Chapter 490: Chapter 490: This Grandmother is Also Strange

"Another case?" Michelle Fuller pouted, a little disappointed. "And here I thought we could hang out."

Renee Jennings reached out and pinched her cheek. "Be good. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done with work."

"I just feel like you work too hard," Michelle Fuller sighed. "Well, alright. I guess there’s no helping it. Work is more important."

Renee Jennings’s lips curled into a smile as she looked at Zachary Conway. "You and Michelle go on and have fun."

Zachary Conway quickly shook his head. "I can’t. The Captain ordered me to protect you."

"You don’t have to," Renee Jennings said. "I’ll call him right now and tell him."

She took out her phone and dialed Henry Stark’s number.

After a few rings, a man’s deep voice came through. "Renee, what happened?"

"Henry," Renee Jennings chuckled softly. "Don’t be so tense. Nothing’s wrong. It’s just that a girl went missing here in Lyris, and they’ve asked for my help."

Hearing her answer, Henry Stark breathed a sigh of relief. "I see. That’s tough work."

"It’s no trouble," Renee Jennings said. "I was thinking of letting Zachary and Michelle go have some fun first. Is that okay?"

Henry Stark was silent for a few seconds before saying, "You need to protect yourself."

Renee Jennings asked, "So, does that mean you’ll let Zachary go with my friend?"

Zachary Conway watched her, a mix of nervousness and anticipation stirring within him.

’He actually really wanted to hang out with Michelle Fuller. She was such an interesting girl.’

Renee Jennings hung up and looked at Zachary Conway, raising an eyebrow. "Your captain agreed."

"He actually agreed?" Zachary Conway’s face was a picture of astonishment. "I never would’ve guessed."

Renee Jennings then turned to Hilary. "I’ll leave Michelle and Zachary in your care, then."

"Of course," Hilary said with a serious expression. "Don’t you worry, Ms. Jennings. I’ll be sure to take good care of Michelle and Officer Conway."

"Thank you." Renee Jennings reached out and patted her shoulder gently. "Come on, I’ll walk you out."

"Okay," Hilary nodded.

Just as Renee Jennings and her group were leaving the reception room, Director Leto happened to receive a call from Henry Stark.

"Ah, Captain Stark!"

"Please rest assured, Captain Stark. I’ll make sure Consultant Jennings is well-protected."

"Yes, I understand..."

After seeing Michelle Fuller and the others out of the police station, Renee Jennings turned to go back inside, only to see Director Leto walking toward her.

She gave a slight nod. "Director Leto, have you made contact?"

"Yes," Director Leto nodded. "Consultant Jennings, is now a good time for you to head over?"

Renee Jennings replied, "It is."

**

Thirty minutes later, the police car pulled up to the main entrance of Clearwater Estates.

As Renee Jennings got out of the car, she heard Director Leto instruct a young officer beside him, "Raleigh, you’ll provide close protection for Consultant Jennings."

Raleigh immediately responded, "Roger that!"

The group took the elevator upstairs.

DING—

The elevator stopped on the seventeenth floor.

Director Leto held the elevator door open and gestured for Renee Jennings to exit. "After you, Consultant Jennings."

Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly and gave a faint smile. "Thank you."

’This Director Leto has suddenly gotten very polite,’ she thought.

Stepping out of the elevator, Raleigh walked quickly to the door of Apartment 1703 and rang the doorbell.

The door was quickly opened from the inside.

The man who opened the door was middle-aged, wearing a plaid, short-sleeved shirt and a pair of metal-framed glasses. "Hello."

"Mr. Sutton," Raleigh greeted him. "Our Director Leto has brought over a criminal investigation consultant from Zenvia."

Upon hearing this, Felix Sutton adjusted his glasses and opened the door wide. "You’ve gone to great trouble, Director Leto. Please, everyone, come in."

As Renee Jennings put on a pair of shoe covers and entered the Sutton home, she heard cheerful laughter coming from the living room.

She frowned slightly. Walking into the living room, she saw an elderly woman holding a little boy about the same age as Zane and Jasmine, beaming from ear to ear. "Whose good little grandson are you?"

The little boy grinned. "I’m Grandma’s good little grandson."

"So clever!" The old woman was overjoyed. "Sunny is such a good boy!"

"Mom," Felix Sutton said, "why don’t you take Sunny to his room."

Only then did the old woman notice the police in her home. She quickly got up, holding her precious grandson. "Good boy, Sunny. Let’s go play in your room with Grandma."

"No!" Sunny squirmed and protested. "I don’t wanna go play in my room! I wanna play in the living room!"

The old woman was getting on in years and couldn’t handle his thrashing about. She staggered and nearly fell to the floor.

"Careful." Renee Jennings was closer and, with quick reflexes, steadied her.

The old woman finally steadied herself, but her first concern was for the little boy. "There, there, sweetheart. Did that scare you?"

"Let me down!" Sunny twisted his body, struggling with all his might.

"Okay, okay, Grandma will put you down." The old woman was helpless against him and had no choice but to let him down.

Sunny plopped down on the floor and started playing with a toy car.

"Please, everyone, have a seat," Felix Sutton said, quickly ushering them to the sofa. "My son’s a bit naughty. Please excuse the display."

"We understand," said Director Leto. "Kids will be kids."

Renee Jennings lowered her gaze. ’My kids aren’t like this,’ she thought.

’This grandmother is strange, too. Her granddaughter is missing, yet she can laugh so happily.’

"Mr. Sutton, we’re here on official business," Director Leto said, gesturing to introduce Renee Jennings. "This is a criminal investigation consultant from Zenvia, Consultant Jennings. I happened to run into her today and immediately asked for her help with Addie’s case."

Felix Sutton looked at Renee Jennings and nodded at her. "Consultant Jennings, hello."

He adjusted his glasses again, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

’So young and beautiful. She probably didn’t get to be a criminal investigation consultant on her own merits.’

"Hello," Renee Jennings replied coolly, her eyes sweeping across the living room. The strange feeling she had intensified.

Everywhere she looked, there were signs of Sunny’s life. The coffee table, the floor, the TV stand—they were all covered in either his toys or his photographs.

’But what about his sister, Addie Sutton?’

’Why was there no trace of her presence at all?’

"Can you show me Addie Sutton’s room?" Renee Jennings asked.

"Of course." Felix Sutton stood up. "Dee’s room is this way."

"Alright." Renee Jennings also stood up and followed him.

Felix Sutton pushed open Addie Sutton’s door. "Please, come in."

The room had a cozy feel, with light blue wallpaper and a color-blocked blue and white wardrobe and desk. It had a light, refreshing air about it.

On a pink, floral-print quilt, a small, snow-white ball of fluff caught Renee Jennings’s eye.

"Is this Addie’s pet?" Renee Jennings asked.

Felix Sutton replied, "Yes. Addie was very fond of it. She often wouldn’t talk to us, saving everything she had to say for this duck."

Hearing this, Renee Jennings tilted her head to look at him. "You’re saying Addie didn’t talk to you?"

"That’s right." Felix Sutton nodded. "Perhaps she was in her rebellious phase. She didn’t like to communicate with us."

Renee Jennings gestured around the room with a long, slender index finger. "May I look around?"

Felix Sutton replied, "Of course."

"Thank you." Renee Jennings walked over to the desk and looked around. Nearly all the books were school-related. There was also a photo frame containing a picture of just Addie Sutton and her parents. It must have been taken before her little brother was born; she looked very young in it.

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