He looked a little confused. “Mr. Watson, what do you mean by that?”

Desmond saw his confusion but didn’t explain further. Sometimes it was better to leave things unsaid. Some things were meant to be understood, not spelled out. After all, he’d already hinted more than enough–if he kept going and this Hector lost his motivation, then what? These things were unpredictable, and no one could guarantee the outcome. But Desmond had to minimize that risk. He simply smiled and shook his head. “Alright, just don’t forget what Mr. Carter said–watch that guy. That’s your top priority.”

Hector had still been a bit anxious, but when he met Desmond’s smiling eyes, he suddenly calmed down. He nodded firmly, his tone serious. “Don’t worry, Mr. Watson. I’ll make sure to get it done.” Seeing that, Desmond gave him a solid pat on the shoulder, then left. He didn’t say anything more. Just from that camera comment alone, the kid had already earned some points. He really got lucky with his timing.

By the time Desmond stepped out, Lucas was already waiting in the car. In his hand, he was toying with Julian’s phone. He looked up at Desmond, his tone amused. “So, what do you think? Is Julian actually crazy, or just putting on a show?”

Desmond slid into the driver’s seat, starting to think the question through. He began piecing everything together, considering how best to respond. “Well, to be honest, I don’t think it’s so easy to say.” “Hm?” Lucas glanced at Desmond, clearly curious about what he meant. That usual untouchable expression of his now held a rare flicker of interest.

Desmond said seriously, “Because when I first went in, Julian really did seem out of it, completely unhinged. “But the moment he saw you, Mr. Carter, something shifted. And when you said Tessa’s name, his reaction got even stronger.” Desmond wrapped it up with a conclusion. “So, I think he’s half-crazy, half-aware. He’s definitely been pushed over the edge, that part’s real.” As Lucas listened to Desmond’s analysis, he kept his gaze fixed on the black phone in his hand. No one could tell what he was thinking.

Desmond cautiously asked, “So, Mr. Carter, should we head to the hospital now?” “Mm.” With Lucas‘ nod, Desmond didn’t hesitate. He started the car and drove straight toward the hospital. The entire ride, Lucas‘ attention stayed on the phone. He tried unlocking it–unsurprisingly, there was a password. But that wasn’t a problem. He could have someone crack it in no time. What stuck in his mind was the lingering feeling that maybe Julian had intentionally let the phone fall into his hands.

Julian’s arrest had all stemmed from the drug incident. So, this phone… did it hold something related to that? And given how violently he’d reacted to Tessa’s name, Lucas was beginning to suspect there might be more evidence inside. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have handed it over to the police? Why insist on giving it to him? Lucas had already figured out that much.