Chapter 257 A Long Shot


    eighboring stores had already been reviewed.


    ception.


    In fact, the surveince footage from all the


    This old, shabby little shop was the only


    Jean suddenly decided to take a chance.


    +8 Pearls


    She changed direction and headed straight for the counter.


    Behind it sat a bald man,pletely engrossed in the drama ying on his tablet.


    He didn’t even notice Jean approaching.


    “Sir.” Jean tapped her finger lightly on the counter, trying to get his attention.


    Only then did the bald man tear his eyes from the screen and squint up at her. “You buying something?”


    Jean hesitated for a second. After being asked so directly, it felt awkward to walk away empty–handed.


    She smiled and nodded, letting her gaze roam across the cluttered shelves until itnded on a jar of lollipops. “I’ll take one of those.”


    She ended up picking a strawberry–vored lollipop.


    After paying, she finally got to the real reason she was here. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Sir, do you have surveince in this store?”


    She was direct, and the bald man simply grinned. “Of course we do.”


    Jean froze in surprise.


    This rundown ce actually <i>did </i>have surveince?


    Her instincts had been spot on…


    But-


    Jean frowned, confused. “Sir, if there’s surveince, why didn’t you tell the police back then?“/


    The bald man blinked, slowly realizing what incident she was referring to.


    “Oh,” heughed. “Well, the cops never asked! And I didn’t even know anything had happened. They came around and asked if I saw anything that night, but I always go to bed early–so of course I didn’t.”


    Then he gave her a curious look, studying her for a second. “You wanna check the surveince?”


    Jean scratched her head and chuckled. “Yeah, I do. Depends on whether you’ll let me.”


    “Of course I will.” The manughed heartily. “You don’t seem like a bad person. You’re here about that case, right?”


    Jean hadn’t expected him to be this sharp–he figured her out right away.


    Chapter 257 A Long Shot


    might help.”


    “Wow, sounds pretty serious,” he muttered, watching her closely.


    “Come on, I’ll show you.” He stepped out from behind the counter.


    At the front entrance, he pointed up at a nondescript corner above the doorway.


    “See that cardboard box? That’s our camera.”


    +8 Pearls


    Jean followed his finger–and sure enough, a small tear in the tightly wrapped box revealed the ck lens of a camera peeking through.


    <i>Seriously</i>?


    The camera had been hidden that thoroughly?


    No wonder nobody ever realized this ce had surveince.


    If she hadn’te on a whim, no one would’ve found it..


    “Why hide the camera like that?” Jean asked inly, staring at the man.


    The bald man sighed and replied, half exasperated, “Because my cameras get broken all the time.”


    “This shop’s cursed or something!” he grumbled. “Kids always messing around outside, throwing rocks- bam, there goes a camera. Or grown–ups start fighting, and some drunk throws a bottle–bam, another one gone!”


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