Sitting in the swaying public coach, Aiden once again went over the intelligence he had gathered.
From what was known so far, after the case involving Veronica, Bruce Cain had suddenly exhibited spending behavior that was completely out of proportion with his income level, as if he had come into a windfall.
From this point, one could boldly speculate that Jaron Lorton had bribed him to give false testimony, most likely using financial incentives as the main method.
Moreover, when combined with the clues provided by the "Midnight Rose" hostess, what Jaron gave him was probably not just money.
"… He carried a gold pocket watch with his family crest on it, which he often took out to show off."
Aiden had not forgotten this detail Veronica had told him, though at the time, he had merely listened and moved on.
But when those hostesses told him Jaron had switched his pocket watch, he immediately thought of a possibility.
From the start of the investigation to the arrest of Veronica, it took just less than a day; if Jaron was the murderer, and he had to bribe Bruce to destroy evidence and frame Veronica, the whole process must have been very urgent.
At the time of the crime, it was midnight and no banks were open; when he hurriedly went to retrieve something from the safekeeping for Bruce, it was unlikely he had enough funds on hand to bribe him.
Logically thinking, just a verbal promise would not suffice to make someone commit to such a significant act as giving false testimony in a murder case on the spot.
So, at that time, the only thing he could have handed over might have just been the gold pocket watch he carried.
If that was the case, then the gold pocket watch was either still in Bruce's possession, or he had sold it—it definitely had not returned to Jaron's hands.
This clue might become the breakthrough in dealing with Bruce Cain.
Thinking this way, the public coach had already brought him to the vicinity of the police station belonging to the Mounted Police.
Leaning on his cane, Aiden walked into the police station, identified himself to the officer on reception, requested to see Bruce Cain, and then, just like last time, was led to the visitor's room.
Aiden decided to try to intimidate Bruce by telling the youngster that Veronica had already requested a retrial and that the investigative committee that had been established was making progress, with the investigation leading to him. Next, he planned to catch him off guard by disclosing that they had learned Jaron was the true culprit and that he had accepted Jaron Lorton's gold pocket watch, then telling him that his only way out was to turn himself in promptly to make a plea bargain.
From the feel of their interaction, although the young man was a mounted policeman, he was ultimately still a rookie and did not possess a hardened anti-investigation psyche, and he had been deeply troubled and frightened by the false testimony he had given.
As long as Aiden could break through Bruce Cain's psychological defenses, there was a possibility he would spill everything.
Once they had his testimony, it would be logical to propose a retrial and establish an investigative committee; Aiden's threat could become reality—interrogation techniques often included such bluffs to intimidate criminals and suspects, and as a prison guard, he was well-practiced in this art.
This was also the most direct way of breaking through at the moment; they did not have much time. Veronica was slated for execution in just about a month, and they needed to file for retrial as quickly as possible within that deadline, as a retrial application required a reason.
After waiting in the parlor for several minutes, someone finally opened the door.
Aiden looked at the newcomer and was slightly startled.
The person who entered was not Bruce Cain, but Jaron Lorton.
Aiden had a bad feeling about this, and just as he was thinking of what kind of opening line to use to probe, Jaron spoke first, "How many times does this annoying fly have to come before it will quit? Are you trying to overturn that woman's case?"
The blunt and impolite words were like a stabbing rapier, and the hostility of the other party was evident.
Seeing this, Aiden also decided to speak plainly, looking directly into Jaron's eyes as he pointed out, "Seeing how nervous you are about this, it seems you really did kill the person."
"You've done your homework well, but I advise you not to waste your energy, the trial is already over." Jaron sat down opposite Aiden, his mouth with a Fu Manchu mustache curling up, filled with undisguised mockery, "I've already told that kid, as long as he keeps his mouth shut and says nothing, nobody can do anything to us! He won't see you again, think about it, what reason does he have to recant his testimony, a sudden attack of conscience? Don't make me laugh, that would only send him straight to prison!"
Aiden stared at Jaron without saying a word, he knew very well there was a reason why the other party could be so arrogant.
If he were a criminal police chasing the truth and trailing the murderer, he had already lost to the killer when Veronica was wrongfully convicted and the case was closed. Moreover, he was just a prison guard, devoid of even that sliver of investigative authority.
What Jaron said was true, without Bruce reversing his testimony, trying to overturn Veronica's conviction was next to impossible.
But Bruce Cain would not easily reverse his testimony, after all, perjury and bribery were no small matters combined. On the night of the crime, Jaron and he were merely in a relationship of briber and bribe-taker, but now, they had become inextricably linked as co-conspirators, suffering together if either fell.
Aiden's threats might truly have a chance to intimidate Bruce, but it would be much harder with Jaron constantly influencing him by his side.
"You, stop trying so hard to be unappreciated. That she-wolf would be a danger if left in the world, sending her to prison was me doing a good deed," Jaron spread his hands, continuing to mock, "Get clear about your own identity and status, will you? You're just a prison guard, it's your job to enforce the penalties as decreed by the courts, if the courts tell you to carry out the death penalty on that woman, then you should just obediently do it! What's the point in all these unnecessary maneuvers? Huh?"
"Are you teaching me how to do my job?" Aiden bristled at these words, narrowing his eyes at Jaron.
Jaron was momentarily taken aback, then smugly glared at Aiden, scoffing, "What can you do to me?"
"Officer Lorton, I've been a prison guard for a long time, punishing criminals every day, and have developed two occupational diseases. One is I particularly dislike laypeople teaching me how to do my job in my field of expertise, and the second is I hold grudges easily. If a convict shows me defiance, I take note and find a way to get back at them later—only that way can I establish authority among the inmates. And you, you've done both," Aiden said, his eyes locked on Jaron's, his tone calm and measured, "Although I now manage a woman's prison, and it's unlikely you'll fall into my hands, I know the wardens of the other prisons in Silvertown. Whether you get sentenced to death or life imprisonment, I assure you I will do everything in my power to make your life in prison a living hell."
After so many years as a prison guard, a murderer who dodges justice has the gall to teach me my job?
If helping Veronica with her case had been a matter of duty before, now that his temper was flaring, the desire to bring down his adversary was his own personal will.
Jaron's cheeks twitched a few times after hearing this. Just as he was about to retort, Aiden suddenly stood up, picked up his cane, and walked toward the door.
As he passed Jaron, he glanced at him and left a sentence, "This is personal now, you fatso."