The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Chapter 159

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Nina followed the red-crowned crane all the way back to Oakridge Village and finally found some rats in the know.

Next to a mound of earth in the village, two mice were busy digging a grave with their tiny paws, burying three of their own who had passed away.

Inside the pit, they placed broken biscuits, some candy, and half-eaten milk toffees as tokens of remembrance.

In front of the grave, they put down a couple of bottle caps filled with water. The two mice took a sip, then gently sprinkled the water before the newly covered grave.

One mouse said, “Safe travels. Rest easy on your way!”

Another said, “We’ll report this to the police-we’ll make sure the one who killed our brothers pays for it! Justice will be served!”

Nina’s heart ached as she watched the scene unfold.

Seeing Nina arrive, Mr. Crow cawed from his perch on the branch.

He called out, “The beast-speak interpreter is here!”

The two mice spotted Nina and immediately scampered over, making a huge scene as they wailed and bawled.

One cried, “We’ve got a case to report!”

Another chimed in, “It was the folks living under the biggest banyan tree in the village-the poison’s from their place!”

Nina’s eyes narrowed sharply-she’d just locked onto her target.

Nina sent Simon the suspect’s address, then turned to the mice. She asked, “When exactly did that creep snatch your family for his twisted experiments?”

A mouse wiped its face with a paw and said, “It was five days ago. He snatched our family, fed them something weird, and locked them up in a cage.

“Not long after, they just kicked the bucket and headed for the great beyond.”

The other mouse clenched its tiny paws in anger.

He snapped, “He even muttered something about controlling the dose? Taking it slow?”

Nina’s mind raced. She thought, ‘Is the poisoner planning to spread out the ricin in small doses, trying to make the villagers die a slow, drawn-out death?

“That way, it’d make it look like they’re all getting struck by some bizarre illness.

‘And didn’t Eloise say this toxin can naturally break down and just disappear after a while?

‘By then, it’d be nearly impossible for the police to find any sign of poison in the water.

“That’s a wickedly clever way to poison people!

Just then, Nina got a message from Simon.

Simon said the guy living under the big banyan tree was named Gary. He was a jobless bum who was always up to no good in Oakridge Village, and everyone there couldn’t stand him.

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Gary just hung around the village all day, barely knowing anyone outside his own little world.

‘How did someone like him even get his hands on something as rare and dangerous as ricin?’ Nina wondered.

Nina pressed the mice for more details. “Do you guys know where Gary got that poison from?”

The two mice glanced at each other, confused.

Nina tried a different angle. She asked, “Did anyone suspicious ever come looking for him?”

One of the mice suddenly got a lightbulb moment, shooting its paw up.

He said, “Today! After the village chief went door to door warning everyone not to drink from the sweetwater well, the guy who poisoned the well began pacing around inside his house after the chief left.

“He called someone and said, ‘You have to save me, or I’ll spill all your secrets!””

Nina thought, ‘So there really is an accomplice.

Just then, a little mouse zipped over, squeaking, “Mom! Dad!

“That guy who poisoned the well is packing his stuff right now! Looks like he’s getting ready to bolt!

“He keeps checking the clock and repeating that he’s only got seven hours left!”

Seven hours from now would be 2:20 AM.

Nina’s gut told her-Gary was planning to sneak out under the cover of darkness.

She wondered, ‘But why wait exactly seven hours?

‘Why not just bail whenever he sees an opening?

‘Is he supposed to meet someone at a specific time?

‘Someone’s coming to help Gary get away!

Nina quickly texted Simon the news.

Simon replied: [Got it. I’ll let the team know right away-we’ll set up a stakeout.]

An hour later, two police cars showed up with a crew of officers.

There were ten cops in total, Simon included.

To catch whoever was working with Gary, the police parked their cars two miles out from Oakridge Village.

For now, the main surveillance team was Mr. Crow’s airborne scouts and the ground crew led by Groundhog.

At 2 AM, the officers would swap in for the animals.

As dusk settled in, the sky grew dark.

Just like clockwork, the nutritious meals from Goodwin Hospital showed up near the police’s temporary base.

This time, Nina ordered fifteen meals all at once.

The extra ones were for the little critters to enjoy.

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Chapter 159

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Nina didn’t give the delivery guy the exact location-she just said the zoo was having a team-building event at a local farm

stay.

Simon was given the job by Nina to pick up the meals, and when he came back, he had two big bags stacked high with

takeout boxes.

Seeing the big Hayes Group logo printed on every box, Simon just looked annoyed.

As soon as the officers spotted that flashy Hayes Group label and smelled the delicious food, they all cracked up.

One exclaimed, “Ha! Mr. Hayes is treating us again today, huh?”

Another said, “This stuff puts our cafeteria food to shame-like, it’s ten times better!”

One joked, “Simon, your future brother-in-law sure knows how to spoil us!”

A young officer elbowed Simon, giving him a wink. He teased, “Looks like someone’s trying hard to get himself listed as one of our unofficial family members!”

An

der detective laughed and chimed in, “Simon, this guy delivers meals more diligently than I ever pursued my wife back in the day! You definitely need to keep an eye on him for us.”

Simon looked down at the fancy meal boxes in his hands, and his face darkened instantly.

Especially when he started passing the boxes out and saw each meal had been carefully tailored to everyone’s preferences- spicy, mild, no ginger…

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when he saw how Nina’s box was obviously way fancier, complete with a tiny carved bunny made from carrot on top. Simon’s temple was pulsing with irritation.

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