The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 40

**Chapter 40**

As the moments passed, the Squirrel Bros, who had been comfortably snuggled in the warmth of Nina’s embrace, stirred from their slumber.

Coco, his little teeth chattering in annoyance, exclaimed, “That old man is infuriating! Nina, you absolutely don’t need his so-called security.”

Chubby, ever the supportive sidekick, chimed in, “Exactly! There are plenty of squirrels around here. We’ve got eyes everywhere, so you’re safer than you think.”

Nina, lost in thought, absentmindedly twirled the soft, fluffy tails of the squirrels with her slender fingers, her gaze fixed on the floor. “Then I won’t be a bother to you all,” she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

With that, she turned away and made her way downstairs without another glance back.

Samuel let out a derisive snort, his spindly fingers drumming impatiently against the polished wood of his cane. “What could she possibly accomplish on her own? Isn’t she just walking straight into danger?”

“I just hope she doesn’t come back blaming us if something goes wrong,” he muttered, his tone laced with concern.

Claire, her eyes narrowed as she observed Nina’s retreating figure, felt a shadow of unease settle over her. With a frown, she lowered her head and began typing a message on her phone, her fingers flying over the screen with urgency.

****

Nina slipped into the raincoat handed to her by the butler, grasping the large black umbrella tightly as she stepped out into the garden that lay just beyond the window of room 306.

The rain had subsided significantly, leaving behind a heavy, earthy aroma in the air, rich with the scent of damp soil. The relentless downpour had washed away any potential evidence the killer might have left behind in the garden, or so she hoped.

Her gaze drifted upward to the window of 306. “If the killer had climbed down with the child from there, it wouldn’t have been a silent affair. He must have used a rope or something similar,” she pondered, her mind racing with possibilities.

The Squirrel Bros, ever vigilant, hopped down from her arms, their little bodies brimming with energy.

Coco turned to her, his expression serious. “Nina, you stay put here. We’ll scout the area for backup. We won’t let you down.”

Nina nodded in appreciation, a small smile breaking through her earlier apprehension. “Alright. Thank you, guys. I really appreciate it.”

Just then, the thunderous roar of helicopter blades sliced through the air from above. Nina looked up to see a black helicopter circling ominously over Pinehill Manor.

It must be Alex arriving with the officers, she thought, a flicker of hope igniting in her chest. Maybe Simon is with them too?

But as quickly as the thought came, she dismissed it. The helicopter was there to retrieve Alex, and naturally, he would bring his own team.

Simon was merely a cop temporarily assigned to the Jelasburg Police Department; he lacked the connections and camaraderie that could make him a valuable ally. Besides, he and Nina had outpaced Alex in apprehending criminals—not once, but twice.

While Nina scoured the garden for potential “witnesses,” Alex made his way up to the third floor of the guesthouse with his officers, looking weary and travel-worn from the day’s events.

“Good evening, I’m Alex Summer. These are my two assistant officers,” he introduced himself, offering a quick nod to the two elders present.

After exchanging hasty pleasantries, he swiftly donned a lab coat and slipped on a pair of rubber gloves, his demeanor shifting to one of focused professionalism.

Once he had conducted a preliminary inspection, Alex stepped toward the doorway of room 306, addressing Thomas and the others with a grave tone. “The victim suffered a fatal stab wound to the abdomen. The edges are clean, indicating that the weapon was likely a sharp dagger.”

He approached the window, his fingertips brushing over the marks left on the sill. “The presence of rope fibers here suggests that the killer probably used a rope to abduct Cody.”

“Based on the blood prints and the weight marks left by the rope, it appears the killer wore size 41 shoes and was tall and slender,” he continued, his brow furrowing as he examined the scene.

Turning his attention to the nightstand, he picked up a half-empty cup of milk and scrutinized it under the light. “This milk was laced with sleeping pills. That explains why Cody didn’t make a sound during the abduction.”

Thomas’s fists clenched tightly at his sides, rage bubbling beneath the surface. “That bastard drugged my grandson? Cody is only three and a half years old!” he shouted, a mixture of anger and despair in his voice.

Alex maintained his composure, his voice calm and steady. “Mr. Niles, please try not to panic. The bloody footprints are crucial evidence. The security cameras confirmed that no one else entered Room 306. The killer must have accessed the room through the window.”

“For now, we’ll interview all the guests and staff based on the shoe size and physical description,” Alex concluded, urgency in his tone as he hurried off with his assistants.

“That’s alright. The most important thing right now is finding Cody,” Nina said, her grip tightening around the umbrella handle. “Let’s head toward the fountain.”

At her command, more than ten squirrels and the two sparrows followed her, their little feet pattering softly against the ground.

“Let’s go catch the killer!” one enthusiastic squirrel declared.

“If we find the kid, do we get food as a reward?” chirped a sparrow, its eyes sparkling with excitement.

Coco, ever the voice of reason, shushed them. “Keep it down! We don’t want to scare off the killer!”

Instantly, the chatter subsided, and the animals moved stealthily, like a band of tiny thieves on a mission.

Nina couldn’t help but chuckle at their antics, her earlier fear of being alone in the dark slowly dissipating.

With the squirrels leading the way, Nina soon arrived at the fountain, which stood silent and still, its water glistening under the dim light, surrounded by trees that loomed like silent sentinels.

“Nina, if you head east from the fountain, there’s a pine forest,” one squirrel informed her. “There’s a wall there that you can climb over. Maybe that’s how the killer escaped?”

Nina turned her gaze toward the shadowy pine woods that lay to the east. “Let’s go check it out,” she said, determination edging her voice.

“Don’t be scared, Nina. We’ll guide you through,” the squirrels reassured her, leading her into the depths of the pine forest.

It was pitch black among the towering trees, the absence of light making the atmosphere feel even more foreboding.

To avoid detection by the killer, Nina refrained from using her flashlight. With the squirrels paving the way, she managed to navigate through the underbrush with surprising ease.

In the distance, she could faintly make out the wall of Pinehill Manor looming like a ghostly silhouette against the night sky.

Suddenly, a heavy thud echoed ominously behind her, sending a jolt of fear racing down her spine.