Chapter 518 Conspiracy (11) New Clue

Hannah had reason for complacency. She hadn't found any clues, but she had lost her powerful ally, Theodore, ensuring a difficult path ahead. A double blow.

Hannah clenched her fists, resisting the urge to lash out at Charles. She reminded herself to remain calm, especially now.

"Mrs. Wells, what should we do? Stay in River Town?" Jimmy asked.

Hannah was confused by their predicament. Should they remain? Were there any clues here?

Judging by their recent setbacks, her opponents were more cunning than she'd initially thought. She'd been able to outmaneuver Charles smoothly because he hadn't been directly involved, she speculated. That had changed. Therefore, any clues in River Town were likely gone. The only remaining possibility was Oscar's precautions. Had he foreseen this and hidden evidence?

Hannah's silence unnerved Jimmy. He was aware only that both Oscar and Theodore were gone.

After a moment's thought, Hannah called Manuel. "Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Hannah. Was Theodore also taken?" Manuel asked.

"Yes." Hannah offered no explanation, unwilling to dampen spirits, despite her own culpability.

"Don't worry, Theodore will be fine. His father has the influence to secure his release," Manuel reassured her.

His words eased Hannah's worries about potential blame. But sentimentality was a luxury she couldn't afford. She asked directly, "Did you hack into River Town City Hall's financial system?"

"Yes. I obtained the financial statements, the same ones you got from the Investigation Department," Manuel replied. "The data is clean so far, but I'll keep checking. I'll let you know if I find anything."

"All right."

"What about you? Any findings?"

"Not yet."

"I think the clue is unlikely to be in River Town. It's with Oscar," Manuel said. "My cousin likely saved some proof for himself."

Hannah agreed, but was reluctant to give up so easily. "I know it's a long shot, but I want to try again in River Town. Facing them, I found them far more capable than I'd anticipated."

Manuel hesitated, his lips pursed. He preferred respect to coercion.

"It's simple," Hannah explained. "I don't want to put all our eggs in one basket. We need to increase our chances of winning, to avoid being cornered. After all, none of us can be sure of seeing Oscar before the trial."

"All right. I support you." Manuel was surprised by Hannah's thoughtful approach and her dedication. It was said his cousin loved Hannah dearly. That love was clearly reciprocated.

Manuel said calmly, "Take it easy. Don't push yourself too hard. I have something to tell you that Theodore might not have mentioned."

"What?"

"We can break into the prison and rescue Oscar, if necessary."

Hannah's eyes widened.

"It's feasible," Manuel affirmed.

Hannah didn't press further. The implications were clear.

Hanging up, Hannah felt calmer. Manuel's suggestion was audacious, unthinkable for most. Yet, it was an option, relieving some of her stress. At worst, they could break Oscar out of prison; at worst, they could flee with their families—as long as they survived.

Hannah took a deep breath. "Let's rest briefly, then we'll go back to Oscar's apartment tonight," she told Jimmy.

Jimmy was puzzled.

"They've let their guard down, for real," Hannah explained. They were confident in their security measures, so they wouldn't suspect her. Their previous actions were a trap, and it had worked. Hannah felt she could relax her vigilance.

At 8 pm, Hannah and Jimmy went to Oscar's building. She bypassed his apartment, having already searched it. Instead, she went to the management office to check the security footage using the car's license plate.

She discovered a two-hour gap in the footage due to a reported power surge. Hannah recognized her opponent's handiwork, a suspicion she'd already held, confirming it wasn't worth pursuing further.

Leaving the office, Hannah went to Oscar's floor. This time, she didn't go to Oscar's apartment, but knocked on the one diagonally across.

She'd assumed Oscar was the only occupant. She wouldn't have bothered the neighbors otherwise.

An elderly man answered. "Who are you looking for?" he asked, surprised.

"Good evening, sir. I'm your new neighbor. I just moved in and need to borrow some soy sauce," Hannah improvised.

"Wait," the old man said, returning inside.

Hannah discreetly surveyed his apartment, noting his solitary lifestyle.

He soon returned with a bottle. "I have an extra one. Take it."

"How much? I'll pay you."

"Nonsense," he refused. "We're neighbors."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. My neighbor was a good man. He helped me a lot. I can't believe..." he sighed.

Hannah's eyes sharpened. She noticed his reference to Oscar. Casually, she asked, "Are you talking about the man across the hall, arrested for bribery? Oscar, was it?"

"Bribery?" the old man exclaimed. "Impossible! He's a good man! It must have been planted!"