Chapter 64
Shane slammed the table and stood up. “That’s absolute nonsense! What gives you the right. to make such a claim?”
“Mr. Lundberg, please calm down,” Devon quickly interjected, trying to soothe him.
Shane tugged at his collar, attempting to compose himself before sitting back down. He took a sip of iced coffee and cast a cold glare at Evan Cross, the private investigator.
“Continue.”
“Mr. Lundberg, in this digital age, it’s almost impossible for anyone–especially a young woman–to leave no trace if they’re alive. Even if Mrs. Lundberg had prepared cash for travel, she would still need an ID to book transportation.“”
“She might have taken an unregistered vehicle.”
Evan explained, “Yes, that’s possible. But even if Mrs. Lundberg wanted to avoid being tracked, she’d still need rest at some point. Hotels require ID for check–in. A woman like her wouldn’t resort to staying in run–down motels, and even those require identification nowadays due to stricter regulations.
“We found no records of her staying at any hotel. I also checked the rental market–there are no lease agreements under her name. And after inspecting the properties provided by Devon, there was still no sign of Mrs. Lundberg.
“Beyond that, I searched all social venues in the city–cyber cafes, bars, and private cinemas. There’s no trace of Mrs. Lundberg anywhere. I’ve also heard about the high–end wedding dress recovered by the riverside on the second day after your wedding. It had blood stains and
knife marks.
“My recommendation, Mr. Lundberg, is that you report this to the authorities. If she’s alive, I can help. But if she’s dead, that’s beyond my expertise.”
Shane hurled the mug across the room. “Get out! My wife is just angry with me. How could anything have happened to her?”
Evan hesitated before saying, “I understand. My apologies, Mr. Lundberg.”
Devon hurriedly chimed in, “Mr. Lundberg, I’ll escort him out and see if he has any additional information about Mrs. Lundberg.”
Shane remained motionless, sitting in stunned silence and offering no response.
Outside, Devon caught up with the investigator and paid the agreed–upon fee.
While leaning against the door, I listened closely to their conversation.
“My apologies, Mr. Cross. Mr. Lundberg isn’t usually like this. He’s just very emotional about
Chapter 64
his wife’s disappearance.”
“It’s understandable.”
“Mr. Cross, can you tell me if you’ve found anything else?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Evan spoke. “Based on what I’ve uncovered and the condition of the wedding dress, there’s a high likelihood that Mrs. Lundberg was murdered. However
“However, what? Please, go on.”
“There’s another possibility. Have you heard about the recent string of disappearances in the city? Many women have gone missing. If Mrs. Lundberg wasn’t killed, then she might have fallen victim to this.”
“I’ve heard about it. The missing individuals are all women, right? Mr. Cross, do you have any connections that could help us investigate further? If Mr. Lundberg doesn’t find his wife soon, he’s going to lose it.
“But the blood–stained wedding dress…”
“Honestly, I don’t believe Mrs. Lundberg was murdered. She’s a kind and gentle person who brought hope to many orphaned children. She’s beautiful inside and out and never had enemies. Who would want to harm her? Plus, she mentioned being followed before she disappeared.”
“Did she really say that?”
“Yes. I forgot to tell you earlier. If you have any leads in that direction, please help. The reward is negotiable as long as we find her.”
Evan lowered his voice, glancing toward Shane. “Devon, I’ll see it through since I’ve taken this case. But let me be clear about the risks. If Mrs. Lundberg wasn’t killed but was abducted, that’s not good news either.
“If the search had started immediately after her disappearance, there might have been a
chance to intercept her. But now, after more than 20 days, she’s likely been moved out of the
country.”
Chapter 5
Chapter 65
