Back in Grande, Zach is a little surprised that Detective Coulson is waiting for him.
"Detective, is something wrong?" General Lance had already left. Zach thought that he would not be looked for by people from the Southern District Police Department for a while - there was no need for outsiders to still think that Grande was related to the Southern District Police Department.
"It's a personal matter." Detective Coulson looked hesitant. In fact, there was no need. Everyone was already here, and there was no point in hesitating.
Zach went directly to the office.
"No need." Detective Coulson waved his hand, "I just want to go to the cemetery to see someone... Well, I came to you to say something."
Zach nodded and signaled Siris to notify the security of the tomb area to allow Coulson to pass.
Sires gave a look that had informed him a long time ago.
Zach raised an eyebrow. This means that the reason why Coulson is still here is that he really has something to say. Zach made a casual guess, "Detective Coulson, do you want to see Detective Levine's grave?"
The only reason Zach made such a guess was that Mrs. Levine mentioned Detective Coulson when making the commission. Although General Lance came to Patton to attend James's wedding, and his priority overshadowed the funeral of the North District Police Detective, under normal circumstances, if there was no wedding and General Lance, Detective Coulson would have participated. At Detective Levine's funeral. The camaraderie among police officers is, in common sense, considered to be a relatively, well, 'higher' camaraderie.
"Yes!" Detective Coulson confirmed, and judging from his sudden mood rise, he was just waiting for Zach to start. "I have some questions about Levin, and I want to ask you."
"The funeral was arranged by the North District Police Department." Zach said, meaning don't ask me.
"I don't want to ask about the funeral." Coulson answered quickly, "I want to ask how he died!"
"I just held his funeral." Zach spread his hands.
Something about this annoyed Zach. It was not an incident that Zach wanted to be involved in, but then Bell got Zach involved once (Bear was about to run away when Zach went to see Bell that day), and Darcy got Zach involved once (asking Zach to stop James James investigates the case), James involves Zach once (using a funeral to squeeze out Zach's opportunity to attend the wedding), and Mrs. Levine involves Zach once (entrustment). In the end, Zach worked hard for a long time and no one benefited. This is not in line with Toledo's philosophy of doing things.
Now Coulson is here again. Well.
"I checked the case file!" Coulson didn't know Zach's mental journey. "The name of the person in charge on the case record is James Lance, and it was also his signature that sealed the case file! I went to find him but He actually used my honeymoon vacation as an excuse to not talk about business and sent me away!" Coulson was obviously angry, "I went to find Levin's wife again, and today, I found that her neighbor told me that she had actually moved! Go! Where no one knows!”
Zach glanced at Detective Coulson, a little sympathetic.
When this happened, Detective Coulson completely missed it... I can't say he missed it, it was just a matter of priority as I just said. Dead people will not be resurrected, but General Lance's time in Patton is limited. Coulson and Colon made the right choice for their future. Alas, now that he returns to the dead man's place and finds that no one cares about him and no one responds, he can only vent his anger at Zach.
"Do you think I might know something?" Zach wanted to find out what Coulson's expectations were - Zach couldn't tell the whole truth to Detective Coulson who didn't know the existence of the alien race, so this question was based on some Empathizing with Coulson, Zach made sure what he could tell Coulson.
"You should know something when handling Lance (James)'s case!"
This is so true.
It's a pity that Zach can't tell Coulson about this from James' position, because we know the reason why James gave up the case was to get the truth of the case through the devil.
"I do know something." Zach waved his hand, "Mrs. Levine entrusted me to investigate the real cause of her husband's death after accepting the funeral, insurance, and compensation arrangements from the North District Police Department."
Zach revealed a lot of information in one sentence, because a car drove into Grande, and it was a guest whose priority was definitely higher than Detective Coulson. Zach left this sentence and let Coulson absorb it first. He had to receive it. guest.
"Am I disturbing anything?" Mr. Smith got out of the car and glanced at Detective Coulson who was standing next to Zach.
Coulson reacted very quickly, with countless questions on his face, but his words were, "I, I'm going to the tomb area first." He nodded to Mr. Smith and left first.
