Chapter 57 Karma
Jonathan went back to his rented house in Amber’s police car.
It was already late by the time he reached home. Jennifer seemed to be asleep as she didn’t turn her lights on. Jonathan didn’t want to disturb her either. He had a shower in his bathroom and went to bed.
The next morning, Jennifer made breakfast for him punctually. After finishing his meal, he drove to the police station in Amber’s car.
Jennifer didn’t say anything when she saw the police vehicle. She refrained from interfering with his matters too much as she knew he didn’t like it.
It was eight o’clock in the morning when he arrived at the police station. Jonathan was always punctual when it came to serious business.
Amber had arrived at around the same time as well. She was as beautiful as ever, dressed in her smart blue blouse and police cap.
“I’ve contacted the owner of Golden Years. Let’s pay him a visit now,” she stated.
Jonathan nodded. “Sure.”
Amber gave him the address, and he started the car.
The road was congested with an endless procession of vehicles and pedestrians spilling out onto the sidewalks. The scenery looked like an extraordinary painting as the morning sun shone on them. Everyone seemed to have their own world and worries to handle. They seldom stopped by to appreciate the borderless sky’s beauty or the freshness of the air. Not a single soul was grateful for the beautiful nature.
Although the world nourished human beings, none of them ever spared a thought to repay nature’s gift.
Suddenly, Amber was reminded of something. She said, “I’ve looked into Golden Years’ file again.”
“Oh?”
“I noticed something odd in it,” she added.
“What is it?” asked Jonathan immediately.
“The proprietress of Golden Years was a twenty-five-year-old woman named Yara Carter. She was a local of Horington.”
“Is there anything wrong with that?”
“Her ID card was a forged one.”
Jonathan was stunned upon hearing that. “That’s a significant issue. Why is it only discovered today?”
“Her ID card was so well made that it’s hard to distinguish it from authentic ones. Besides, we seldom care about ID cards in the past. Nobody ever thought that it could be forged. After I looked into her identity, I realize that the real Yara Carter was already dead in a car accident six years ago. Since then, the proprietress had been using the woman’s identity.”
Jonathan clicked his tongue in wonder. “This case is getting more bizarre. The proprietress and her lover both had fake identities. Besides, there’s The Destino’s treasure, murder, and a vengeful spirit involved. Perhaps that treasure is the answer to all of these mysteries.”
“This case is the strangest one in recent years. I would be left with no regrets if I managed to crack it,” Amber uttered.
“Don’t worry. The truth will come to light eventually,” he reassured with a faint smile.
Shortly after, the two of them arrived at a mansion that stood alone. There was a little garden in front of its entrance, and it looked pretty cozy with a parasol in it.
At one glance, Jonathan knew that the owner had to be rich to afford such a luxurious mansion. He parked the car in front of the property and alighted with Amber.
After Amber called the owner, the owner came out and greeted them shortly. The mansion’s owner was a bald and plump man in his fifties, wearing a casual t-shirt and sunglasses. He led them to the mansion’s living hall and introduced himself as Dilbert Jacobus.
Dilbert was a friendly and polite person. As a diligent businessman, he knew well not to offend a public servant like Amber.
Once they settled themselves in the living hall, he ordered his housekeeper to serve them coffee.
Jonathan studied the surrounding. This is a high-end mansion that gives out an elegant aesthetic. Even the furniture is grand and luxurious.
“Captain Johnson, Mr. Lawson, I’ve already prepared a sumptuous meal with the freshest seafood. Fancy having lunch with me?” Dilbert suggested with smiley eyes.
Amber smiled faintly in response. “You’re being too kind, Mr. Jacobus. Please don’t mind us visiting you abruptly.”
Dilbert let out a chuckle and uttered, “It’s nothing! It’s my honor to have such a graceful lady like you and Mr. Lawson be a guest of my humble adobe!”
Jonathan couldn’t hold back a smile. “Mr. Jacobus, you are too humble.”
“That’s humorous of you!” Dilbert smiled.
Jonathan decided to get straight to the point. “Mr. Jacobus, we are visiting you for a reason today. We hope to discuss Golden Years with you.”
Somehow, Dilbert knew what they were after. My Golden Years would’ve been worth over twenty million if it weren’t for that incident. Alas, nobody would want it now even if I gave it out for free! He beamed the moment Jonathan mentioned Golden Years and asked, “Oh! What do you want to know, Jonathan?”
