Maeve Winters gave Rosalind Sullivan a gentle smile and said, "Rosalind, could you please keep an eye outside and make sure no one comes in? I need to talk to Dirk Carter."

"Alright."

Rosalind Sullivan blushed and left.

"That woman is interested in you."

Maeve Winters sighed and said.

Dirk Carter was taken aback and said, "Let's not talk about that now, tell me, why did you pretend to be unconscious?"

Maeve Winters paused and asked, "What happened to Templeton Quill?"

"He's dead."

Dirk Carter responded.

Maeve Winters seemed unsurprised by this answer and said, "As expected."

After saying that.

She raised her head, her eyes piercingly staring at Dirk Carter, and said, "They have insiders within the police."

Dirk Carter had already anticipated this.

Maeve Winters' reasoning was the same.

Having Templeton Quill identify the scene was a decision from within the police, and only the county police bureau would have access to the relevant personnel. The precision of the car accident clearly indicated there was an issue.

"Is this why you pretended to be unconscious?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Maeve Winters nodded.

She said, "This person is very likely inside the criminal police team. Previously, our investigation into the counterfeiting and smuggling hubs in Siltflow Town always came up empty. We couldn't find the reason before, but the car accident, combined with prior findings, almost confirms that this person is in the criminal police team. So I plan to fake unconsciousness, leave the hospital, and conduct another undercover investigation."

"Will you do this alone?"

Dirk Carter asked in surprise.

Maeve Winters got down from the hospital bed.

The perfect body had some bruises.

She didn't care at all and started dressing.

She shook her head and said, "Eliza Henderson is joining me. The two of us will act together, bypass the criminal police team, and carry out another investigation."

"I'll find someone to go with you."

Dirk Carter said.

Maeve Winters waved her hand and said, "No need, more people would just attract attention. Siltflow Town is a major tourist spot, so disguising ourselves as tourists is easy. You don't need to worry, but I do need your help with one thing. You know a lot of women, find someone with a similar physique to help me lie in bed."

"Okay, I'll arrange it."

Dirk Carter said.

After saying this.

She walked up to Dirk Carter, hugged his head, and pressed her red lips against his.

After a deep kiss.

Maeve Winters released him, put on a white coat that was prepared by Rosalind Sullivan earlier, and donned a mask just as she was about to walk out of the hospital room casually.

At this moment.

The hospital ward door suddenly opened.

Maeve Winters instinctively wanted to duck back onto the bed, but it was too late.

The County Committee Secretary Helen Fletcher appeared before them with a cold expression, followed by Rosalind Sullivan and Elaine Nolan.

"Secretary Fletcher?"

Dirk Carter and Maeve Winters were both surprised.

Helen Fletcher's gaze fell on Maeve Winters.

Maeve Winters shivered slightly and said, "Secretary Fletcher, about this..."

She was just about to explain why she wasn't unconscious.

Helen Fletcher extended her hand, interrupting her, "Whatever you plan to do next, or are preparing to do, stop right now."

Dirk Carter and Maeve Winters exchanged glances.

Almost simultaneously they asked, "Why?"

Helen Fletcher glanced behind her, and Elaine Nolan and Rosalind Sullivan sensibly exited and closed the door.

"This trail is broken. Continuing the investigation is futile."

Helen Fletcher sighed deeply.

Dirk Carter quickly said, "Secretary Fletcher, Director Winters makes sense. Even if they're no longer active, traces are left behind from their actions. Following these traces, we can find the evidence."

Helen Fletcher shook her head and said, "If you want to investigate, you must let this matter cool down. Otherwise, your outcomes will be the same as Templeton Quill's."

"What do you mean? Do you know who's behind the smuggling?"

Dirk Carter asked in shock.

In their bewilderment.

Helen Fletcher nodded and said, "I know, Templeton Quill approached Maeve Winters for clues because of my efforts."

"Ah..."

Upon hearing this.

Both were stunned.

Helen Fletcher sat down on the hospital bed.

She looked at Dirk Carter and asked, "I often mention my husband, do you know who he is?"

Dirk Carter shook his head.

This was something he honestly didn't know.

Helen Fletcher paused and said, "Easton Perry, the Deputy General Manager and a member of the Tobacco Bureau Party Committee in Serenity State."

Bang!

Like a bolt from the blue.

Dirk Carter and Maeve Winters were both thunderstruck on the spot.

It wasn't because Easton Perry's rank was high.

It was because Easton Perry was in the tobacco system.

The current case involved major tobacco smuggling and counterfeiting.

Dirk Carter took a deep breath and asked, "Secretary Fletcher, are you suggesting that the true mastermind behind the case we're investigating is your husband?"

"Not just my husband; it involves a vast network of interests extending from the state to the county. Templeton Quill is just a small pawn, responsible for transportation. He knows very little about the internal workings."

This statement made Dirk Carter and Maeve Winters both take a cold breath.

A chill rose up their backs.

Seeing their tense expressions.

Helen Fletcher said, "Rest assured, I didn't participate in this matter, and they wouldn't let me even if I wanted to."

This statement, when uttered, allowed them to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Four years ago, I began to notice abnormalities in my husband. Working at the Commission for Discipline Inspection, I'm very sensitive to these matters. So, I secretly started an investigation until recently when I pieced together the fragments of clues to find that the smuggling and counterfeiting hub was in Kenton County."

"The reason I was so focused on Dennis Vincent's case is because it involved the tobacco system. Thus, I used all my connections to transfer to Kenton County, ostensibly to investigate Dennis Vincent's case, while secretly trying to dig deeper into the smuggling and counterfeiting line."

"After Templeton Quill was caught, I visited him in detention. I promised him that if he disclosed everything he knew, I would ensure his safety. I originally thought if he confessed, we could follow the thread and find more evidence, but things didn't go as planned. The counterfeiting and smuggling in Kenton County ceased abruptly, indicating that similar activities exist elsewhere in Ardmore City."

"Adding to this was Templeton Quill's death today, making me quickly realize we can't allow you to keep investigating. If you both persist, you'll end up like Templeton Quill. Their power is broad, and I underestimated them."

At this point, Helen Fletcher's expression became somewhat mournful.

Dirk Carter gritted his teeth and said, "Secretary Fletcher, to be honest, I fear death, but compared to bringing these people to justice, I'm willing to persist."

In the beginning.

They wondered if Helen Fletcher was a part of this smuggling network.

But then again, if she were, she wouldn't have insisted on taking down Templeton Quill. Seeing this, Helen Fletcher hadn't lied—her initial purpose for coming to Kenton County was to dismantle this interest chain.

Helen Fletcher smiled wryly.

She said, "Unnecessary sacrifice is foolish. Kenton County's smuggling and counterfeiting line may be broken, but it still exists elsewhere in Ardmore City. You need to reach key departments to have a substantial impact on the investigation. As Deputy County Mayor, do you really think you can garner enough resources to handle such a big case?"

This argument makes sense.

Dirk Carter nodded and asked, "What should we do next?"

Helen Fletcher paused and said, "With the situation as it is, you're not deeply entangled in this case yet, so you haven't drawn attention. They haven't guarded against you. Therefore, you should find a way to get into Ardmore City's customs, ideally as head of the anti-smuggling bureau..."

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