When Leo awoke, it was already afternoon. He had slept exceptionally deeply and peacefully, like never before.
He walked to the window and drew the curtains. With a sharp eye, he saw someone lying in the backyard downstairs, or more accurately, a corpse.
Fallen from a height?
Leo was bewildered and quickly rushed downstairs.
"Brother, you're awake?"
Holly Sawyer was sitting on the living room couch watching TV, clutching a bag of chips. Mrs. Hayes was sitting next to Holly, accompanying her.
The young girl's eyes sparkled when she saw Leo coming down.
"Young master, I'll go make lunch for you."
Mrs. Hayes hurriedly stood up, intending to prepare lunch for Leo.
Leo didn't stop and walked straight out.
"Auntie, what's wrong with brother?"
Holly blinked at Mrs. Hayes with a puzzled expression, her eyes full of confusion.
"Holly, be good and watch TV. Auntie will prepare lunch."
Mrs. Hayes said nothing more and went into the kitchen.
She wouldn't interfere in Leo's matters; she just had to do her part, not meddle in other matters.
Holly pondered for a moment and then followed him out.
Leo looked at the corpse in the backyard. After scrutinizing it for a while, it seemed like a death from a high fall, but Leo thought that was impossible.
The second floor wasn't very high, and people sent from Arkenfall couldn't be so fragile that they'd fall while climbing; it was unreasonable.
The death was recent, likely that morning. He couldn't have slept so soundly he wouldn't hear something falling from a height.
In danger, people instinctively scream; if not, hitting one's head would make a sound, and he heard nothing, which was mysterious.
The death of the black-clad figure was baffling.
"Brother, ah..."
Holly followed along and, seeing the corpse momentarily, couldn't help but scream in terror.
"Brother, he, he..."
Holly pointed at the black-clad figure, fear covering her face, while she retreated a few steps, looking as if she'd cry.
"Holly, don't be scared. It's just acting."
Leo buried Holly's head in his embrace, gently stroking her head, and spoke softly.
Soon, someone came to deal with the corpse.
Leo took Holly's hand and left. Holly looked up at Leo, "Brother, too bad I didn't see the whole scene."
Holly spoke regretfully, as if she truly believed it was just acting. Her eyes sparkled.
Leo remained silent, lost in thought.
"Brother, are you unhappy? Have some candy."
Holly blinked and took out a lollipop from her pocket, peeling the wrapper and offering it to Leo on her tiptoes.
Leo was momentarily stunned by the sudden appearance of candy. He usually disliked sweets, but faced with Holly's expectant gaze, Leo opened his mouth and accepted the lollipop.
"It's sweet."
Leo looked down at the young girl, a faint smile playing at his lips.
The candy was so sweet it was cloying, but watching Holly's genuine smile made him unwilling to spit it out.
Leo let Holly watch TV in the living room while he returned to his room to check the backyard surveillance footage, only to find…
The footage showed the black-clad man had hooked a rope to the edge of the window and swiftly climbed up. However, halfway through, the rope snapped, and he fell, hit his head on a rock, and died instantly.
Leo reviewed the footage several times and found no issues or clues.
This shouldn't be; such circumstances were the most suspicious.
Arkenfall wouldn't send someone so… inept.
"Brother, I find this matter extremely odd."
Just as Leo was pondering, Noah called, sounding a bit breathless.
"I just left Nathaniel's place and am heading to you now."
Before Leo could respond, Noah hung up.
Nathaniel Shaw was a forensic expert, and he, Noah, and Leo had grown up together, coming to Bexley as a trio.
Leo gently closed his eyes and, after a while, went downstairs. Seeing Holly seriously watching TV on the couch, he softly sighed.
It seemed keeping Holly around wasn't a wise decision.
"Holly, shall I send you home, okay?"
Leo sat next to Holly and calmly proposed.
The young girl looked clueless, gazing at Leo with wide eyes. "Brother, did you find my family?"
"Yes, I did."
Leo nodded; in truth, he hadn't. Sending Holly away was the wisest choice; otherwise, the gentle and fragile girl would be constantly anxious staying with him.
"But brother..."
The young girl's eyes instantly welled up, biting her lip as she looked at Leo.
Leo: "Hmm?"
"Holly wants to stay with brother. Holly doesn't want to go home."
Holly shook her head vehemently, clinging tightly to Leo's arm, looking utterly pitiful.
Tears filled her eyes, making her appear extra endearing.
Leo was about to speak.
Suddenly, Holly clutched her head, curling up into a small ball, "Holly doesn't want to go home, doesn't want to go home."
She kept repeating, seemingly resisting something, her body shaking.
Leo suddenly panicked.
"Miss Sawyer seems to be resisting something. She resists the idea of going home, perhaps..."
Mrs. Hayes came out of the kitchen, witnessing the scene and added a word.
The young girl was adorable, and she liked her very much.
"Holly, be good. Brother won't send you home, alright?"
Leo hugged Holly, carefully patting her back, his voice gentle.
The young girl might not like her home very much, hence her resistance to returning. Perhaps seeing him first led her to form a dependency.
"Brother, promise."
Holly sniffled, gazing pitifully at Leo, her face streaked with tears.
Leo nodded, gently wiping her tear tracks, "Hmm."
"Then, shall we make a pinky promise?"
Holly extended a pinky, biting her lip lightly, and looked at Leo.
Leo: "Okay."
The young girl was truly adorable.
"A pinky promise that lasts a hundred years. Breaking it means you're a pup."
Their little fingers hooked together as Holly broke into a smile, gazing at Leo and chanting the catchy phrase.
Her smile was genuine and bright.
"Silly girl."
Leo playfully hooked Holly's nose with his finger, chuckling softly.