Chapter 136

Emma systematically scanned the staff. The special powder, applied to a suspect's neck and wrist the previous night, would be revealed under ultraviolet light. Finding any trace of the powder would undoubtedly identify the perpetrator. Her search proved fruitless. She frowned. "Is everyone here?"

"Yes," Fred replied.

Emma's gaze fell on Fred. He was the only one she hadn't checked. Understanding her unspoken question, he spread his hands. "It's okay, Miss Wilson, please."

Emma activated the ultraviolet pen, aiming it at Fred's clothing. At that moment, a figure emerged from the courtyard. "There's no need! It was me last night!"

The announcement elicited gasps of disbelief. "Miss Christine?" someone exclaimed. "How could it be Miss Christine?" another voice cried out. Accusations flew: "Bastard! The abbot is your grandfather! How dare you poison him!"

The courtyard erupted in outrage. Emma produced her UV pen, shining it on Christine's wrist. Powder, the residue from the previous night, was clearly visible. The staff's anger intensified. Shouts of "Bastard!" and "Call the police!" filled the air.

Christine, still in yesterday's motorcycle suit, raised an eyebrow. "Arrest me! I kidnapped you last night, but I didn't poison my grandfather!"

Her defiance only fueled the crowd's fury. "You dare do it but not admit it! How can Reverend Hart have such a despicable descendant?" one person raged. "Otis abandoned his family. He deserves to die!" Christine retorted defiantly.

Emma assessed the powder's location and Christine's size and movements; they were consistent with last night's kidnapper. Yet, her intuition screamed that Christine wasn't the murderer. The St. Grace Church staff seethed with rage. Emma remained silent.

After Christine's arrest, Emma and Liam walked to an old well behind the church. "I suspect someone else was responsible," Emma stated.

Liam's eyes narrowed. "You think Christine didn't hold you hostage?"

Emma shook her head. "She did. But she didn't break into the room to kill me!" Recalling the events, she touched the ancient well. "Last night's assailant escaped through the back window. Ambushing at the door would have been easier. Also, while both knives were identical, their grip differed. The murderer's thumb and index finger were raised—professional. The kidnapper's palm was up; she didn't know how to kill."

Liam grasped her meaning. "Two people?"

"Exactly!" Emma affirmed. "Christine, despite her unpleasant words, genuinely resents her grandfather. She wore black to visit him secretly. She held me hostage out of stubbornness, not wanting us to discover her secret care for him. The person who entered through the window was the true murderer."

A chill ran down her spine. The murderer must have known Christine's nightly visits. Therefore, they deliberately mimicked her, wearing similar black clothing and using the same knife, intending to frame Christine for Emma's murder.

"Christine's been arrested. Do you need me to arrange anything?" Liam inquired.

Emma shook her head. "Not yet. She thrives on arrogance. A little suffering will do her good." Despite her suspicions, she'd let Christine be taken away.

Liam watched her intently, finding her serious demeanor captivating, radiating wisdom. "How did you know Christine wasn't the murderer?" he asked.

Emma mused, "I don't know. Hearing her denial before her arrest, seeing her betrayed expression—it felt…wrong. It reminded me of my past, framed and distrusted like her. I have to help her find the real culprit."

Leaving the backyard, they encountered staff fetching water. "Quickly! Fred's seriously injured! We're wasting time!" one exclaimed, hurrying with medicine.

Emma's eyebrows rose. "What happened? Who's injured?"

The staff, respectful, explained that Fred had fallen down the stairs, injuring his neck severely, though without bone damage. "Take care of Reverend Hart. Leave Fred to us," they urged.

"Fine," Emma agreed. Otis needed care; she wouldn't dwell on Fred's injury and returned to the abbot's room with Liam.

This was their second day on Spirit Mountain. Leroy's critical condition had been resolved in half an hour; Otis remained unconscious after a full day.

That night, criticism surfaced online. Simon called for an update. A trending hashtag, "Reverend Otis Hart of St. Grace Church falls seriously ill," fueled the firestorm. Comments ranged from doubt about traditional medicine and accusations of negligence to suspicions of Emma's involvement, even framing her as the murderer and Christine as an innocent victim.