Joseph responded calmly, "I had a shareholders' meeting in my company, and Ruby was required to attend as one of the shareholders."
"During the meeting, it is reported that Ruby was constantly opposing you," Chalmers continued.
"Quarrels and disagreements among shareholders are not uncommon," Joseph replied calmly.
Chalmers pondered for a moment before asking, "Why did she have disagreements with you?"
"It was related to the matter of new arrivals," Joseph responded.
"Did she suspect that you had betrayed the company?" Chalmers inquired.
Joseph smiled softly, "Perhaps."
Curious, Chalmers pressed further, asking, "What actions did you take?"
Joseph's tone remained light as he replied, "Chalmers, you are overstepping your authority. It is Tanner who should be asking these questions."
Chalmers blinked, maintaining eye contact with Joseph for a moment. "Mr. Dover, I am simply conducting the interrogation," he clarified.
Joseph smiled faintly and addressed Chalmers directly, "Chalmers, until it is confirmed that I am the killer, I believe I have the right to be fully informed about the entire process of the case. Your questioning seems to be putting the cart before the horse."
Finally, Chalmers grasped the reason why his subordinates had released Joseph when he had stepped out. Joseph's intelligence became evident to him.
"Alright," Chalmers composed himself and proceeded to provide a concise description of the entire case.
Ruby's body had been discovered by a passer-by whose car happened to come to a halt in the vicinity. The passer-by noticed some movement resembling a dress, prompting him to investigate further. To his shock, he found a woman crouching in the bushes.
Initially assuming she was merely intoxicated, the passer-by attempted to rouse her, only to notice the presence of blood. Concerned, he turned her over, revealing wounds on her forehead and neck. It was apparent that she had tragically lost her life.
Upon receiving the call, the police swiftly initiated an examination of the surrounding area.
Upon further investigation, it was determined that the deceased individual was Ruby, Henry's daughter and a shareholder in the Runestone Group. A legal expert's analysis concluded that Ruby had passed away after 11 p.m. the previous night. Multiple fatal wounds were found on her head and neck, with excessive blood loss being the primary cause of death.
The instrument responsible for inflicting severe damage was identified as a metal eagle-shaped decoration. The decoration featured sharp angles, resulting in continuous bleeding from the main artery and forehead.
The police further determined that the bush where Ruby's body was found was not the primary crime scene. There were suspicions that someone had killed Ruby elsewhere and then disposed of the body in the bush, possibly taking advantage of the rain to wash away any potential evidence. However, the rain ceased around 11:30 p.m.
It was discovered that Ruby had ceased breathing after the rain had stopped.
This indicated that when she was removed from the initial crime scene and discarded into the bush, she was still alive but in a critical condition. Due to the late hour and the rain, and only a few people passing by, Ruby's life slowly slipped away unnoticed.
Throughout the entire description, Chalmers carefully observed Joseph's facial expressions, hoping to catch any signs or cracks that could provide clues. However, to his disappointment, Joseph's face remained unchanged – his eyes and eyebrows displayed no alteration whatsoever.
Joseph appeared remarkably composed, exceptionally calm.
This unyielding calmness only intensified Chalmers's doubts and suspicions regarding Joseph.
Regardless of one's status or background, it was natural to have an atypical reaction when brought to a police station. Such reactions were expected. However, Chalmers couldn't help but wonder what was going through Joseph's mind. It appeared as though Joseph was lost in his own thoughts, contemplating something or perhaps nothing at all. From Chalmers's perspective, there seemed to be no signs of planning or seeking solutions in Joseph's demeanor.
Joseph appeared to be merely listening to a story that had no connection to him.
After Chalmers finished his description, Joseph simply nodded and remained silent, offering no further comments.
"Why did you schedule a meeting so late?" Chalmers asked directly.
Joseph responded casually, "We had some issues with the new arrivals. The shareholders are worried about their own interests, so I gathered them to find solutions. It's pretty straightforward, isn't it?"
"Mr. Dover, did you manage to acquire Lakes' shares by leveraging Ruby and Emery's relationship?"
Joseph smiled lightly, "You've got it wrong, Chalmers. The transfer contract is still in my office. I can have my assistant bring it to you. Ruby and I made the deal in a completely fair, transparent, and voluntary manner."
"Why would Ruby, who is part of the Lake family, transfer her shares to you?"
"Well, let me clarify that. She's only transferring a portion of her shares," Joseph calmly corrected. After a brief pause, he continued, "As a businessman, my sole pursuit is profit. Ruby was troubled by the rumors, and she had no idea how to handle it. She approached me for help in getting out of trouble. In return, she agreed to transfer a portion of her shares to me."
Chalmers sneered and remarked, "I suspect that you set a trap for Ruby so you could profit from her."
"Chalmers, as a police officer, you should know that it's merely your conjecture," Joseph replied peaceably.
Chalmers narrowed his eyes and retorted, "Where were you last night around eleven o'clock?"
Joseph pondered for a moment before responding, "I was at the company. The elevator was out of order, so I had to take the stairs to go downstairs. I believe it was around 11:30 pm when I reached the lower floors."
The Runestone Group was located in a high-rise building, and Joseph intended to use the elevator to reach the lower levels. However, he encountered a locked corridor door leading to the lower area, leaving him with no choice but to walk down the stairs. It was a time-consuming and physically demanding task.
"Why do you recall the time so accurately?" inquired Chalmers.
"That's because my wife happened to meet me during that time, and she mentioned the time inadvertently," Joseph truthfully responded.
Irish, concerned that Ruby might cause problems for Joseph, approached him anxiously. However, they coincidentally encountered each other in the hallway, prompting them to rush to the car while sharing an umbrella hurriedly. Irish even complained to Joseph, questioning why he was out so late when it was time to sleep.
"Did anyone witness you going downstairs?" Chalmers inquired.
"No," Joseph responded.
Curiously, Chalmers abruptly asked, "What happened to your hand?"
Joseph's hand had been sterilized, and he had a band-aid covering the wound.
Glancing at it, Joseph calmly replied, "I accidentally injured myself."
Chalmers snorted, handing a document to Joseph, and said, "I'm afraid this scratched you."
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