The importance of the item was clear to everyone in the Russell family and their subordinates. Stephan had poured countless efforts into acquiring it, finally succeeding after much hard work. But it was stolen en route, and Jacob, the assigned transporter, was killed. Having finally found a lead, they couldn't afford to give up.
When a subordinate started to speak, Stephan's glance silenced him. There was no anger, only a subtle pressure that weighed heavily, causing the subordinate to break into a cold sweat. "Understood," he muttered, turning to leave.
Stephan then added, "If Imogen asks about this, say nothing!"
"Yes, Mr. Russell!"
Once the subordinate left, Stephan shredded a thick stack of documents, the whirring machine filling the silence. He wouldn't act against the Fuller family yet, but the investigation would continue. If Dexter Fuller's guilt were proven, the Fullers' downfall would be inevitable. Stephan left the study.
Half an hour later, a maid entered to clean. As usual, she emptied the shredder, placing the scraps in a bag. She encountered Johanna, politely stepping aside. Johanna paused, then turned back. "What's that in your hand?"
"Oh, just trash from Mr. Russell's study," the maid replied, tossing the bag into the bin.
Johanna's curiosity piqued. Waiting until the maid left, she retrieved the bag and returned to her room. She suspected a secret—a big one. Stephan wouldn't have stayed in the study for over ten hours otherwise. Finding even a small clue might help her get closer to Stephan, bridging the gap between them. It would be better than her current situation; despite traveling to Khogend, she hadn't seen him once. To Stephan, she seemed nonexistent.
Locking her door, Johanna opened the bag, finding only shredded paper. Disappointed, she casually sifted through it, discovering some incompletely shredded documents. Her heart raced as she fished out the partially intact fragments. The shredder had jammed, leaving the bottom of the stack partially shredded, still readable when flattened.
Johanna scanned the fragments, her shock mounting with each line. The documents were an investigative report into her brother's death. Most evidence was destroyed, but a suspect list and photograph remained at the bottom of a page. The culprit: Dexter Fuller, Khogend's former wealthiest man.