"Your cousin?" Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow. "Has he been here in the last few days?"
"Yes." Charles Lockwood’s eyes narrowed. "He brought some friends over on the weekend."
Renee Jennings nodded. "Check if he was carrying a large bag or sack the day he came."
"Okay, I’ll have someone check right away." Charles Lockwood immediately made a call.
After hanging up, he suddenly thought of something and opened his call history.
Gregory Lawson had called him the day he visited, but Charles had been out of Zenvia at the time and had his subordinates receive him instead.
Charles Lockwood saw the call time, switched to the surveillance software, opened the feed for the theater, and pulled up the footage from the day his cousin, Gregory Lawson, had visited.
He quickly found the clip of Gregory Lawson entering the theater.
"He wasn’t carrying a large bag," Charles Lockwood said in a low voice.
"He wasn’t? What about his friends?"
"Let me see. They didn’t arrive at the same time. My cousin came alone."
"Alright, you check first." Renee Jennings looked at Melissa and said with a smile, "How about I take you somewhere fun?"
"HISS?" Melissa asked curiously. "What kind of fun place?"
"The wildlife park. You’ll find your own kind there." After some thought, Renee Jennings still felt that sending Melissa to Faye Wyatt’s was the most suitable option.
"HISS~ My own kind isn’t fun."
"Then what do you find fun?"
"HISS~ I want to go home. I need to find my mate."
Renee Jennings understood. Melissa was missing her other half, far away on Continent F. "Then why don’t you stay here for a few days, and we’ll figure out a way to send you back to Continent F to find your mate, okay?"
Melissa also knew the journey home wouldn’t be easy. She was having a hard enough time just getting out of this godforsaken place.
She nodded. "HISS~ Okay, but you have to keep your word."
"I’ll do my best," Renee Jennings replied.
Once she confirmed Melissa was willing to stay at the wildlife park for a few days, Renee Jennings contacted Faye Wyatt.
"What? A Black Mamba?" Faye Wyatt was ecstatic. "Renee, you actually found a Black Mamba? That species is native to Continent F!"
"Yes," Renee Jennings said with a light chuckle. "I was hoping she could stay with you for a few days. Is that possible?"
"Possible? It’s more than possible! It’s fantastic!" Faye Wyatt extended a warm welcome. "When are you coming? Or should I go pick her up?"
Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow. "I’ll bring her over."
After hanging up, she looked at Charles Lockwood. "Have you called the police?"
"Renee, I’ve already called them," Charles Lockwood nodded.
"Good." Renee Jennings then turned to Michelle Fuller and the others. "You all can wait for me here, or have Lockwood take you somewhere else to hang out. I need to borrow the car for a bit."
"Renee, don’t just say borrow it. You can have it!" Sean Fuller immediately pledged his loyalty. "Renee, just remember, what’s mine is yours!"
Renee Jennings didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The responding officers arrived at the scene shortly after. With Renee Jennings present, the entire communication process was much simpler.
After taking photos of Melissa, the officers began contacting the individuals involved.
Renee Jennings, meanwhile, left with Melissa to keep everyone at the scene from being on edge.
She took Melissa to the Zenvia Wildlife Park and had her stay with Kaiser, the cobra that had previously been seeking revenge.
"Renee, let’s have dinner together tonight." Faye Wyatt extended a smiling invitation. "I recently discovered a great private kitchen. I’ll take you to try it."
"Faye, how about next time?" Renee Jennings smiled, an eyebrow raised. "I already have plans for today."
"Such a popular little thing," Faye Wyatt lamented with a sigh. "Alright then, I’ll just have to get in line and wait for next time."
"Next time will be my treat."
"Deal. I’ll be waiting for the good news."
"I’m heading out then."
"Drive slow and be safe."
"You got it."
By the time Renee Jennings left the wildlife park and arrived at the police station, the sun had already set.
Michelle Fuller and the others had just finished giving their statements. The police were now interrogating Gregory Lawson and his friends.
Renee Jennings greeted the police staff. "My friends and I are going to get some dinner first. Contact me anytime if anything comes up."
"Understood, Consultant Jennings."
**
「The Bell Residence.」
The dinner table was filled with all of Susan’s favorite dishes, but today, she couldn’t seem to taste her food.