The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1889

Joshua pretended to think for a few seconds. "Well, considering the staff saw him return, and all his personal belongings were left untouched in his study... the most logical conclusion is that he was taken directly from the house."

Mr. Burton raised an eyebrow. "Our estate has top-tier security. Even if someone managed to slip in, carrying a grown man out without anyone noticing is no walk in the park.

"Even with the cameras down, there are countless staff and family members crawling all over this property. The intruder couldn't possibly have knocked out everyone in the house without raising a single alarm.

"So, tell me, how exactly did they abduct him right out from under our noses?"

Joshua met the older man's eyes. "Mr. Burton, an estate like this must have a few hidden rooms or secret passageways, wouldn't you say?"

Mr. Burton's eyes narrowed as he instantly caught on to what Joshua was implying.

Joshua continued, "A prominent, legacy family like yours undoubtedly has subterranean routes connecting to the outside world—escape hatches for absolute emergencies.

"If someone infiltrated the house through one of those hidden passages, they could easily snatch a person without a single soul being the wiser."

Mr. Burton stared at him, his expression deeply contemplative. "Joshua Gardner, you truly are brilliant. You see angles that most ordinary men would be completely blind to."

Joshua smiled. "You flatter me, sir. I just have a knack for putting the pieces together."

The older man's tone grew heavy with meaning. "If a mind like yours is just 'a knack,' then there are no truly smart people left in this world.

"However..."

He shifted gears smoothly. "While every old-money family has its hidden escape routes, navigating our specific network is not something just any random intruder could pull off."

His voice dropped an octave. "In fact, the only kind of person capable of bypassing that level of security... is someone exactly as clever as you."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "I'm quite flattered you hold me in such high regard."

Standing nearby, Neville looked as if a lightbulb had just gone off in his head. He gave a slow, deliberate clap.

"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! Not only is the logic flawless, but the evidence backs it up perfectly. Joshua, you're quite the detective!"

Joshua didn't shy away from the praise, merely offering a modest smile.

"It's just a theory. For all we know, the truth could be the exact opposite of what I've laid out."

Neville asked, "Then who do you think is the prime suspect within the family?"

Joshua said, "Well, Sherman has always been the closest to Sellers. He knows the man's habits better than anyone else.

"If you ask me... he's at the top of the list."