After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 70: Ms. Caldwell, Are You Trying to Obstruct Our Investigation?
Adrian Sutton entered the living room, his ice-cold gaze sweeping over Julian Mercer and his wife.
’I gave you a way out, but you didn’t take it. You just had to choose the path to ruin.’
’In that case, I’ll just have to move things up.’
Judith Caldwell’s heart leaped into her throat. She quickly leaned over and whispered to Julian Mercer.
"Did you call Director Lawton? What in the world is going on tonight?"
Julian Mercer’s heart was also pounding with anxiety. He frowned and said,
"Director Lawton didn’t pick up. He might already be asleep."
Seeing the couple whispering nervously, the officer knew they had something to hide.
"Here are our badges. We’re investigating a case..."
"We need your cooperation with our investigation."
The officer was being deliberately vague to observe their reactions.
Upon hearing the officer’s words, the couple’s faces went pale.
Judith Caldwell’s knees almost gave out.
Julian Mercer replied in a trembling voice, "We... we’ll cooperate, of course."
"We received a report that you are suspected of illegal detention."
’Illegal detention?’
The moment those two words were spoken, Julian Mercer and his wife let out a sigh of relief.
’They thought the police had found out about their secret dealings.’
’So it’s just about illegal detention.’
’It must have been that little bitch, Claire Mercer, who called the police.’
’She’s gotten bold. She actually dared to call the police.’
’But didn’t Mr. Mercer have some pull with Director Lawton at the station?’
’How could the police show up at their house on a case without them getting any kind of heads-up?’
’If they’d gotten word beforehand, they could have prepared for this.’
But now the police were here, and they’d been caught completely off guard.
Still, compared to the other things they were doing in secret, this wasn’t a huge deal.
So, Judith Caldwell immediately plastered on a smile and explained.
"Illegal detention? How could that be possible?"
"Officer, you must have made a mistake."
The couple’s every move, down to the slightest shift in their expressions, didn’t escape the officer’s watchful eye.
’Looks like the Mercer family really is involved in some illegal activities.’
’Otherwise, they wouldn’t have looked so relieved after hearing the words "illegal detention."’
’Clearly, whatever this couple is involved in is much more serious than illegal detention.’
However, they wouldn’t act rashly without concrete evidence.
Their objective today was to rescue the victim of the illegal detention.
So, the officer shot Judith Caldwell a displeased glare.
He asked her, "This is 381 Avelorn Road, correct?"
"Yes."
"Who is Judith Caldwell?"
"I am."
"Whose villa is this?"
"It’s ours."
"Then there’s no issue, is there?" the officer said.
"The person who filed the report clearly stated the time, the place, and who was detaining her."
"Do you think we would get that wrong?"
Julian Mercer shot a glare at Judith Caldwell.
Judith Caldwell’s eyes darted around, and she said with a placating smile.
"It was my daughter who called you, wasn’t it?"
"Oh, Officer, this is just a small family matter."
"My daughter is very rebellious and disobedient, so I just locked her in her room to make her reflect on her actions."
"Who would have thought she’d actually call the police and claim we were illegally detaining her? That’s how you all got involved..."
Julian Mercer also chimed in with a laugh. "Officer, we really aren’t illegally detaining anyone..."
The words had barely left his mouth when the sound of pounding on a door echoed from the second floor.
Despite the good soundproofing, the noise was still clearly audible on the first floor.
The strange commotion from upstairs made Julian Mercer and his wife’s expressions change.
’That little bitch, Claire Mercer, is nothing but trouble.’
’It’s just marrying Mr. Bower. How dare she call the police and claim illegal detention.’
’The nerve of her.’
But now wasn’t the time to deal with her. They had to get rid of the police first.
"Officer, how about a glass of water first..."
The officer clearly wasn’t falling for it. He asked,
"What was that sound from upstairs just now?"
Judith Caldwell quickly forced a smile and blurted out a lie.
"The mice have been getting a bit out of control lately..."
The moment the words were out, she realized how flimsy the excuse sounded.
Sure enough, Adrian Sutton sneered. "Mice?"
"How big would a mouse have to be to make that much noise?"
Judith Caldwell shot him a nasty look.
She recognized him.
’She’d heard he was just some pretty boy with no money to his name.’
"This is a Mercer Family matter. Since when is it an outsider’s place to butt in?"
’So what if he knew the young master of the Rowan Family?’
’The Rowan Family wouldn’t bother meddling in another family’s affairs.’
’Even if Claire Mercer has Mrs. Rowan for a godmother, she’s still a member of the Mercer Family.’
’It’s not an outsider’s place to tell them what to do with their own daughter.’
’Besides, Mrs. Rowan was always low-key and never meddled in other people’s business.’
That was why they dared to force Claire Mercer to marry Mr. Bower in exchange for personal gain.
Just then, another noise came from upstairs.
Adrian Sutton knew it was Claire Mercer making the noise and said quickly,
"Let’s go up and see."
With that, he led the way and started up the stairs.
The officers quickly followed behind him.
Judith Caldwell hurried after them.
"Hey, wait! You can’t go up there! This is trespassing!"
"Even police can’t just barge into a private residence."
Julian Mercer followed close behind as well.
Judith Caldwell asked him,
"Do you think they could be impostors? Fake police?"
"Otherwise, why wouldn’t Director Lawton have given us a heads-up?"
"That pretty boy probably hired people to pose as cops just to get Claire Mercer out of here."
The two of them reached the second floor, their minds full of suspicion.
They saw Adrian Sutton had already reached the door to Claire Mercer’s room.
The door was secured from the outside with an iron padlock. It was impossible to open without a key.
"Claire, are you in there?"
Claire Mercer’s voice came from inside the room.
"I’m in here, but I can’t get the door open."
"Please, get me out of here! I don’t want to be their prisoner..."
"It’s so dark in here, and there are no windows... I feel like I’m suffocating..."
At her words, Adrian Sutton’s face turned so dark it was practically black.
Although he knew she was laying it on a bit thick,
the fact remained that she was locked in that room.
"Open the door."
Judith Caldwell rushed forward to block them.
The lead officer’s brow furrowed.
"Ms. Caldwell, are you trying to obstruct our investigation?"
Judith Caldwell said brazenly, "I suspect you’re not police officers at all."
"There are scammers everywhere these days using fake badges to trick people."
"So I suspect you’re impostors..."
The officers presented their badges again.
Judith Caldwell snorted.
"Who knows if those are real? You could have gotten fakes made anywhere."
The lead officer held his badge right in front of Judith Caldwell’s face.
"Take a good look at our badges. Memorize our badge numbers."
"You are welcome to contact the local public security bureau right now to verify them."
"If you continue to obstruct our investigation and refuse to cooperate, you will be charged with obstruction of justice."
"Obstructing a public official in the execution of their duty through violence or threats is punishable by up to three years in prison, criminal detention, public surveillance, or a fine."
"Are you sure you want to continue obstructing us?"
At these words, Judith Caldwell was so frightened her knees went weak.
’Up to three years in prison?’
’Is it really that serious?’
"I’ll say it again. Open the door," Adrian Sutton commanded, gritting his teeth.