He changed his way of addressing Jonathan once he became acquainted with the latter. Such was a common trait of a businessman.
Meanwhile, Amber chose to keep quiet and leave everything to Jonathan.
“Have you been to Golden Years recently, Mr. Jacobus?” asked Jonathan.
“I do visit it occasionally. Is there anything wrong?”
Jonathan answered in a deep voice, “If so, I believe that you’ve sensed the resentment aura lingering in that place. I’m afraid that it may affect you and your family’s fortune if things were to go on this way.”
A weird expression crept up Dilbert’s face. However, he wasn’t that stupid to be intimidated by Jonathan’s words. He glanced at the latter and chuckled. “Thanks for your concern.”
Jonathan was frustrated, seeing that his attempt to scare Dilbert had failed. Hence, he decided to change the topic. “Captain Johnson is in charge of Golden Years’ case, and she came to seek my help to solve it. Thus, we are here today to ask about the proprietress who died by strangulation in Golden Years.”
Dilbert began looking alarmed. “Aren’t you here to acquire Golden Years?”
Jonathan froze momentarily before replying, “Mr. Jacobus, are you pulling my leg? Anyone will be unfortunate to own a place like Golden Years, which emits such a strong resentment aura. Why would I want it?”
As a shrewd person, Dilbert had regarded Jonathan as a businessman who intended to acquire Golden Years. Thus, he didn’t think much when he heard the latter mentioning the resentment aura, assuming that was a trick to lower the establishment’s value. However, he could no longer maintain his composure when Jonathan told him they were here for investigation.
Golden Years had always been a headache for Dilbert. Everyone knew that he owned a haunted place, and others would often look at him warily whenever he went outside. Some of his friends even chose to stay away from him.
That was why he panicked when he knew Jonathan was not interested in purchasing it.
Amber knew that Jonathan wanted to operate a bar. Thus, she didn’t expose him on the spot as she knew it was only another trick of his. “Mr. Jacobus, can you tell us more about the deceased proprietress? When did she start operating the bar?”
Dilbert regained his senses at her call. As memories came back to him, he answered, “She was a great beauty named Yara Carter. It was six years ago when she came to me. Back then, she didn’t even look twenty yet. However, she was a bold woman to pay me two million directly to rent Golden Years for five years. At that time, Golden Years wasn’t as popular. It was her who made the place lively.”
He paused for a while before continuing, “Yara was an aloof yet polite lady. I’d never seen her mysterious lover who strangled her to death. To be honest, I had some feelings for her too, but she rejected me. Oh! There’s something worth mentioning. Those who operate a bar here have to pay some protection fees to Jimmy Lancaster, the gang leader of the northern district. Nevertheless, she never bothered to pay him a single penny. The strange thing was, those gangsters never caused any trouble for her too.”
Jonathan took a note secretly in his mind. She must not be an ordinary person to achieve that. Well, it makes sense too. That explains her power after her death.
“I’ve finished asking my questions. Do you have anything else to add, Captain Johnson?” he asked Amber.
“Nothing else,” she answered.
Jonathan nodded. “This strange case is full of mystery. I hope to help you out, but I’m not Yara’s match. I have no idea why she has such a strong resentment aura. Let’s hope that nothing bad will happen in the future. Please be careful, Mr. Jacobus!”
Dilbert blanched dramatically. “I have no past grudges with her. Why will she come for me?”
“It’s karma. That property belongs to you, and you rented it to her, no? The mishap wouldn’t have taken place if you didn’t rent it to her, to begin with. That is the grudge between the two of you. Having said that, it’s merely my wild guess. Please take it with a pinch of salt.” Jonathan then stood up and said to Amber, “Let’s go, Captain Johnson.”
She got to her feet too.
Before they took more than two steps, Dilbert tugged Jonathan’s hand and pleaded, “Jonathan, you must have a way to help me since you know the situation so well. Please help me!” His face was as pale as a sheet. Apparently, Jonathan had achieved his goal.
He replied, “I do have a plan. However, I can’t tell you as it will only harm others.”
Dilbert was so desperate that he nearly fell to his knees. “Jonathan, you can’t leave me to die! Please! Money is not a problem. Tell me how much you need!”
“This isn’t a monetary issue. Yara has a grudge against you, and she is sure to come for you. That is unless you transfer the grudge to others. In other words, you have to transfer Golden Years’ ownership to someone else. However, you will harm others if you do so,” Jonathan stated.
