Chapter 3024: Dense Shade of Green Trees, Long Summer Days (22)

Through Aisha's investigation, it was discovered that the blonde woman's last name was Richie, a former member of the Rich Family. However, she wasn't the mob boss's own daughter but merely a cousin by marriage. Nonetheless, she enjoyed the status of a well-born young lady.

Details about individuals involved with mobsters were generally thorough, and Aisha found out that Miss Richie had died from severe allergies ten years ago, three years into her marriage with Bob and without any children. After her death, Bob never remarried.

Aisha immediately realized that Miss Richie's death was suspicious, given that too many events coincided with that time frame ten years ago.

Ten years ago, the Wardle Engineering Team faced a business crisis and was on the verge of bankruptcy, only to suddenly receive investment from Williams's real estate firm. That same year, Bob joined the Wardle Engineering Team as a manager. Also that year, the junior high and elementary schools closed due to financial difficulties and demolished their buildings. And that was the year that Bob's wife, Miss Richie, died.

If we suppose that Miss Richie's death was not an accident but a premeditated murder, then naturally, her husband Bob, who was closest to her during a time ruled by mobsters, would be the prime suspect. If Bob executed the act, he must have covered his tracks impeccably. Moreover, after ten years, gathering any evidence would be challenging.

However, precisely because the mob was thriving during that era, even for the sake of his future, Bob shouldn't have taken such a significant risk. If found, he would undoubtedly face deadly consequences.

This means that Bob must have had a compelling reason to kill his wife, one that also posed a life-threatening risk to himself.

The reason likely didn't significantly relate to the Wardle Engineering Team or anyone else, but rather, Miss Richie's mere existence posed a lethal threat to Bob. Her continued presence perhaps represented a more significant threat than her death, giving Bob enough motive to act.

What could make a mob wife want to take her husband's life?

Although Aisha was young, she knew that normal marital disputes wouldn't escalate to this level, so adultery seemed more probable.

At the time, Bob was a nobody, but Richie was a notable member of the gangster families. By marrying Miss Richie, Bob must have received substantial benefits from the Rich Family. If he committed adultery, the mob was sure to teach him a severe lesson.

However, Aisha was puzzled as she knew enough about gangster families that, to save face for their daughter, they wouldn't make a huge scandal out of it. Typically, if it were just infidelity, they would probably just throw the poor lad out and let him fend for himself.

If that were the only pressure, it wouldn't be enough to compel Bob to murder; he must have done something far more heinous.

Defection? Assassination? Insider betrayal?

These details had long been blurred by time, making them difficult to verify. However, Aisha felt that it certainly involved both the Wardle Engineering Team and Williams. They might have jointly done something that they knew wouldn't go unnoticed by the Rich Family, so they acted first, eliminating the one who might have stumbled upon their secret—Miss Richie.

What could it be?

"Why did you suddenly ask me to come here?" Helen looked up at Shearer in confusion, her companion being none other than Squirrel Girl from the New Warriors Team.

"It's nothing; I just felt it wouldn't be safe if Dorin were alone."

"Safe? Do you mean, someone might attack you during the hypnosis session?" Helen asked, perplexed.

"It's not me they'd be after," Shearer shook his head and said, "Anyway, you two guard the door and the window. Don't let anyone in during the hypnosis session. If someone tries to force their way in, show them what you're made of."

"What if it's Brand?"

"He won't force his way in," Shearer said, "Even if someone claims Doctor Brand sent them, don't let them in. Remember, no matter who they are, what kind of ID they have, or how forceful they are, do not let them in."

"I understand," Helen nodded, more or less guessing what was going on.

After all, Arkham Asylum was a publicly operating medical facility with many people around, meaning anyone could potentially infiltrate it, aiming to create trouble—curious patients, routine-check doctors, or schedule-maintaining janitors...

Her and Squirrel Girl's job was to secure Shearer's room, preventing anyone from entering, to ensure the hypnotherapy proceeded smoothly.

Shearer entered the office to set up the hypnosis scene. Although his office at Arkham Asylum already had a small compartment for hypnosis, it was relatively cramped, so Shearer placed the bed in the more spacious center of his office.

Then he started adjusting the room's scenery and lighting. Even though he normally didn't rely on external factors for hypnosis, having a cozy environment could help relax the person, speeding up the process.

