Chapter 98: A Heart-Wrenching Scene

With his right hand tightly gripping the steel pipe, Murphy cautiously approached the stairs. The entrance to the basement storage room was on one side of the stairs, and the door's switch had been tampered with, indicating someone had entered. Inside the storage room were the original camera, the car-mounted police receiver, and some office equipment Murphy had acquired when he leased the property. It wasn't surprising that someone would target these items. Living in this neighborhood had taught Murphy that America was far from the paradise some claimed it to be. Even in middle-class communities, crime was not uncommon.

As he neared the storage room door, Murphy became more alert. His experiences had taught him to be wary, especially in situations like this. He gently pushed open the door, revealing a staircase leading down. As expected, there was light below, along with the sound of rummaging.

Murphy proceeded cautiously, preparing himself to react if necessary. When he reached the corner of the stairs, he pressed his body against the wall. Suddenly, a shadow appeared, indicating someone was approaching from inside the storage room.

Frowning, Murphy raised the steel pipe, knowing that thieves often carried weapons, sometimes turning burglary into homicide. As the figure approached, Murphy tensed, ready to strike. Just as the person turned the corner, Murphy swung the pipe, but then recognized who it was. He instinctively redirected the pipe, avoiding hitting the person's head and instead hitting the wall with a loud thud.

The dusty wall shook, and Murphy couldn't suppress a sneeze. The startled person, revealed to be Kerry Mulligan, paid no attention to the dust on her golden short hair, focusing instead on Murphy with tear-filled eyes.

"Murphy! Why did you hit me?" she asked, her face full of distress. "Where's the Murphy who was always kind to me? How did you become like this?"

Hearing her words, Murphy rubbed his slightly throbbing right hand and scratched his head. "I thought there was a thief."

Kerry's eyes widened in realization. "How could I be a thief?"

Seeing her innocence, Murphy's expression softened. "Calm down, Kerry," he said, suppressing another sneeze. "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go upstairs."

Half a minute later, the two dust-covered individuals sat on old chairs beside a worn-out desk. Kerry had regained her composure.

"Why did you come here to get me?" she asked, looking at Murphy with a hint of sadness. "What game were you playing? It's not funny."

Murphy stood up and handed her a towel. "I found the iron gate open and the padlock on the lawn," he explained. "And I heard noises from the storage room."

Kerry wiped the dust off her face, her expression changing from sorrow to embarrassment. "I went to the storage room to get a box of old clothes."

Murphy furrowed his brows. "How did you have a key?"

"Don't you remember?" Kerry's innocence shone through her big eyes. "I asked you for a key when I helped Paul Wilson move things. You agreed, so I got one from him."

Murphy vaguely recalled the incident before filming began, when he had been too preoccupied to refuse her request.

Putting aside this minor issue, Murphy asked, "Why did you bring the old clothes here?"

Kerry lowered her head, looking pitiful. "Because of the dropping out incident, I had a falling-out with Uncle Julian... I mean, I moved out of his house. I needed somewhere to stay."

She glanced at Murphy, her eyes pleading. "You've always been kind to me. I have nowhere else to go. You wouldn't want me to be homeless, would you?"

Afraid of encountering someone like James Franco if she stayed outside, Kerry added, hoping to sway Murphy's decision.

Murphy frowned, considering her words.

Sneezing again, Kerry rubbed the dust off her blonde hair. "Can I use the upstairs bathroom? I'm really dirty."

Feeling a pang of sympathy, Murphy nodded gently.

As Kerry watched him walk away, her eyes shimmered with conflicting emotions.