Naturally, Daniel was at the top of their list.
Hearing the implication, Daniel erupted like a wronged man in an old tragedy.
“What do you mean? You suspect me? You think I could kill someone?”
“I’m a PhD who studied abroad!”
“I’m an intellectual! This is an insult to my integrity!”
“I don’t know why Emily died, but it has nothing to do with me! I always thought she had just disappeared!”
“Besides, our relationship was already strained before she vanished. She was too sensitive, always paranoid—it exhausted me! Since when is breaking up a crime?”
Vanessa joined in, feigning outrage.
“Yeah! Are you trying to pin this crime on us just because you can’t solve it?”
“That bitch’s death has nothing to do with Daniel!”
“They were already breaking up! I wasn’t some mistress—we were in a real relationship!”
But she was lying.
She had known all along, shameless and vile.
“That woman wanted tenure and tried to sleep with my dad. He rejected her, and she stormed out. Who knows if she had some secret lover outside? Maybe she was killed during an affair!”