While Shearer was preparing upstairs, Kolbott also arrived at Edward's ward, intending to console him and dissuade any fears he might have about the unfamiliar therapy.

In the past, it was Edward who visited Oswald's mother's ward. Although Oswald had entered Edward's ward a few times, he never stayed long, afraid of agitating him. This was the first time he sat down.

As soon as he walked in, he saw a nurse comforting Edward, trying to take a riddle book from his hands. Oswald greeted her, and the nurse smiled helplessly and said, "Good evening, sir, it's time for his medication. Could you continue your chat after he's taken his meds?"

Oswald nodded. The nurse comforted him softly for several minutes before finally seizing the moment to take the riddle book from Edward's hands and diverted his attention to the medication, ensuring he took it properly.

After the nurse left, Oswald sat across from Edward, who shyly smiled at him. Oswald noticed that Edward's facial and neck muscles still twitched, and his focus wasn't sharp. Oswald suspected it was because no one had read him any riddles today, so he deliberately asked, "Have you come up with any good riddles lately, Edward?"

Edward's face lit up with a brilliant smile, and they immediately began discussing riddles. After talking about riddles for several minutes, Oswald found the opportunity to bring up the topic of hypnotherapy.

To Oswald's surprise, Edward didn't seem afraid. He listened intently, making Oswald feel at times that Edward wasn't insane at all, but a normal person deeply focused on a task—something even most normal people couldn't achieve.

"...so, just leave everything to Professor Shearer. He's professional enough; just follow his instructions and don't worry about anything else... Who?!"

A shadow flickered at the door, and Oswald stood up alertly, though he did not move away from Edward, instead standing still and picking up his phone.

Oswald Kolbott was no longer the poor kid struggling in the slums; even when he came to stay with his mother in the hospital, he always brought enough people with him.

Soon, two burly men in suits arrived at the door—one stood by the door while the other entered, followed by a female subordinate who led a group to start searching the room.

Worried about upsetting Edward, Oswald pulled the screen close by the bed and kept his position steadfast.

Having always been with Alberto, Oswald, with years of experience protecting against assassinations, knew that any distant noise could be the enemy's diversion. In such a situation, only a fool would run out; standing still and calling for help was the wise action.

In the movies, those subordinates who run towards a small noise, leaving their boss alone, deserved to be shot ten times over.

Oswald moved to the edge of the screen. The efficient female subordinate shook her head at him, then another younger person came over, showing Oswald the surveillance footage on a phone.

The hallway surveillance captured just a nurse passing by—the same one who had medicated Edward—pushing a cart without stopping at the door or looking inside. But Oswald did not let his guard down; he told his subordinate, "Check on this nurse."

After everyone else left, Oswald decided to stay. He wouldn't leave Edward until after the hypnotherapy had commenced.

About half an hour later, an unusual noise came from outside the door. Quickly, the female subordinate returned with two strong men dragging in the same nurse.

Oswald slightly frowned and looked at his subordinate. He had only said to investigate; now a legitimate businessman washed clean of old mob tactics, this seemed too unruly.

"Boss, the surveillance showed her going downstairs, but one of my guys saw someone in the room to the right through the door crack. When we entered, she was hiding in the closet, clearly up to something."

Oswald's expression softened considerably as he turned to the nurse, "Who are you? Why were you hiding in the next room?"

"I was just organizing things..." The nurse visibly hesitated, opened her mouth, then suddenly looked at Edward, but Oswald did not see any intense emotion like hatred in her eyes, rather a complex concern.

"First, tell me your name and what problems you're facing; perhaps I can help you," Oswald said.

"Are you Oswald Kolbott? The young man who used to follow the Godfather?"

Oswald wasn't surprised she knew his name; after staying here so long with his mother, they had used their real names, and the Kolbott surname wasn't common, easily linked to the Kobert Group.

But her knowledge that he had once followed the Godfather, whether the old or the young, proved she was more than just a simple nurse.

Oswald examined the nurse again carefully. She wasn't young, which was normal since Arkham Asylum preferred not to hire fragile young girls as nurses who couldn't handle physically robust mental patients, opting instead for older women with strength and tactics.

The nurse appeared to be in her forties, not well-maintained, so she looked older, but her tone of voice conveyed an inherent gentleness, suggesting she wasn't likely associated with mobs or hitmen.

"My name is Helis... I am indeed a nurse, only I used to work at Bolokin Community Hospital, and my husband is a construction worker."