The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 773

Vivienne found it strange, her gaze sweeping over the tangle of weeds in Cormac's overgrown field.

From a distance, and with trees obstructing her view, she couldn't make out exactly what was being grown. She furrowed her brow. "Mr. Wolf, how many drug precursors can you identify?"

She could spot which herbs were poisonous but wasn't as clear about the raw materials for narcotics.

Percival's eyes flashed coldly. "Not many, just a few common ones. Vivienne, are you suspecting that the Abernathys are using this place as a base for growing and processing drugs?"

"That's not possible, Vivienne." Before she could respond, Matthew swiftly countered their speculation, "The villagers have had their suspicions about their crops; some even called the cops, but after several visits, nothing was found."

When he first arrived at the Suncrest Village, he hadn't ruled out that possibility.

He had gone around the Abernathy property specifically looking for signs. Drug processing surely had to leave waste behind, and with no sewage system in a rural village, it would have to end up in the waterways.

But the village wells, streams, and even the river a few miles away were all pristine.

The Abernathys didn't live near any water flow; aside from Cormac going out, the rest had hardly left their yard in over a decade.

Thinking about what he had observed, Matthew looked around and whispered, "Honestly, the smell around their place doesn't seem like drugs, but it's hard to describe. It's like the stench of something rotting, but not quite."

He crossed his arms, occasionally glancing at Percival. "Mr. Ellington, with all the people you've met, any chance you can identify the smell?"

The man shot him a look, his voice flat. "I'm not a dog!"

Had Matthew taken the wrong pill today? He was all smiles when they met before, but now he was being unusually sarcastic.

Matthew was taken aback, at a loss for words.

Percival glanced at him nonchalantly and suggested, "Let's go in and take a look."

Taking a deep breath to suppress his irritation, Matthew agreed, "As you say, Mr. Ellington. Vivienne, follow me. The Abernathy household is just ahead; I'll take you there."

Following a winding village path, Vivienne was led by Matthew through several twists and turns to a vast, flat expanse of land.

Unlike the clustered houses in the village, the further they went, the fewer homes there were, and the more tranquil the environment became, until they stood surrounded by the Abernathy property.

Apart from lush trees and weeds high enough to reach one's shins, there was no other dwelling in sight.

The Abernathy's two-story house stood isolated on the desolate land, an old fence surrounding it, and the architecture slightly reminiscent of a bygone era.

In a horror movie, it would be the perfect setting for a gruesome event.

Just as Matthew had described, upon entering the Abernathy perimeter, a foul odor assaulted their senses, and despite their foresight in wearing gas masks, the pervasive stench was inescapable.

Vivienne wrinkled her nose, a vague sense of recognition spreading within her.

She looked around and nudged Percival. "Mr. Wolf, I feel like I've smelled this before somewhere."

"I have the same feeling," Percival replied, his surprise deepening, "but I can't place it. What about you, Vivienne?"

Vivienne shook her head. "Me neither."