[Chapter 11: This Is It, Cross Hall]
"Sheriff Ford called out, "Lara, come in with me first and restrain him." Drawing his sidearm, he and Lara stepped inside Lawrence's shop.
Soon, Sheriff Ford's voice echoed sharply from within: "Hands on your head, kneel down."
"What's this about? I didn't do anything," Lawrence protested.
"I'll say it one more time: hands on your head, kneel down."
Daniel stood at the doorway, watching as Lawrence finally ceased resisting and knelt obediently. He felt a twinge of regret; Lawrence was smart not to provoke more trouble. Daniel had half expected Sheriff Ford and Lara to give him a taste of fast-draw tactics.
Besides, Lawrence had seemed perfectly fine last night.
"Lara, keep an eye on him."
Since the situation remained unclear, Sheriff Ford didn't cuff Lawrence but handed him over to Lara's watchful care before heading back out.
Nodding at Daniel, the sheriff strode into the Cross Hall.
Inside, he found Maguire's lifeless body. Frowning, he went further and discovered two more corpses. Their gruesome appearances unsettled him greatly -- especially Trey, whose head was grotesquely pierced by a beer bottle. He couldn't fathom how the attacker had pulled that off.
Emerging from Cross Hall, Sheriff Ford told Daniel, "It's not just one -- three bodies."
Daniel was taken aback. "That many?"
"You said your shop was robbed?"
"That's right," Daniel recounted. "I went to a hotel last night and only came back this morning. As I arrived, I saw Lawrence rushing out."
"We'll take him in for questioning," the sheriff said. "But if he's innocent, there's little we can do. He claims your father owes him money. Without a written agreement, this is just a financial dispute, outside our jurisdiction. If you want to sue for property seizure, you'll need a lawyer. I can give you a referral if you like."
Daniel nodded, "Understood."
...
Not long after, the forensic team arrived, setting to work photographing and collecting evidence.
Before they finished, an older white man in his sixties pulled up in a car. Exiting, he launched into a string of loud curses: "Which damn idiot murdered people in my building? I'll curse his entire family! Why hasn't he dropped dead yet?"
After venting his fury, he turned to Daniel. "Daniel, how have you been taking care of my property? Three people are dead inside it!"
Daniel shrugged. "Neil, you'll have to ask Lawrence. If it weren't for him, none of this would've happened."
Neil was Daniel's landlord -- and also Lawrence's landlord. Both shops rented from him.
His face darkened. "What the hell happened?"
Daniel recounted the events from yesterday. Neil's face flushed with anger. He stormed over to Lawrence's doorway, blasting curses again: "Lawrence, you scumbag! How dare you do this? When did I agree to rent you this place too? I have no idea about any debt owed by Cross. You're scheming against me? Why aren't you dead already?"
He ranted, spitting as he went, but Lawrence stayed silent inside.
Neil returned, sighing. "Daniel, go sue him for seizing your stuff. I'll be your witness."
Daniel was surprised. Neil seemed decent -- was this just fury at Lawrence or some deeper loyalty?
"I'll do what I can," Daniel replied.
Neil glanced at his shop, pained. Then he said, "Daniel, your rent's almost due. Since I'm here, why not pay now?"
Finally, Daniel understood why Neil had offered to testify -- he was waiting for the rent.
"The rent's not the problem. But now that three people died inside, I'm scared. I don't want to live here."
Neil's expression shifted. "You people in this line of work -- what's there to be afraid of?"
"Fear's natural," Daniel said. "I don't care about others; I'm really scared and planning to look elsewhere."
Neil fell silent. After a moment, he seemed to decide. "Alright, for your next rent, I'll knock it down by $200 per month. Deal?"
Daniel sneered. "$200 isn't enough. Drop it by $1,000, and I'll pay a year upfront."
"Impossible. $500 is my bottom line," Neil insisted.
"$900..." Daniel bargained.
They haggled until Neil agreed to a $700 per month reduction. Rent went from $3,500 down to $2,800, still due every six months.
Neil's face twisted in pain as he cursed Lawrence again. But then he gritted his teeth: "Fine, $2,800 it is. But do you even have the money?"
"Just revise the contract and come find me."
Neil blinked, surprised -- this wasn't the Daniel he remembered.
...
The police took Lawrence away.
Cross Hall was temporarily sealed off until all evidence was collected.
For the next few days, Daniel stayed in a hotel.
He didn't mind; all his important items were safely stored in his System Space, and he could keep drawing seals without interruption.
...
Five days later, the police lifted the seal and Daniel returned to Cross Hall.
He first glanced at the shop next door -- it was open, meaning Lawrence had been cleared of suspicion.
Inside Cross Hall's inner room, Daniel spotted ashes beneath the sink and sofa.
These were the remains left after the power of the Soul Guidance and Disaster Invocation Seals had been expended.
Before, Daniel hadn't understood these seals' true power -- but now he did.
The Soul Guidance Seal calls nearby spirits. Used alone, it attracts all spirits indiscriminately -- good or evil.
But when paired with the Disaster Invocation Seal, only malevolent ghosts are drawn.
That's why those three men died such miserable deaths.
'Lawrence managed to escape disaster... but there's still plenty of time. No need to rush.'
Daniel tidied the shop and shelves, preparing to open for business.
Previously, there had been no genuine merchandise -- only fakes -- so opening the shop would've ruined his reputation. He'd kept the doors closed.
Now, with a stockpile of seals, he could finally display legitimate products.
He cleared out all the fake goods. Then he arranged the seals on the shelves -- Clarity of Mind Seals, Illness Alleviation Seals, Body Protection Seals, and others.
He priced each seal at $100,000.
...
The long-closed Cross Hall suddenly reopened, drawing attention from neighboring shopkeepers.
Some praised Daniel for finally making a smart move.
Others felt relief for Daniel.
Many offered encouragement.
But when they saw the price tags -- each seal for $100,000 -- eyes widened in disbelief.
"You've got to be crazy! How dare you sell those for $100,000 each?"
The voice came from none other than Lawrence.
Freshly released, he no longer dared mention the debt but seized this chance to mock Daniel mercilessly.
"What a spender! I doubt your shop lasts more than a few days before bankruptcy."
Lawrence was disliked around these parts, but this time, no one argued. Many thought he had a point and shook their heads.
Just then, a black Mercedes-Benz S400 pulled up outside Cross Hall.
A tall driver stepped out first, then crossed to the other side and opened the rear door.
Out stepped a young woman with an exaggerated figure and stunning face.
She looked up at the sign and smiled, "This is it, Cross Hall."
*****
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