BXBX NOVEL Chapter 350: Buried with Death
Coming down from the mountain, the two went to a crematorium outside of Cascadia town.
Suzanne Saunders’s body was cremated here. There are register logs and receipt stubs, but no name or contact information for the agent. This doesn’t meet the normal operating rules and procedures.
“You’re the one in charge here, how could you not know?” Aria Jackson was getting heated, questioning the crematorium staff. “You don’t even know the name of the person bringing in the body for cremation, and you just go ahead and burn it? Aren’t you afraid it’s criminals trying to destroy evidence?”
The staff quickly pleaded innocent. “Officer, we would never dare! Before any cremation, we always check the death certificate. This Suzanne Saunders… we really don’t know why there’s no agent or contact information listed. Besides, this was almost half a year ago, who would remember?”
“Does this place have surveillance?” Aria Jackson continued.
The staff visibly looked more troubled, “Officer, our surveillance footage is only kept for a month. The cremation record you’re looking for is from last August, it’s long gone…”
Aria was getting noticeably frustrated. “Alright then, call everyone who was working here that day for me. I want to ask around, see who might recall details from that day.”
Purple Summers stood by, listening, feeling the hope dwindling.
If the person in question really wanted to hide, even if they continued investigating, all they might unearth would be falsified names and identities. They would still be left empty-handed.
As they waited for the staff to gather, Purple Summers received a phone call.
Whatever the person on the phone was saying, Purple Summers’s face became a vision of amazement, as if she had just been informed of some astonishing news. She was frozen, stunned for some time.
“What is it?” Aria Jackson saw her state of shock and asked with concern.
“I found him.” Purple Summers replied, still in a daze.
Aria Jackson was puzzled, “Found who?”
Purple Summers then said, “…. The person who collected my body.”
Aria Jackson was taken aback.
Aria Jackson knew this was a knot in Purple Summers’s heart – Who had saved her, why had they saved her, and why after saving her would they vanish without a trace?
They had attempted to investigate this in all types of ways, even using the power of Graves Corporation. The situation remained puzzling but while they were in Cascadia town, progress came unexpectedly?
Just like that…found?
Purple Summers gazed at Aria Jackson and said, “Mr. Williams said, he found out that Howard Ninth’s ship had been at Riverdam Port. It is said he came to see the geomancy of the river and mountains of Clearwater City and even specially invited a mage…”
Aria Jackson was startled, “Was Howard Ninth the one who saved you? He saved you, why didn’t he come to find you?”
“Following my rescue, he left Clearwater… The third and fourth young masters of the Howard Family were always trying to kill him. After the incident, he went into hiding and last month…died in a car accident in Waverly City.” Purple Summers’s eyes were blank, looking at the ground in a daze.
Aria Jackson was even more surprised, “You mean…he’s dead?”
All along, the person they were desperate to find had already passed away!
On the return train, Purple Summers leaned against the window, looking at the swiftly receding scenery, her face wooden.
Aria Jackson sat by her side, offering words of consolation, “Life is full of uncertainties. Overthinking brings no benefits. Don’t dwell on it. When the time is right, offer him some paper money and conduct a ritual for him. It could be considered repayment for his actions.”
Aria Jackson figured that Purple Summers was having trouble accepting this. The person she had been so eager to find had met an untimely death, forever separated by death. No matter how deep the affection or sentiment, there was no place to go. Even worse, there was no one she could ask.
Why did you save me?
Did you love me?
These questions, no one could answer for Purple Summers now.
All the truth, buried with death underground.
“Forget about it.” Aria Jackson advised her. “Don’t think about it anymore. If you…get too bored, help me with the investigation to distract yourself.”
Purple Summers looked out of the train window, a faint smile on her face, “What case could possibly stump Officer Jackson?”
Aria Jackson slightly furrowed her eyebrows, “It’s not so much tough, but eerie. All the witnesses are claiming it was a ghost that killed the person…”