The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Chapter 133

“A murder at Jelasburg University?” Nina felt a sudden clench in her chest.

She thought, ‘What the hell happened?’

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Jelasburg University was one of the top schools in the nation, famous for its vibrant atmosphere and unique fields of study. It was Nina’s old stomping grounds.

Back in her junior year, she’d aced her classes and gotten picked as an exchange student, heading overseas to the Royal Veterinary College. She ended up scoring degrees from both schools.

But no matter where she went, Jelasburg had always meant the world to her.

Nina grabbed her backpack, stuffed with all her detective gear, and turned to look at her four little companions. There was Pearlie, the Squirrel Bros, and Tabby King, who always acted like the boss.

Four pairs of big, round eyes stared at her, practically begging, “Take us with you!”

“There’s been a murder. I need to get to Jelasburg University right now,” Nina said, her voice serious.

“You guys want to come with me?” she asked.

Before Nina could finish speaking, their eyes all instantly brightened.

The Squirrel Bros bounced over, little paws scrabbling at the carrier door, chattering nonstop, “Open up! Open up! We’ve got a case that can’t wait!”

As soon as Nina opened the door, the two furballs slipped right in and even used their tails to gently pull the door shut behind them. Sitting side by side with their ‘we’re on the job’ faces, they looked like pros about cracking the case.

Meanwhile, Tabby King strutted over with royal cat elegance, spared a disdainful glance for the carrier, and then hopped straight into his own private cat bag like the dignified boss he was.

He spun around inside, found the most comfortable position to sprawl out, then stuck out a paw at the zipper and meowed lazily at Nina, “Zip up the bag for your king. Don’t forget to leave the air vents open.”

Nina fought back a smile as she zipped up Tabby King’s carrier, double-checking the vents so he’d stay comfy. Then she tucked Pearlie into the backpack’s side pocket, thoughtfully leaving the zipper half open so he could poke his little head out whenever he wanted.

Watching her motley crew of eager fluffballs assemble in record time, Nina couldn’t help but feel a bit proud of her posse.

Her animal detective team was looking sharp and geared up for action!

Nina hailed a pet-friendly ride through the app and raced straight toward Jelasburg University without wasting a second.

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Chapter 133

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As soon as the car pulled up to the campus gate, Nina immediately spotted Simon, who stood out in the crowd like a beacon.

Tall and poised, Simon stayed rooted among the passing students, serene and strong, like the only pine tree in a clearing.

Not wanting to attract too much attention, Simon had ditched his police uniform for a sleek, understated black athletic outfit.

Yet even in casual wear, he was still turning heads everywhere he went.

Simon strode over, smoothly taking the cat bag and squirrel carrier from Nina’s shoulders. He kept his voice low as he said, “You’re here.”

Nina nodded, getting straight to business. “Simon, where’s the crime scene?”

“Building Two. Art studio,” Simon replied, his tone steady as he turned to lead the way.

Nina followed close behind.

After walking for fifteen minutes, Nina and Simon finally came face to face with an old, timeworn building ahead.

The walls were cracked and worn, with the Building Two sign chipped and barely visible, adding to its bleak, abandoned look.

Thick layers of glaring yellow police tape had locked down the entire building, with several uniformed officers standing guard at the entrance, their expressions as serious as stone.

The air felt heavy, and the pressure was so intense that it was like even the smallest breeze dared not disturb the scene.

A bunch of students were huddled together not far off, gossiping and trying to catch a glimpse of the action.

“Oh my god… I heard from that janitor guy who found the corpse. The victim’s arms were both hacked clean off! It was crazy bloody.”

“Apparently, the blood was almost all gone, like the whole floor was basically painted red. Freaky as hell.”

“Wasn’t there always talk that Building Two was haunted?”

“I thought fixing the place up would chill out the vibes. Instead, it’s even more cursed!”

“Some classes are still supposed to be held here. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps. What if something really is haunting this place?”

As Nina caught bits and pieces of the gossip, her chest tightened with unease. She glanced up at that gloomy old building and felt that it was swallowed up by an invisible shroud.

It was the beginning of the semester. Universities across the country were scheduled to hold their opening ceremonies in early September. Normally, the campus would be bursting with excitement and noise, but after

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Chapter 133

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this murder, it was like the whole place was blanketed in spookiness.

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Just imagining the killer might still be hiding somewhere on campus, maybe even sharing the same halls with

all these students, made Nina shudder.

With all this going on, how could anyone possibly sleep soundly?

Simon led Nina through the police tape and up the worn old stairs, his voice lowered as he explained, “Building Two is pretty old. It got so rundown that most of the classrooms have been out of use for years.

“This year, with more students coming in, the school decided to reopen it. They just finished fixing the place up. Not only did they redo all the wiring, but they were also about to bring in new desks and chairs too.

And yet, of all places. This had to happen in the art studio.”

As they talked, the two of them climbed up to the second floor and found themselves standing at the door to the art studio.

Simon came to a stop, glanced at Nina, and dropped his voice to a whisper. “It’s a real mess in there, Nina. Be ready for it.”

Nina nodded, catching that telltale rusty tang of blood mixing with the damp, moldy air.

She drew in a deep breath and steadied her nerves, then leaned down, whispering to her furry crew in the cat bag and carrier, “Just a heads up. Things get pretty gnarly in there, so you guys better stay put and keep your eyes shut.

“When I get back, I’ll give you the whole wild story, promise?”

She hadn’t even finished speaking when Pearlie started rustling around in the side pocket of her backpack and popped his tiny head out, those shiny black eyes practically blazing with resolve.

“Nina, I’m not scared at all! Let me go. I can sniff out stuff no human ever could!’ Pearlie insisted, voice ringing with pride.

And before Nina could react, he scrambled right up onto Nina’s shoulder, his soft, fluffy tail brushing against her neck.

Nina’s heart softened at Pearlie’s determination, and she gave his little head an affectionate rub. Turning to the nearby officer, she politely asked, “Would it be right for my ferret to come in with me?

“His sense of smell is much keener than a human’s. He might be able to pick up clues others can’t.”

Once she got the okay, Nina slipped on her shoe covers and, with Pearlie perched on her shoulder, slowly stepped into the art studio.

The room was shrouded in gloomy light, with forensic experts moving quietly about. The smell of blood hung heavy in the air, and a suffocating stench that made one want to gag,

And then Nina laid eyes on the crime scene, which shocked her, and she nearly forgot to breathe.

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