The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 143

The fire was in Apartment 502 of Building 15.

The building had two apartments per floor, and as the elevator doors opened, they faced the charred, unrecognizable remains of 502.

Although the fire had been extinguished, a blast of heat still hit them.

Nora gave a hand signal to the team behind her.

They quickly fanned out, taking out their instruments and beginning their analysis.

Nora went straight to where the deceased was found.

Nathan followed close behind.

“The deceased is Robert Carter, the owner of Apartment 502.”

“When the fire broke out, he was asleep with his wife, Karen Miller, and his mother.”

“His two children were likely awake. According to neighbors, the kids played video games late into the night, often shouting and cursing loudly. The neighbors upstairs, downstairs, and next door had all complained to building management. Management intervened, but it had little effect. The kids continued to do as they pleased, and Robert and his wife never disciplined them.”

“Robert's elderly mother detested the complaints. She even threw trash at a neighbor's door to show her displeasure, calling them nosy.”

“She apparently said, ‘So what if my grandkids are a little loud playing games in their own home? If it bothers you so much, go buy a house and move out.’”

A young officer frowned at this. “That’s just…”

Nora didn’t interrupt, her attention focused on the positions of the five bodies.

“Find anything?”

Nathan crouched beside Nora, touching the floor with his gloved hand.

Nora glanced at him, unconcerned by his action, and answered softly, “This case is definitely strange.”

“Oh?”

Nora pointed to the chalk outlines on the floor.

“The firefighters were here earlier, so these marks might not be entirely accurate. But judging from these lines, the victims’ positions at the time of death are very odd.”

Having finished their tasks, the others gathered around. “How so?”

“But I’ve never seen bodies at a fire scene contorted like this, with their limbs splayed out so widely.”

“Have the bodies been sent back to the station?”

Nora directed the last question to Nathan.

“Yes.”

Nora nodded, pulling off her gloves as she walked toward the exit. “I’m heading back to the office.”

Nathan didn't follow this time, instead assigning an officer to drive Nora.

Nora was about to say she could take a cab, but then considered that she had just been at a crime scene and a driver might not appreciate it. In the end, she didn't refuse.

Nathan watched Nora leave before leading the others to continue examining the scene.

Nora went downstairs with the officer. The moment she stepped out of the building, she saw Aaron lingering outside.

By now, the crowd of onlookers had mostly gone to work or school, leaving only a few people craning their necks, trying to get information.