Chapter 1257

Chapter 1257:

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Nicole captured the scene on her phone camera and then summarized her surveillance from the front.

She had invested over ten thousand dollars in a nondescript second-hand car, perfect for remaining unnoticed as she sat inside, positioned to watch the restaurant's main entrance, her dash cam set to record all activity.

True to her suspicions, at around 1 a.m., the colleague from the testing center crept out of an alley near the restaurant. Her vehicle was parked nearby. She drove towards it and quickly drove away.

About thirty minutes later, the man who had resigned appeared from behind the restaurant.

As he approached his car, about to get in, a sudden beam of light started him. Started by the unexpected company, he quickly stirred, raising his hands to protect his face.

Nicole got out of her car and walked toward the man, shouting his name out loud: “Derek Ellsworth.”

Derek was startled. Since he had already resigned, he didn't know Nicole and was surprised that she knew her name. "Who are you?"

Nicole approached Derek and said, “Who I am is irrelevant. I’m interested in knowing something that might be related to you. Did you tamper with the blood samples at the agency on the 13th of this month?”

Derek's face was a mask of astonishment. His lips trembled as he replied, "What nonsense is he talking? I've already resigned. How could he possibly have the means to manipulate anything in the agency?"

Nicole had anticipated his refusal, but his reaction told her he was hiding something. She said coldly, "You may have resigned, but isn't Leighton Sugden still working there?"

Derek's face fell, but he quickly recovered and blurred out, "What are you saying? What does Leighton have to do with me?"

Derek was unaware that Nicole had been following him for some time and had discovered her unusual relationship with Leighton.

“Watch your words and shut your mouth. If you spout any more nonsense, I'll rip it apart!” Derek Nicole threatened ominously.

It was nighttime and they were alone on the street. Derek assumed Nicole would be terrified, so he tried to intimidate her.

However, Nicole remained unfazed. If he dared to hurt her, it would only be a reason for him to be investigated.

“You and Leighton walked out of this restaurant one after the other just now. This place offers that kind of room, right? If I call the police now, do you think they’ll take you in for questioning?”

Derek freaked out for a moment and stammered, “You… have you been following me?”

“Of course, if I didn't know about your activities, I wouldn't have come looking for you. Oh, and by the way, Leighton is a married woman. How do you think her husband would react if he found out about you?” Nicole chose her words wisely, giving the impression that she knew a lot when, in reality, she was only in possession of a little information.

All Nicole had was gossip she'd picked up from casual conversations with the agency's cleaning lady. She didn't even know what Leighton's husband did or where he worked. But she couldn't reveal her cards. She had to pretend she knew everything to make Derek nervous.

As expected, Derek was unable to withstand the pressure and asked in an agitated voice, “What do you want?”

“I want to know if you and Leighton conspired together on the thirteenth to switch the blood samples.” Nicole's question was direct and to the point.

It was not difficult to come to this conclusion. Derek's behavior made it clear that he had something to do with the incident. Since he had already resigned, he could only have taken advantage of Leighton's presence at the agency to achieve this.

Jarrod didn't employ idiots. It was easier to target Derek than trying to pass for Leighton.

Nicole had learned from the agency's cleaning lady that Leighton came from a well-off background and had two children, so she was less likely to take a risk. But it would be different if Derek asked her. Since Leighton's mind was clouded by love, Derek could easily persuade her with his sweet words.

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