“The case of the grandmother and granddaughter murdered in the abandoned Riverbend vige-we''ve been investigating it nonstop. But so far, we have absolutely no leads," Bruce said, sipping his tea with a frown.


    Bet replied, "Mr. Jones, you''re a veteran detective. For a case to be in your hands this long without a single clue?”


    Bruce exined, "We''ve scoured the crime scene. No fingerprints, no footprints, and we haven''t found the murder weapon. The doors and windows were locked and intact, with no signs of forced entry. And even though the vige is mostly demolished, we''ve checked all surveince footage within a ten-kilometer radius and found no suspicious individuals.”


    "It sounds like it was premeditated," Bet concluded.


    Bruce nodded. “Premeditated, yes. But to execute it so perfectly, leaving us with nothing to go on, proves that the perpetrator has strong counter-surveince skills. They might even be very familiar with our police procedures, which is how they avoided leaving any trace."


    "Are you suggesting the killer could be a veteran detective like yourself?" Bet raised an eyebrow slightly.


    "If not a detective, then someone who is extremely knowledgeable about our internal investigation methods," Bruce said, then added, "Does it seem logical to you that such a perfectly nned crime would target a poor, helpless grandmother and her granddaughter?”


    Bet replied, "So, you believe this case is aimed at us, the Thompson family?"


    "A murder in Riverbend will definitely affect the start of any construction. Your family is nning to build a port there, aren''t you? Could this be the work of an enemy?"


    Bruce put down his cup, leaned over, and opened the drawer of the coffee table, taking out a pack of cigarettes.


    He opened the pack, tapped one out for himself, and then tossed the pack to Bet.


    "Your special reserve, I see," Bet remarked, ncing at the pack before taking one out and lighting it.


    "What are your thoughts on what I just said?" Bruce asked again.


    Bet took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling a faint cloud of smoke.


    "The Thompson family has operated in Istra for many years. To get to where we are today, we''ve certainly made a few enemies. However, my father has already handed over the Riverbendnd and the Thompson Group''s transportationpany to Eden. If one of our family''s enemies wanted revenge, it would make more sense toe after me. Why target an illegitimate son?"


    Bruce was silent for a moment, smoking and thinking with a furrowed brow.


    Bet flicked the ash from his


    cigarette and said thoughtfully, "A while back, that variety show brought a lot of attention to the area, even attracting tour groups. After this murder, the few remaining residents have all moved out, and no one goes near there anymore, Wh?t, if someone doesn''t want too many people around? Could Eden be involved? Perhaps you could investigate in that direction?"


    Bruce was quiet for a moment after hearing this. Then, as if he''d figured something


    out, he suddenly extinguished his cigarette.


    "Thatnd is a riverbend, connecting


    three cities, and it''s an estuary. The transportation is convenient f someone wanted to smuggle good''s there, they certainly wouldn''t want a lot of people around."


    With that, Bruce tossed his cigarette butt into the ashtray, immediately picked up his


    phone from the table, and dialed a number.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the kitchen downstairs.


    Yvonne was helping Monica with the dishes.


    Yvonne washed them, and Monica dried and put them away in the cab.


    They worked together seamlessly, chatting as they went.