. Twelve-year-old Little Mike had unequivocally told her that he had killed Mike Smith—his own father!
But how had he done it?
Ona was certain! Little Mike had always been under her care. He had never left the villa, not even descending to the first floor, nor had he met anyone from the outside world!
How had he done it?
Ona, somewhat dazedly, picked up the plate and went to the villa's hall. She found the business card Dean had left behind. She picked up the landline, seemingly about to make a call, then, as if remembering something, put it down again.
After hesitating several times, she sighed and ultimately didn't make the call.
Little Mike must be tricking me. He's just a twelve-year-old child who has hardly ever been exposed to the outside world. How could he possibly have brutally killed Mike Smith? It's impossible, absolutely impossible!
To their family's ancient traditions, purification meant extreme, painful torture.
A child couldn't possibly manage that!
Ona shook her head and lay down on the sofa, curling up her frame, which was even more robust than an average man's.
The midday sun shone through the window, casting its light on her broad back. Yet, there was no warmth from it, only the presence of a lonely middle-aged woman, overwhelmed by a helplessness and fear she couldn't release.
Twisted bloodlines only give rise to twisted offspring.
Perhaps they were never meant to have the right to reproduce...
「Elsewhere.」
On the road, Harry, out of boredom, asked about Dean's observations at Mike Smith's villa.
He was annoyed by Ona, the athletic woman. Especially since she wore the mark of the 'Source of Pain' organization on her neck, he found her suspicious.
After all, given Ona's physique, she could probably hoist up Mike Smith with a pulley system or even hang him up with her bare hands with ease!
While Dean was sorting out the clues they had discovered, he chuckled at Harry's comment, "Do you suspect Ona killed Mike Smith?"
"Yes!" Harry replied convincingly. "First, Ona is capable! She's also a believer in the 'Source of Pain,' which means she's very knowledgeable about medieval torture devices.
"Second, Ona has a motive! Mike Smith only had a twelve-year-old autistic son. If he died, all the remaining assets would go to the sole guardian, Ona."
Harry's words were crude but rational.
A person proficient in medieval torture devices is indeed rare in modern society.
The method fits, and the motive is present.
In a normal investigation, these two points would be enough for Dean and his team to focus on Ona as a suspect.
Nevertheless, Dean outright dismissed Ona as a suspect. "She's not the killer. The one who inflicts such torment inevitably suffers a spiritual backlash, their soul descending into corruption, but Ona doesn't show these traits. Actually, I suspect Mike Smith's son, Little Mike, even more."
"That child, who's only twelve and has autism?" Harry exclaimed in shock.