Zach also nodded and said goodbye, then motioned to Mr. Smith to the second floor of Grande, and went up first.
Zach hadn't gone to the office yet. He was waiting for Mr. Smith on the second floor when someone came up. "Do you want to see Kepler's room first?"
Mr. Smith nodded and Zach led the way.
Although there was no warning about Smith's sudden visit, everyone could guess what the father was here for. It was also a embarrassment for him. He had been enduring it for more than a week, but he finally came.
Mr. Smith finally understood his daughter. He stood in Kepler's room for a while, opened the girl's mattress with a clear purpose, and pulled out a pink diary under the mattress...
It was the first time Zach saw this thing, and he was a little amazed. On the one hand, Mr. Smith's behavior, on the other hand... Kepler? journal? Uh, that's too mismatched. Isn’t it said that only people with sensitive minds have this habit? If Laura had the habit of writing a diary, Zach could still imagine it, Kepler?
The diary has a lock and a password. Mr. Smith took the diary and thought for a moment, "The original password was my birthday, when I gave her this diary." He moved his fingers, and of course, The lock was not opened, and Mr. Smith had no expression on his face. "I used to be very touched by such small things."
Zach could see some details. This pink diary was very old. Not the kind of wear and tear depreciation that is often used, but... pure time loss. The pink gel shell is slightly deformed, and a closer look shows that it is not a popular item of this era.
"Then it was her own birthday." Mr. Smith tried another set of numbers, but the lock still did not respond, and Mr. Smith was not embarrassed. "When I asked her once if she needed a new diary, she asked me when she would There are 'old diaries'."
Zach understood. Sure enough, Kepler was not a diary type of person. I'm afraid if Mr. Ben Smith hadn't reminded him, Kepler himself wouldn't even remember that he had touched his father...
"I guess it should be her fiancé Jimmy Urie's birthday." Smith glanced at Zach. "After all, this whole running away from home was her attitude. When the housekeeper was cleaning the room, he found that the diary had been After she was taken away, hum, I felt..." He moved his fingers. When the lock didn't respond, even though Mr. Smith tried his best to cover it up, Zach still observed that the middle-aged man was relieved.
Mr. Smith began to think, "What could that be..."
Zach didn't want to remind him, but he couldn't let Mr. Smith get too distracted here. Zach pursed his lips and said in a very attentive tone, "Where's the day Jimmy proposes?"
Mr. Smith's face darkened for a moment, but he still moved his fingers. When the last code was dialed, it clicked and the lock opened.
Mr. Smith took a deep breath and even tried to show his respect, "As I said, she wants to express her attitude."
Open the first page of your diary. A few twisted words.
*ah! Journal! Our family is going to be poor! Dad gave me something like this as a birthday present! *
So true.
Zach didn't peek, it was just within the normal range of a vampire's vision.
Then the time of this diary lasted for a few pages and disappeared.
When the handwriting with the date appeared again, the handwriting was obviously more like Kepler's current handwriting. Just a few words, *so boring, I want to fall in love. *
Gone again.
Mr. Smith continued to turn over the pages, and the date of reappearance was already very recent. *What kind of bad idea did Laura come up with? Grande was bored to death! *
Behind, blank.
Mr. Smith closed the diary, locked it, put it back in its place, and straightened the bed. After standing there for a while, he said, "The director of the school has contacted some capable parents. Raipt is going to do social activities during the summer vacation and take a group of students to study abroad." After a pause, "Go to the Republic."
"Like a graduation trip?" Now Zach is willing to take on any topic, and it does no good to anyone to let Mr. Smith indulge in that awkward emotion that is not easy to describe.
"No." Mr. Smith shook his head, "Fresh graduates are of little use in this kind of activity. Students who have plans for the future have already decided on their future path. This is the preparation for the exchange student program organized by the Barton family. "
The atmosphere changed instantly. The bloody family drama has turned into a 'conspiracy' drama.
Don't worry about Zach's reaction. He immediately raised his eyebrows and said, "This is probably a decision made in response to the temporary inability to get Newton University's exchange student program to Barton. The Barton family wants to train students in Barton who can be exchanged to the Republic. "The Barton family also works very hard for Barton's honor, and they can do this kind of thing.
