Saying this, Irish looked in the direction where Lilith sat.
"You think your father's death is related to them," Jay asked, who added her unfinished sentence.
"I don't know. It is just my intuition. But if William really did this, then it is so horrible. I just feel it is so weird, and when I remember the female ghost in the Lake family, I feel it is so suspicious."
"But it has been cleared up."
"However, my father mentioned in his diary that he finds it suspicious," Irish continued. "Both my mother and I share the same sentiment."
Jay thought for a while and then responded, "It is Joie who mystified us, so your father thought he had seen your mother."
"No, my father said it with conviction," Irish whispered softly. "You're correct, he might consider Joie as my mother. However, I also have a suspicion that he encountered my father."
Jay was startled and responded, "Please refrain from speaking nonsense. It sounds incredibly strange."
"I'm trying to say that my father had some memory issues, which led to his intuition and belief in what actually happened," Irish explained. After a brief pause, she added, "I can gather from his diary that he isn't relishing the memories of those past days but rather documenting his genuine life with my Mom."
"Do you suspect William?" asked Jay in a low voice. "There is something you might not be clear about. The police have made an investigation on William about your father and Ruby's death. And I also know the books you mentioned, but I heard that there is no doubt. They even consulted botanists and nutritionists, but they found no problem," added Jay.
"But how can you explain this weird photo?" Irish pointed at the red marks on the photo.
Jay heaved a sigh and responded, "It can't be direct evidence, I also think it is suspicious. Perhaps the police really ignored something."
"There is still something weird," mumbled Irish.
Jay looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"I think Joseph is weird," said Irish.
"Joseph?"
"Yes, when I returned to the Lake family's house, I noticed that he appeared anxious, and he didn't inquire about what I discovered there," Irish confirmed. "Of course, I'm not suspecting him, but I have a feeling that he might be aware of something and chose not to share it with me."
"Perhaps it is because you are too sensitive."
"Joseph's behavior is quite unusual. We experienced an attack in South Africa previously, yet he never mentioned it afterwards. This implies that he either knows who was responsible or he hasn't been able to identify the culprits," Irish pointed out.
"Perhaps he didn't find the murderer," said Jay calmly.
"Well, the murderer should be capable because Joseph has a wide connection," responded Irish.
Irish remained silent as she finished her sentence.
"If it is indeed connected to William, why would Joseph go to such lengths to conceal the truth from him?" Jay inquired.
It also confused Irish.
"Irish, don't worry. The police are still investigating to find the real murderer," comforted Jay.
Irish heaved a sigh of relief and said, "I just think Joseph hid something, and it feels so terrible."
"Perhaps he doesn't want you to worry about him. I'll keep this photo for you first."
Irish took her younger brother's hands and said, "Are you suspicious? Jay, you have to be frank with me."
Jay took a sip of coffee and set the glass down. "Indeed, when comparing William and Kelly, my suspicions lean more towards Kelly," he stated.
"What?" Irish's mouth dropped open in shock.
"When Lilith fell into drug addiction, Kelly supplied her with drugs. The question is, where did Kelly obtain those drugs? I tried to approach the topic subtly yesterday, but Kelly claimed that one of her friends helped her acquire them. She even mentioned that she had no other choice because she couldn't bear to see her daughter suffer. However, I find it difficult to believe her story. Furthermore, William was not present at the scene on the night Ruby was killed. Instead, Kelly claimed to have returned home early that day. At least, that's what she told the police, right?" Jay whispered in a hushed tone.
Irish agreed with Jay as he continued to express his thoughts. He stated, "The doubts surrounding them have been alleviated because Lilith was present at the location. However, from my perspective, Lilith became unconscious due to her struggle with drug addiction. Therefore, it raises the question of how Lilith can prove that she was indeed with her parents during that time."
Irish was taken aback and slightly shivered as she realized she might have oversimplified the case.
"It seems that things are not as straightforward as we initially thought."
Jay added, "If Ruby's death is connected to the Lake family, there must be a hidden narrative behind your father's death. I even suspect that there is someone behind the scenes pulling the strings."
Irish began to gasp.
"But please bear in mind that this is merely my speculation. Nevertheless, Irish, I assure you that I am committed to uncovering the truth."
****
As the day progressed, the sky became overcast, casting a gloomy atmosphere.
Irish was woken up by her telephone ring. She connected the phone but was startled a few seconds later.
Joseph happened to walk in as he was about to wake her up for breakfast. He couldn't help but ask when he noticed Irish sitting there in astonishment, "What's wrong?"
Her phone slipped down to the bed while Irish kept trembling, looking into Joseph's eyes, and then said in a shaky voice, "Joseph...Roy is dead."
****
Roy has yet to return, which is rather unusual as Cassie has received no updates from him. Early the following morning, Cassie received a call from the police station informing her that a lifeless body had been discovered, possibly belonging to Roy.
The police officer refrained from providing a conclusive response until family members were present. However, Cassie understood that the call would not have been made without substantial evidence, strongly suggesting that the deceased individual could indeed be Roy.
Accompanied by Joseph and Irish, Cassie and Shirley made their way to the morgue.
Irish and Joseph displayed visible trembling, reflecting their own distress. Meanwhile, Cassie's fear became overwhelming, causing her face to lose color as she teetered on the brink of fainting. She was filled with terror and uncontrollable shivers. Shirley, on the other hand, appeared devastated, her eyes bloodshot and her demeanor resembling that of a lifeless figure.
Concerned for Cassie, Irish reached out and held her hands, only to discover that her own hands felt comparatively warmer than Cassie's, despite the prevailing chill in the air.
It was not exaggerated to describe Cassie's hands as "chilly." It was as cold as ice. Her fingers were also dull. She couldn't even twist them.
In the morning, Cassie received the news directly from the police, and later she shared the information with Irish.
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