Chapter 3

[Emergency announcement: Our student Carl Marks accidentally fell into the pond during lunch break. He has since been rushed to the hospital. We're currently awaiting the hospital's reply on his condition.]

A parent also sent a photo of the pond surrounded by teachers.

Just seeing that sent a chill down my spine.

What Wendy said yesterday, how Carl was acting strange while Lilian was apathetic about it all at once meshed in my mind.

Was that all just coincidences?

More messages were pouring in, with parents reporting that the ambulance had just left, while others were already questioning if the teachers didn't keep watch over the kids.

I wasn't in the mood to work anymore, grabbing my coat and rushing straight to the kindergarten as I could only think about Wendy talking about the stun baton and the look of fear in Carl's eyes.

As I reached the kindergarten, the atmosphere was gloomy with countless parents and teachers gathered at the gates.

John Foster—the kindergarten director—was sweating profusely as he tried to calm several particularly agitated parents.

Seeing me, he rushed over, "Sorry about the mess, Mr. Jackson…"

I nodded and said, "Can I take a look at the footage?"

He looked hesitant, but eventually nodded and led me to the security room.

Footage of the afternoon was playing on the screen.

After the bell had rang, the children left the classroom after their afternoon map.

Some children were happily running toward the field, while Carl sneaked behind the group when the class teacher did a head count, his eyes blank as he went to the field too.

However, his movement was stiff—he wasn't skipping, and instead looked like he was being pulled straight to the pond, and didn't hesitate to jump.

It wasn't that deep, but just above a child's height.

And in the footage, Carl's little hands flailed a little on the surface and his mouth was wide open as if calling for help, but there was no one else around.

A few dozen seconds later, he stopped entirely and started to sink… until a teacher noticed and rushed over.

Soon, the pool was obscured as a crowd gathered around it.

I watched the screen fixedly as the footage ended.

It did look like Carl had an accident… but could it really just be a coincidence?

Just yesterday, Wendy said Carl was struck by a stun baton, and now this… It was just too suspicious!

"No! It's not an accident!"

That was when Lilian charged in, screaming her head off.

Her hair was a mess, her eyes red, and her cheeks covered in tears.

When she saw me, her eyes appeared troubled—showing fear and fury both at the same time.

Then, she charged at me, grabbing me by my collar as she shrieked, "It was your daughter! Wendy killed my son! I saw the camera footage… She was talking to Carl, and then he started spacing out and couldn't sleep well!

"And then there's that strange stuff you said yesterday… It must be her! That's what happened to Carl! It has to be Wendy!"

I firmly pried her hands off. "Calm down! Wendy has always been a good kid. She'd never hurt anyone!"

"So what?! Carl was my son! My son!!!"

Lilian wailed as she dropped on her rump. "Why would he go to the pond?! He's just a child! Wendy must have goaded him into it! Worse of all, you're supposed to be a cop, but you're only protecting your daughter!"

Everyone turned to me right then.

John tried to intervene, but Lilian pushed him away.

Knowing that she was too devastated and had lost her rationality, I decided there was no point arguing.

Moreover, Wendy was involved—as her father and a cop, I had to clear any suspicion.

"Everyone, let's just stay calm," I said. "This case will be handled as the law dictates. And for the sake of fairness, my colleagues will come to take Wendy's testimony. As her guardian, I will only be observing without interference."