Smith nodded, "Ripter is planning to hold a fund-raising dance at the end of the term to raise funds for students participating in training. But after all, a cross-border project requires funds that are not comparable to those of ordinary school activities that can be completed with a few thousand. . So in addition to fundraising balls like this, fixed donations that really make up the bulk are needed.”
"Sounds like a good reputation event." Zach said objectively, "Ripter High School should be quite helpless that the Barton family suddenly came up with such an event, but the school should also know the quota of students who can eventually participate in the Republic of China training, and It is not under the control of the school. However, if such an event can be successful and some truly talented children can be brought to the Republic to experience such an opportunity, it will be beneficial to everyone. So we directly use the fund-raising dance as a public event to open up the opportunity." Objective Bar.
Mr. Smith obviously agreed with Zach's interpretation, "Well, when the Barton family was drawing up the quota of participating students, I asked them to add Kepler to the list, giving Reipt room to increase the list. Then, Leipter contacted us parents based on the original list." Naturally, "I, the head of the Smith family, am their main target for fundraising."
Zach was a little sad now. There was such an important event in school, but the two girls in his family didn't even mention a word to him.
Smith seemed to know what Zach was thinking, "You're going to get this call too. I'm just one of the top ones on the list, and you have to give regular school administrative office hours."
Uh...Alice and Maya are on the list too?
Smith waved his hand, "But of course, the principle of this activity is that it is voluntary. If your sister (Alice) refuses the opportunity, the school will naturally not bother you."
Zach didn't think Alice would refuse, and just as he was thinking about it, the phone rang.
Smith glanced at Zach and gave him an "I'll tell you what" look, "I'll answer the phone with you."
Zach didn't refuse, so the two of them changed places. It's quite strange to always talk about the adult world in a girl's room.
Sure enough, the call came from Rept, but it wasn't the school's administrative staff, it was Alice.
Alice will not repeat what she said, but just explained that the school gives students ample voluntary space. Not only can they refuse or agree to summer practice activities, but they can also choose to discuss it with their guardians.
Zach asked a question, "Are all your friends going?"
"Sissi won't go. She said she and I have been there only once and it was nothing interesting."
Well, that's probably true.
Putting down the phone, Zach looked at Mr. Smith again, and confirmed one thing from what he just asked Alice, "Jimmy Urie will also go."
"I know." There was no expression on Mr. Smith's face. "I checked the laws of the Republic. If this kid wants to do anything with Kepler, hum." After a pause, "Huh hum." Used hum. Instead of laughing.
Zach knew better than to continue asking. However, Zach could feel that Mr. Smith came here today not to say something that Zach would know anyway, "Mr. Smith, do you have anything else to do when you come today?"
"Louise is in the Republic, right? She went to relax to avoid those boring reporters, right?"
Zach understood that Smith was here to find a guardian for his daughter who didn't want to go home. Zach smiled and said, "Yes, if you want Louise to take care of Kepler and the others in the Republic, she will definitely agree."
This can be regarded as repayment for Alice staying at Smith Manor for a period of time after returning to Barton from Newton in advance.
"Thank you very much." Mr. Smith nodded. "I know you suggested to me that if you don't want to be embarrassed, treat this as a commission, just like we once commissioned you to harmonize the relationship between the children in the West End. But I still have to From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
The thank you was sincere, and Zach accepted it.
The two looked at each other in this harmonious atmosphere and kept smiling for a while.
"Smith, what do you think of eternal life?"
There was no sinister motive, no special purpose, Zach just suddenly wanted to ask.
"Eternal life?" Smith, who smiled, was stunned for a moment, and then said, "No idea." He didn't realize anything.
If you miss some things, you will miss them. Mr. Smith also knows that Zach and Detective Coulson have to deal with it. Although he doesn't know what it is, but the identity of the detective, people like Mr. Smith know when to consciously avoid suspicion.
"If Kepler doesn't ask, don't say I've been here."
"What if she asked?"
"Humph, just say that I peeked into her diary." Mr. Smith was truly speechless, said goodbye, and left. (To be continued)