<b>Chapter </b><b>309 </b>


    Sebastian and Caitlin immediately headed to Freya’s previous residence.


    Upon arrival, they met with Xavi and several members of the detective team.


    “Felix,” Sebastian greeted him. “What new clues have you found?”


    “Yes,” Felix responded, handing them the printed data. “We’ve collected fingerprints and footprints inside the house. After cross- checking and eliminating others, we confirmed the presence of footprints from two different individuals.”


    Caitlin took the document and examined the footprints. “Based on the size, these seem to be from women. Could the killers be female?”


    “That’s right,” Felix confirmed. “Our preliminary estimate is that the suspects are likely women. We have some other evidence as


    well.”


    Felix yed several clips from nearby surveince footage that his team had gathered. “The incident happened at night. This particr footage from a corner surveince camera shows the suspects from behind. It’s not very clear, but we can see two individuals transporting a suitcase away from the scene.”


    Sebastian and Caitlin focused on the video, carefully examining the silhouettes of the suspects. Given the body shapes and height, it seemed likely that both were women, though the night lighting made their figures hard to distinguish.


    “Does this mean Freya was killed at her residence, then her body was moved to the reservoir area in a suitcase, where it was mutted and discarded?” Sebastian asked.


    “That’s likely,” Felix said. “We’ve even located the suitcase, about two kilometers away, in a nearby ditch.”


    Caitlin was still reflecting on the situation. Two female suspects had likely broken into Freya’s ce, killing her by strangling her from behind. The weapon used might have been fine wire or something simr. If the suspects had used great force, they would likely have left marks on their hands as well.


    A sudden thought shed in Caitlin’s mind. She remembered the deep indentations on Teresa’s hands, particrly around the small fish–like area of her palms.


    Could it be…?


    Caitlin didn’t dare to pursue the thought any further. She immediately turned to Sebastian. “Sebastian, quickly give me your tie!”


    “What do you need my tie for?”


    Without answering, Caitlin quickly grabbed the tie from around his neck, motioning for him to crouch down.


    Sebastianplied, and Caitlin then demonstrated the action of strangling him from behind pressure in her palms and on the small fish like area of her hands.


    enough, she could feel intense


    Of course, she hadn’t applied full force on him, but if the suspects had used wire to strangle their victim<b>, </b>they would have used all their strength. The victim’s neck would have deep marks, and the killers‘ hands would have simr marks <b>as </b>well.


    Caitlin released Sebastian, and he stood up, asking, “Caitlin, did you figure something out?”


    “I’m not sure yet. I just wanted to demonstrate something.”


    After helping him re–tie the tie, Caitlin turned her attention back to the surveince footage, focusing on the figures of the suspects


    From the video, the two suspects seemed to have simr builds and heights.


    Though Caitlin didn’t fully trust her own suspicions, she couldn’t help but think of Sienna and Teresa. If they were indeed <b>the </b>ones behind this, what was their motive? Why would they kill Freya? And why would they sever her hand afterward<b>? </b>


    She couldn’t wrap her mind around it. These were merely coincidences, and she didn’t have enough evidence to conclusively point to Sienna and Teresa as the culprits. Deep down, she didn’t want to believe it was them, but she needed more proof <b>to </b>back <b>up </b><b>her </b>theory.


    “Felix, have you investigated XEG?” Caitlin asked, as she had always suspected Ximena. Only she could see Freya as <b>a </b>threat, and she would surely want to get rid of her.


    “We’ve done some covert investigations, and we also monitored their activities using technical methods, but we haven’t <b>found </b>anything unusual,” Felix replied. “I’ve seen no evidence of Ximena hiring anyone <i>to </i>kill, at least nothing that involves Freya.”


    Caitlin nodded, understanding. Just because nothing showed up didn’t mean it wasn’t there. Ximena was too cunning to leave such traces behind. If she wanted to get rid of Freya, she wouldn’t do it herself.


    “For now, these are all the clues we have. We’ll continue our search and offer a reward for any tips thate in<b>,</b>” Felix said, showing them the monitoring screenshots he intended to use for gathering public information.


    “Okay, let us know if you get any new leads,” Caitlin replied.


    After speaking with Felix, Caitlin followed Sebastian back to the car. During the ride, she seemed preupied, and Sebastian


    noticed.


    “Are you okay, Caitlin? You seem like you’ve figured something out,” he asked, sensing she hadn’t finished what she wanted to say


    earlier.


    “I’m just thinking about the rtionship between Freya and the killer. What could have motivated the killer to suddenly kill her?”


    “The most likely person I suspect is Ximena,” Caitlin continued. “But guess who I thought of when I saw the suspects‘ shadows on the monitor?”


    “Who?” Sebastian asked.


    Caitlin hesitated before speaking. “Sienna and Teresa.”


    At hearing her mention the two names, Sebastian mmed the brakes, causing the car to stop abruptly.


    “You’re saying it was Sienna and Teresa?” Sebastian asked incredulously.


    “Don’t overreact! It’s just my personal suspicion,” Caitlin rified.


    “How did youe to suspect them?”


    “There are two main points. <i>First</i>, the height and build of the two women in the video match. Second, when I visited Teresa <b>in </b><b>the </b>hospital today, I noticed deep strangtion marks on both of her palms, around the small <b>fish</b><b>–</b>like area.”


    Sebastian thought for a moment and then replied, “Unless she strangled someone herself<b>, </b><b>she </b><b>couldn’t </b><b>have </b><b>those </b><b>marks</b><b>. </b><b>So </b><b>that’s </b>what you were demonstrating with the tie earlier?”


    <b>09.43 </b>


    <b>“</b>Yes.<b>” </b>


    <b>Aug </b>


    Sebastian paused, then came up with a bold hypothesis. “If the killers are really Sienna and Teresa, what if they’re working for Ximena? What if they killed Freya because Ximena ordered them <i>to</i>?”


    “Exactly. That’s what I’m thinking. The more I think about it, the more terrifying it bes. If Sienna arid Teresa are Ximena’s people, then five years ago, when I gave birth to our daughter and she died, they may have been involved in that too. They might have imed the baby died, but in reality, they gave her to Ximena to raise. Ximena would have held that over me, as leverage.


    Caitlin’s thoughts were racing, her emotions overwhelming. The people she trusted the most could have been involved in a dark conspiracy.


    “I just realized something!” Caitlin eximed suddenly.


    “What is it?” Sebastian asked, his interest piqued.