Mr. Williams was probably too heavy-handed with his “defenses”.
Mr. Middleton took a deep breath and said, “I can’t make a surefire decision about this right now. I need to conduct a more detailed investigation. Wilson Wood, stay back with me so I can conduct a thorough interrogation. Mr. Williams, I’ll need you to follow me back to the station to record your statement as well. Don’t worry. I swear on this city that I won’t falsely accuse a good man, but I won’t let a bad one go, either.”
Zeke Williams shook his head. “I don’t think I can go to the station. I’m very busy right now and I don’t have the time.”
Wilson Wood scoffed coldly. “Hmph! You’re guilty, aren’t you? You’re just too scared to go.”
Mr. Middleton looked slightly sheepish. “Mr. Williams, you are someone I respect greatly, but I can’t break the law for you. It would go against everything I stand for. Please don’t make me force you.”
Zeke looked at Wilson. “Are you sure you aren’t falsely accusing an innocent man?”
“Of course,” Wilson Wood announced confidently.
“Are you willing to bet it on your position as an official?” Zeke asked.
“Stop beating around the bush. You’re just trying to delay things. How could I be wrong when so many officials witnessed it with their own eyes?”
Zeke just sighed. “Since you’re so stubborn about it, I guess I have to play along.”
He glanced toward Hadley Murphy. “Take it out.”
Hadley frowned. “Give me my cigarettes and credit card first.”
“Don’t overestimate my patience. Take it out on the count of three or I’ll kick you into next week,” Zeke said calmly.
Hadley was sufficiently terrified. Zeke’s body was practically made of steel, and a kick from him would either kill Hadley or leave her seriously injured at the very least.
She didn’t doubt the possibility of that insane man acting on his words.
Zeke started counting, “One... three!”
Hadley was shocked. “Wait, you didn’t even include two- you know what? Never mind. I’ll take it out. I’m not scared of you, you hear that? I just want to keep Susan out of trouble.” She sighed. “Susan, when will you notice everything I’m doing for you?”
She ripped off the button on her shirt and tossed it to Zeke.
The crowd was confused.
What is going on? Why does Zeke want Hadley’s button?
Susan was just as confused.
This was the second time Hadley had told her about “everything she did for her”.
What exactly is that “everything”? How weird.
Zeke pressed down on the button and it opened up to reveal a mini USB.
The button had been a miniature camcorder all along. Zeke had gotten it from Sharon Edward for Hadley to wear on herself.
He had initially wanted to use it to keep an eye on Hadley and to make sure she stayed away from Susan and Lacey. He never expected it would come in handy at such a moment!
He plugged the mini camcorder into his phone and played the footage.
“Watch.” He tossed the phone to Jeffrey Middleton.
The mayor started watching it closely.
The footage was shaky, but Jeffrey was able to make out the faces of the people in the video.
It seemed to be the same people who were standing around him at that very moment.
He watched as Wilson, the municipal secretary, decided that the company’s safety procedures did not meet the legal requirements and demanded the company to stop all projects. Next, he demanded the company be handed over to the government temporarily and gave the staff a work plan to follow.
However, Zeke was adamant about going into the little room and checking it out before the work plan was officially put into action.
Wilson and the others were just as dead set on following through with the work plan and even sent Harry Simpson after Zeke’s subordinates, using violence to keep them at bay.
Zeke’s arm shot out to defend Susan from Harry. All he did was stretch out an arm to block Harry’s kick. Since he didn’t actually break Harry’s leg on purpose, it completely passed off as self-defense.
This was practically as different from Wilson’s “terrorist” claim as day and night.
The mayor was instantly furious.
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