Chapter 496: Chapter 496: Addie Sutton Actually Jumped Into the River

The police car pulled over, drawing curious stares from pedestrians on the street.

Renee Jennings got out of the car, holding Ducky.

Leondis Street, as its name suggested, was named after the arched bridge that spanned the river. Both sides of the bridge were adorned with intricately carved lion heads, their fangs slightly bared, looking startlingly lifelike.

It was nearly dusk. The sun was setting in the west, and the afterglow of the sunset, like crumbled gold foil, scattered a fine glimmer across the river’s surface, shimmering gently with the ripples.

Renee stared at the river, her brow furrowed. "Where does this river lead?"

"The Leondis River connects to the Zale River," Director Leto said. Then, a thought suddenly struck him. "Consultant Jennings, you don’t suspect... do you?"

Renee’s voice was grave. "Based on my conversation with Ducky, Addie Sutton’s suicidal thoughts were very strong."

Director Leto pressed his lips together, a heavy feeling settling in his heart.

Raleigh clenched his fists. "The Sutton Family is too much! Just because she wasn’t their biological daughter, they thought they could abuse her?"

Renee’s frown deepened. The last thing she wanted was for something to have happened to Addie Sutton.

She scanned her surroundings, then turned to ask Director Leto, "Do you have a photo of Addie?"

"I do." Director Leto nodded, taking out his phone. He found Addie Sutton’s ID photo and some screenshots from security footage. "Will these do?"

While her specific features weren’t clear in the security footage, her overall figure and clothing were visible.

"Please send them to me," Renee said.

Once she had the photos, she walked toward a lazy orange cat flicking its tail nearby, Ducky still in her arms.

"Meow~ Such a nice-smelling human!" The orange cat sniffed the air around Renee and trotted closer of its own accord. "Hey, human, what are you holding?"

"This is a Call Duck," Renee answered, then said softly, "Could I ask you for a favor?"

The orange cat reached out a paw and prodded Ducky’s feathers. "Mrow~ This is the first time I’ve ever seen a duck like this. I bet it’s extra tasty, huh?"

At these words, Ducky shrank into Renee’s arms, trembling all over. "QUACK~ Ducks aren’t tasty! Don’t eat ducks!"

"Don’t be scared." Renee soothed Ducky, stroking its feathers. She then said to the orange cat, "Are you hungry? If you are, how about I treat you to some canned cat food?"

"Meow-wow~" The orange cat’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement. It lifted a paw and pointed at a nearby convenience store. "You mean the canned food from in there?"

"Yes."

"Meow-wow~ I want some!" The orange cat had been lucky enough to be fed by a tourist once before and had never forgotten the taste of canned food.

"Okay." Renee went into the convenience store, bought several cans of cat food, and opened one to feed the orange cat. "I have a question for you."

The orange cat licked at the food and said, "Mmm-meow~ Go ahead and ask."

Two other stray cats, attracted by the smell of the canned food, drew near, hoping to get a share. But the orange cat swatted them away with both paws, warning them fiercely, "Meow-WAH! Get lost! This is my food! Don’t even think about it!"

"Little orange cat," Renee said, showing it the photo of Addie Sutton. "Have you seen this human?"

Facing her, the orange cat’s demeanor changed completely. It meowed in a cute, high-pitched voice, "Mew mew~ Let me take a look for you."

It stared intently at the photo on Renee’s phone screen with its big, round, brown eyes.

Renee swiped to another picture. "And this one."

The orange cat peered at it for a moment, then looked up at Renee and shook its head. "I don’t think I’ve seen her."

"Okay, thank you." Renee gently stroked its head. "Take your time eating."

She looked over at the two cats that had been shooed away—a tabby and a white cat.

Both cats were very smart. The moment Renee’s gaze fell on them, they meowed and walked right up to her, very proactively.

"Meow~ Miss, do you need some help from us kitties?"

"Mrow~ Miss, I can help too!"

"Thank you." Renee showed them her phone screen. "Have either of you seen this human?"

The tabby cat stared at the screen for a good while before shaking its head. "Sorry, Miss. I haven’t seen her."

"That’s okay." Renee then looked at the white cat. "What about you? Have you seen her?"

The white cat’s fluffy face was filled with seriousness. "I think I have! She looks really familiar!"

"Really?" A flash of delight crossed Renee’s face. She opened two more cans of food and offered them over. "Do you remember when you saw her?"

The white cat lowered its head to lick the canned food, then stared at the screen again. "Meow~ I remember now! It was in the middle of the night!"

"Meow-wow~ For real?" the orange cat asked doubtfully. "Are you lying to the miss? How come I didn’t see her?"

"MEOW! You were sleeping in!" the white cat shot the orange cat a disdainful look. "You were sleeping like a log! How dare you accuse me of lying to the miss?"

The orange cat glared back but didn’t say anything, lowering its head to lick its food.

"Bella," Renee asked, a bit anxious. "What did you see her doing here in the middle of the night?"

"She was... she was just staring into space, I think," Bella said. "The lady didn’t say anything, just sat there in a daze."

’That seemed really strange at the time,’ Bella thought. ’Aren’t humans supposed to be at home sleeping at night? Why wasn’t that lady sleeping?’

"Where was she sitting and staring?" Renee asked.

Bella lifted her front paw to point. Fearing Renee wouldn’t understand, she ran over to the spot.

She stopped for a moment in front of the railing by the bank, then ran back. "Miss, that lady was sitting in a daze right where I just stopped."

"Was she sitting on the railing?"

Bella stopped licking her food and nodded her head vigorously. "Yes! She was there for a long, long time!"

"And after that?" Renee pressed. "Did you see where she went?"

"Mrow? After that?" Bella blinked her sapphire-blue eyes and answered, "The lady jumped down to take a bath."

"Meow meow meow? Doesn’t she have water at her own house? Why would she come here to take a bath?" the orange cat asked, astonished.

Bella replied, "How should I know? You’re asking me, but who am I supposed to ask?"

Ducky quacked anxiously, "QUACK? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Dee had already taken a bath before she left! She didn’t need another one!"

Bella stared at Ducky. "Mew mew? But she *did* jump in to take a bath. I saw it with my own two pretty eyes."

Renee’s heart skipped a beat. She stared blankly at the river’s surface, her slender brows knitting together tightly. A wave of anguish washed over her.

’Addie Sutton actually jumped into the river...’

Just as she was about to get up and tell Director Leto, Bella spoke again.

"The lady jumped in, and after her bath, someone pulled her out."

"Someone saved her?" Renee asked.

Bella couldn’t tell if it was a rescue or not. "Meow~ Some uncle-type guy picked her up out of the water."

Renee’s brow remained furrowed. She felt no sense of relief, only a faint unease growing in her heart.

’Addie Sutton was rescued... and by a man.’

’Did that man call the police?’

She looked at Bella, her expression grave. "You said that man carried the lady out of the water. What happened after that? Did anyone else show up?"

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