Chapter 4

Dad stayed home with Brandon for a full day.

It wasn't until midnight that a call came from the rescue team, reporting a major discovery at the base camp down the mountain and urging him to return immediately.

Dad hurriedly put on his clothes to leave, but Brandon, holding the model plane Dad had given him when he first arrived, appeared, looking at him with teary eyes.

"Dad, it's thundering outside. I'm scared..."

Seeing the anxious look on Brandon's face, a flicker of hesitation crossed Dad's eyes.

Just as it seemed Brandon would successfully keep him home, Officer Jenkins, on the other end of the line, sent dozens of photos from the scene.

With just a glance, Dad's pupils constricted sharply. He quickly reassured Brandon.

"Let the nanny stay with you. I'll be back soon."

Then he bolted downstairs, racing straight to the scene.

When Dad arrived at the base camp and was about to enter the scene, Officer Jenkins, who had arrived earlier, stopped him.

"Commander Grant, I advise you not to go in..."

But Dad pushed his hand away. "I've been in rescue for so many years. What kind of situation haven't I seen?"

"Move!"

The next second, when he rushed into the scene and saw the well cordoned off by caution tape, he couldn't help but run to the side and throw up violently.

The well reeked of decay.

Bloated, decomposed body parts were being retrieved, unrecognizable.

Beside them lay a pile of marked, sealed bags containing the murder weapons.

There was a hammer, an axe, a saw.

Even a heavy grindstone.

The police said these were the tools the killer used on the victim.

And not just for dismemberment.

"These tools were used on the victim repeatedly while he was still alive."

"We found multiple bloodstains at the scene, as well as skin tissue embedded in the rocks, likely left by the victim struggling against the pain."

"He was tortured to death."

"The victim's information has also been largely deduced: male, a fractured left leg bone consistent with a canine bite. The victim likely had mobility issues..."

With each word, Dad's eyes grew darker.

Dad, was he feeling sad for me?

The next second, Officer Jenkins seemed to remember something and suddenly spoke.

"Commander Grant, I recall your son Leo also had a slight disability in his left leg, and his build... I remember it being similar to this kid's."

"Officer Jenkins!"

The sympathy in Dad's eyes vanished, replaced by deep anger and displeasure.

"What has that punk been telling you? You've been mentioning him quite a lot lately!"

"I told you, even if that punk dies out there, it has nothing to do with me!"

"Besides, someone so desperate to cling to life, who could watch his own mother die, how could he ever die?"

Officer Jenkins tried to say more, but Dad had already walked away.

The next second, a police officer nearby received a call from the school.

"Commander Grant, Leo's school reported him missing."

But Dad grabbed his phone and smashed it violently on the ground.

"Enough! Are you done yet?!"

"The victim is already in such a horrible state, and you're still playing these childish games with that punk!"

"If he wants to play missing, let him! Solving this case is what's important!"

The officer tried to say more, but Dad's phone suddenly rang.

Brandon's voice came through.

"Dad, the thunder is really loud, I'm so scared..."

Hearing Brandon's voice, Dad immediately began to reassure him.

"Good boy, Brandon. Dad's coming home now."

But he hadn't taken more than a few steps before the officer behind him called out.

"Commander Grant! Come back!"

Dad was forced to stop.

It was Ms. Albright, who had arrived despite the heavy rain.

She brought the surveillance footage from the day I left school. The red jacket I was wearing was identical to the victim's!