The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 39

**Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 39**

As Nina followed the guard up to the third floor, the atmosphere around her was tense, thick with an unsettling energy that was hard to shake off. The guard, trying to maintain a professional demeanor, provided a running commentary as they ascended. “About twenty minutes ago, a staff member was delivering food on this floor,” he began, his voice steady yet edged with urgency.

“She noticed that the door to room 306 was wide open. For safety’s sake, she approached to knock and remind the guest inside to close it.”

Outside, the rumble of thunder echoed ominously, and instinctively, Nina tightened her grip on the little squirrels nestled in her arms, their tiny bodies trembling against her chest. She felt a mix of anxiety and determination as they drew closer to room 306.

The guard continued, his tone grim. “As the staff member got closer to the door, she spotted blood-stained footprints leading away from the bathroom. The victim was found lying in the bathtub. It was a horrific scene—her blood had stained the tub in a way that suggested she had sustained serious injuries.”

They halted just outside the door, the air thick with anticipation. “We’re just security,” the guard stated, a frown creasing his forehead. “Everything will have to wait for the police to investigate. We don’t know the exact cause of death yet.”

Nina’s gaze was immediately drawn to the blood-stained footprints at the threshold. They were unmistakably large, resembling men’s dress shoes. The blood was still fresh, glistening ominously under the dim hallway lights.

The trail led from the bathroom to the bedroom window, a clear indication that the assailant had made a hasty escape.

“Would you like to check the bathroom?” the guard offered, presenting her with gloves and shoe covers as if she were a forensic expert.

“No,” Nina replied, shaking her head with conviction. She was an animal-communicator detective, not a forensic investigator. The thought of stepping into that grim space filled with tragedy was daunting. Even if she did venture inside, she doubted she would uncover anything of value. She told herself it was about preserving the integrity of the crime scene, not fear of what lay within.

“Who was the victim?” Nina inquired, her curiosity piqued. The guests at Samuel’s birthday party were all affluent and influential, and she surmised that the victim would be no different.

The guard answered, “Penny Niles, the daughter-in-law of Mr. Thomas Niles.”

The name hit Nina like a bolt of lightning, freezing her in place. Thomas Niles was a well-known real estate mogul in Jelasburg, his reputation preceding him.

“The situation’s very tricky,” the guard continued, frustration evident in his voice. “Mrs. Niles attended Samuel’s birthday party with her three-year-old son. They were staying in this room.”

“Now her child is missing,” he added, his tone turning grave. “We suspect the killer took him.”

Nina felt her heart clench painfully in her chest. “The killer was after the child?” she asked, disbelief and concern flooding her senses.

The guard nodded solemnly. “That’s what we suspect. The boy is Thomas’s first grandson, and he’s cherished deeply by his grandfather.”

“Thomas is currently in the chess room with Samuel, unaware of the tragedy that has unfolded. But we can’t shield him from the truth forever—”

Before the guard could finish his thought, the elevator dinged on the third floor, and hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor.

“Samuel, what are your security guards doing?” An elderly man in black pajamas stormed out of the elevator, his face a mask of fury. Samuel stepped forward, attempting to diffuse the situation.

“If you don’t find Cody today, the Niles Group will sever all business ties with the Hayes Group!” the old man bellowed, his voice reverberating with authority.

It was clear that this irate figure was none other than Thomas Niles himself.

The guard swiftly positioned himself in front of Thomas. “Mr. Niles, the crime scene is sealed. You cannot enter.”

Samuel added, “Thomas, let’s wait for the police. Getting angry won’t resolve anything. You need to be mindful of your blood pressure.”

The two older men’s gazes shifted to Nina, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Samuel narrowed his eyes, his voice low and probing. “What are you doing here? Who sent you?”

The guard interjected, “Mr. Hayes, Ms. Summer is a specially appointed consultant for the Jelasburg Police Department Headquarters.”

“Special consultant?” Samuel shot a skeptical glance at Nina’s badge. “So, did you uncover anything just now? How did the victim die? How was the child taken?”

Nina shook her head, feeling the weight of their expectations. She couldn’t answer those questions; she wasn’t a forensic expert. She had come merely to gauge the situation, to understand the gravity of what had transpired.

“I couldn’t find any clues in the room,” she admitted honestly. “I intend to check the garden directly in front of the window of room 306.”

Samuel scoffed, his irritation evident. “I bet your consultant title is just for show.”

“Mr. Hayes, as a police consultant, I possess independent investigative authority,” Nina asserted, her voice steady. Turning to Thomas, she asked, “Mr. Niles, could I see a photo of your grandson?”

Thomas scrutinized Nina for a moment, perhaps questioning her youth and capability.

Yet, he recognized that any additional help could be beneficial. He handed her a photo of his grandson. “This is my grandson, Cody Niles. He’s three and a half.”

Nina took a quick picture of the image with her phone, then turned to the guard. “Sir, I’ll need two security officers to accompany me for my safety.”

Samuel felt a surge of embarrassment; Nina had accurately predicted the storm earlier, and now her presence, in light of the unfolding chaos, was irksome. “You’d better not cause any trouble here. We don’t want to assign security to protect you.”