Chapter 30: Investigating the Residential Area
Jim Niken forcefully stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, complaining incessantly.
Then he took a new one from the pack.
Across from him, his wife, Dale Niken, smiled and took the pack from her husband's hand.
"Honey, let this be the last one, okay?"
Jim opened his mouth but eventually nodded.
Click.
The cigarette was lit.
As one of the few high-ranking officials with real power in Philadelphia, the Nikens were a local focal point.
Both were young and had an eight-year-old daughter.
Jim was ambitious and had already achieved many political achievements in the city government.
Dale was the head of a charity organization with operations worldwide, accumulating considerable prestige in society.
Such a combination was invincible in American politics.
Some time ago, the President issued a new charity policy.
Dale's business happened to be involved, so Jim naturally became the intermediary.
As a result, he gained an opportunity to go to Washington, D.C.
For the past few weeks, Jim had been traveling between places, pushing for the implementation of the charity policy.
But he didn't expect trouble in his own backyard.
Jim never believed in ghosts and spirits. Although with his status, he inevitably heard some so-called "federal secrets."
But he always believed that those were just tricks used by the military to swindle funding.
Area 51 had almost become a global urban legend.
Even some time ago, the Maple Leaf Country to the north claimed to have discovered alien remains?
What a bunch of whimsical idiots!
According to Jim, it would be better to cut some useless organizations and use the saved funds to build a few more missiles!
But the incident at home forced him to pay attention.
Jim had suspected it was the work of a political opponent, like that old bastard Charles.
But the private investigation he commissioned found no evidence.
Seeing the tour date in Washington approaching, the murder case still had no clues.
If a murder happened during his public speech, Jim dared not imagine what it would turn into.
Therefore, he reluctantly agreed to his wife's search for so-called exorcists.
But as he expected, these charlatans were just a bunch of clowns!
They turned the house upside down and still found nothing!
Thinking of this, Jim cursed through his teeth again, looking like a hooligan.
He would naturally maintain his affinity in public, but this was his home.
And the murder happened in the garden, where the invited exorcists were right now.
So Jim wasn't worried about anyone hearing.
Knock... knock.
Just as he finished speaking, the bodyguard knocked on the door, mentioning that Officer Gordon had brought two exorcists.
The door opened.
Three people stood in the corridor outside.
William used [Night Vision] as soon as he arrived, and indeed captured a trace of evil aura in this dignitary's home.
But the residual traces were faint, and he couldn't be sure if this was the only place.
So, out of caution, William didn't step into the house.
Opposite them.
Jim asked Gordon how long he had been here, and the latter said a while.
So Jim knew his previous outburst might have been heard.
This was completely different from the image he usually projected.
But seeing this, Jim didn't bother to hide it anymore and stared straight at the group opposite.
Beside him, Dale knew her husband was a bit embarrassed, so she took the initiative to welcome them.
"Dirk, you should have told me earlier that a little exorcist was coming too, so I could prepare some desserts."
The bodyguard named Dirk, who had opened the door, was used to this. He knew she was giving Jim an out, so he agreed skillfully.
Dale greeted Emma with a smile and looked at William:
"Gentlemen, please come in. I'll take you to the garden."
But William shook his head: "Sorry, ma'am. Before checking the scene, I plan to walk around the residential area first."
Dale was stunned.
Did murders happen in other houses too? Why didn't she know?
She turned to look at Jim.
The latter had an "I knew it" look.
Jim snorted coldly, labeling the priest in front of him as a "charlatan" in his heart.
He guessed the other party heard those words outside and was scared, so he made an excuse to leave.
"Of course. Hopefully, you can still find your way back after walking around."
Jim looked contemptuous, his tone full of mockery.
Gordon wanted to explain but was stopped by Jim.
Dale smiled apologetically. Her husband was very capable at work, but his temper was indeed bad.
William didn't care.
Except for regular customers, he encountered such scenes almost every time he performed an exorcism.
And he knew that arguing was pointless and would only make the other party worse.
True strong people never deigned to explain but threw facts in front of the other party and then waited for their performance.
But Emma beside him didn't seem to think so.
Although Jim meant William, she was a companion after all, so she took it personally.
Seeing Emma's eyes slowly turning cold, William knew this girl was plotting something bad again.
He hurried to pinch her chin, forcefully diverting her gaze.
If Emma really killed this official, William would be in endless trouble.
"Excuse us, we'll be back later."
After saying goodbye to Dale and Jim, William dragged Emma out.
"Hey, William, sorry." Gordon came over to explain.
But William just waved his hand, indicating he didn't care.
Then he walked around Jim's house and set up a Demon-Trapping Array as usual, lest an accident happen inside while he was away.
After doing this, William walked toward the next house.
He signaled Emma to walk in front, following behind himself, giving her no opportunity.
With Gordon leading the way, the three were not stopped.
After some investigation, William confirmed that other places in the residential area were safe.
"This confirms that it's not some kind of contagious evil spirit."
William pondered as he walked.
But in the next moment, he suddenly sensed a shadow above his head.
William looked up, but unexpectedly, a pair of hands wrapped around his neck, pulling him backward.
Just before hitting the ground, he forcefully lifted his neck, avoiding hitting his head.
Immediately after, William felt his vision go dark, and the tip of his nose seemed to touch something soft.
He sniffed and smelled a faint fragrance.
"Sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean to!"
A crisp voice rang out, and then William finally regained his vision.
But at the same time, he felt pressure on his abdomen.
"Oof."
William almost couldn't breathe.
He opened his eyes and saw a girl kneeling on his stomach.
She looked worried and was shaking his shoulders continuously.
William managed to pin her down with difficulty and pointed to his stomach.
"Oh! Sorry! I didn't mean to."
Percy Iliad realized the inappropriateness and hurriedly got off him.
Gordon's hand was already on his waist, watching the girl's every move closely.
Emma beside them looked gloating.
William got up and sized up the girl in front of him.
She looked about his age.
With long chestnut hair tied in a high ponytail, sea-blue eyes, and a few freckles on her exquisite pale face.
Besides that, the girl wore a complete set of black sportswear.
The clothes were a bit old and stained, but her overall figure was slender.
This puzzled William slightly; the tactile sensation just now was different.
Oh, Lord above! He meant his nose didn't hurt just now.
At the same time, two other things about the girl attracted attention.
First, her calves were wrapped in leg bindings.
Second, she carried a long case on her back, as tall as she was.