Chapter 311

Lee couldn't help but believe in magic. He hadn't believed in such things as a young man, but years of police work had changed his perspective. His belief solidified after meeting Odalys.

The night he excavated the bodies at her direction, he had nightmares. "You weren't meant to die," Odalys whispered, her sentence unfinished. Had he not met Odalys, he wouldn't have died, but he would have become a vegetable, confined to a bed for the rest of his life. She didn't want a just and kind officer to suffer such a fate; it was one reason she'd offered to accompany him.

"You saved my life," Lee whispered.

Francis and Stellan remained silent. They'd witnessed the Drake family's car accident firsthand; Odalys's talisman had saved Stellan's parents then.

"Lee, what happened?" A police officer rushed over.

Seeing Lee's crashed car wedged against a rock, the officer expected serious injuries. Lee, however, was unharmed.

"A cat ran out; I couldn't react in time," Lee said lightly, gesturing to the rock.

The officer examined the car and Lee's hand. Apart from a minor abrasion, Lee showed no injuries.

"You're fine after that crash?" the officer exclaimed, surprised. He'd never seen such an outcome.

"Please take care of the car. I have to go," Lee instructed, then entered Stellan's car. Fortunately, it was a large seven-seater SUV, so there was ample room.

Mrs. Stewart (Odalys) sat beside Lee, the moonlight illuminating her face, ethereal in its glow.

"Yes!" Odalys turned to him, her reply brief. A moment passed before Lee tentatively asked, "Do you still have those leaves? I'll pay for two."

Odalys, realizing he meant the pomelo leaves, was momentarily stunned. She'd plucked a leaf from a tree, inscribing an invisible talisman. The talisman's power, activated by the energy she'd infused, deflected danger. It wasn't the leaf itself that had saved Lee.

"Why?" Odalys frowned.

"I'm a police officer," Lee hesitated, lowering his voice. "I've handled many dangerous cases, made enemies. My daughter was kidnapped once. Though I believe in the law, I worry about her future safety. I want to buy talismans for her and my wife—for protection. If I ever offend someone, and they retaliate, it might save their lives." His voice held a hint of bitterness.

Not all police officers have peaceful ends, especially narcotics officers. While Lee wasn't in narcotics, his cases often involved wealthy or powerful people. This current case, he suspected, could lead to unexpected dangers, potentially endangering his daughter. Desperate people might resort to desperate measures. If his daughter were kidnapped again, he couldn't guarantee a repeat of her previous lucky escape.

Freya and Selah glanced at Odalys as Lee finished speaking. Odalys remained silent, lost in thought. Lee didn't press her.

Suddenly, Stellan slammed on the brakes. Several police officers stood ahead, hurrying toward them.

"Officer Henry—you're finally here!" they said, breathless and strained.

Lee joined them, then returned to the car. "Mrs. Stewart, would you come with us?" he asked quietly.

"Sure," Odalys replied.

The police allowed her to accompany them, a clear indication Lee had arranged it. Civilians usually aren't permitted at such scenes.

They entered a house where ten corpses lay beneath a makeshift tent, arranged in a disturbing formation. The bodies were mutilated and dismembered.

"If you're afraid, don't come in," Odalys said to Francis and the others, who remained at the doorway.

"We've positioned the bodies, but the genders don't match," a police officer whispered. The bodies had been numbered during excavation, but the arrangement felt wrong.

"Mrs. Stewart, is this arrangement correct?" Lee asked quietly.

Odalys, her hands clasped behind her back, turned to the door as everyone arrived. "Francis, close the door."

Francis obliged, closing the door. Silence descended.

Odalys produced a bottle, opened it, and said, "If you're scared, leave now."

"We're not afraid," they responded quickly.

Odalys raised an eyebrow, confirming with Freya and the others. They nodded. She dipped a pomelo leaf in the water and flicked droplets onto their eyes.

A wave of coolness washed over them.

"What kind of water is this?" one asked.

"It's so refreshing. My eyes feel better," another said.

"I think my nearsightedness is gone!" exclaimed a third.

They rubbed their eyes, amazed at the change. Odalys lit a talisman, plunging the tent into darkness, only the burning talisman illuminating the scene.