Chapter 511: Conspiracy (4) A Trip to River Town
Along the way, Hannah's phone buzzed constantly. She received calls from Oscar's parents, brothers David and Thomas, and her own parents. News of Oscar's custody had leaked to the press, making the situation public knowledge.
They finally arrived at the Investigation Department headquarters, only to find the staff member who greeted them was not the one Josh had contacted. They learned the original staff member had taken leave due to an unforeseen circumstance.
"We cannot approve your bail application," the staff member stated firmly. "The case involves a City Hall official, and the media attention and public opinion are too significant to ignore. The suspect will remain in custody until his trial, at which point the judge will determine his sentence."
Hannah suspected the news leak was deliberate, planned well in advance. She forced herself to remain calm.
Josh, maintaining his composure, asked, "I represent Mr. Wells. May I speak with him?"
"I'm afraid not," the staff member responded swiftly. "The suspect is under investigation and cannot meet with anyone to avoid undue influence."
Josh glanced at Hannah, who remained silent. What else could she do? Wealth seemed powerless against such authority.
Josh shifted his request, proposing, "Then may I have a copy of Mr. Wells's case file?"
"Certainly," the staff member replied coldly. "Follow the procedure, sign the receipt, and I'll provide the documents."
"Thank you."
Josh immediately began handling the paperwork. Theodore and Hannah waited outside.
The interaction left Hannah and Theodore visibly shaken, though they maintained a facade of calm. The process, expected to take less than an hour, consumed nearly the entire morning. It was noon before Josh secured the documents.
They climbed into Jimmy's car. Josh and Hannah immediately began reviewing the case file.
"This is deliberate," Theodore exploded. "They're intentionally obstructing us!" His anger threatened to overwhelm him.
Hannah listened quietly, offering no interruption. She recognized the situation for what it was: a carefully constructed trap, the first of many challenges to come. Their only recourse was to prepare themselves.
The car pulled back towards Oscar's villa.
Josh finished reading and began his analysis. "The evidence presented is seemingly irrefutable. During his six-month posting in River Town, Oscar oversaw two significant construction projects in the local economic zone, from planning to contractor selection. The investigation alleges he forged two false accounts, embezzling over fifty million. Worse, the most damning evidence is the illicit cash found in his apartment."
"In his apartment?" Theodore was incredulous. "How could he store that much cash? It sounds preposterous."
"This rumor is far too detailed to be fabricated," Josh countered, handing Theodore some photographs. "These are on-site images. To obtain such clear images, video evidence must exist. This isn't fabricated evidence."
"But how could Oscar miss fifty million in cash in his own apartment?" Theodore remained perplexed.
"That's why City Hall granted Oscar a week's leave to transfer his responsibilities and even promoted him," Hannah interjected, her voice laced with anger. "It was a diversionary tactic. They needed to distract him, focusing his attention on Kensbury business. They secretly planted the money in his apartment. Then, someone reported his 'corruption,' allowing them to retrieve the money under the watchful eyes of cameras, creating flawless evidence to frame him. How could he possibly survive such a meticulously planned scheme?"
"Damn!" Theodore cursed. "We anticipated a setup, but failed to foresee this."
Hannah turned to look at him. Theodore hadn’t detailed their prior preparations for a conspiracy.
"What can we do now? They were so well-prepared," Theodore asked.
Josh appeared anxious. From a lawyer's perspective, the case seemed virtually unwinnable.
"Josh, if Oscar returns the money and cooperates fully, what's the minimum prison sentence he faces under Northfield law?" Hannah asked.
"Given the sum involved, he's likely looking at five to ten years, at best."
"Five to ten years?" Theodore was aghast.
Hannah, however, remained relatively calm, a thought forming in her mind. If they'd gone to such lengths, a five-to-ten-year sentence would be insufficient; their ambitions undoubtedly extended beyond that.
This was likely not the end of the conspiracy. And if there was more to come, it might provide an opportunity to uncover new evidence.
"Hannah, how can you be so calm?" Theodore asked, his frustration evident. "If Oscar faces five to ten years, everything changes."
After a deep breath, Hannah asked, "Theodore, can you have your father discreetly investigate if any Collins family members were involved?"
Theodore paused, then said, "I'll check."
He stepped aside to make a call. Returning with a worried expression, he reported, "My father made inquiries. The case has drawn significant attention from City Hall, but no Collins family members have shown any interest. For now, their involvement remains unclear."
Hannah nodded, a plan forming in her mind. City Hall was controlled by two families: the Collins and the Balderstons. If City Hall was complicit, the mastermind must be from one of those families.
She frowned, lost in thought. Why would the aristocratic families target Oscar? She knew Charles hadn't let go of Oscar, but why would they aid him after the Collins family abandoned him?
Her thoughts wandered.
"Hannah," Theodore interrupted, his annoyance palpable. He was visibly distressed.
"Do you think Oscar was unaware of the conspiracy against him?" Hannah suddenly asked.
Theodore seemed to snap back to attention.
"Of course not," he said. "While in River Town, he knew he was a target and would have been cautious. The timing—just before his departure—suggests his intelligence."
Hannah continued, "The answer must lie in River Town, where he was framed. I think we should go there."
A fabricated lie, she believed, could never be perfect. And Oscar, she was sure, wouldn't have let them achieve perfection.