Chapter 679: Suspicious Cause of Death

However, Jim Thorne was bold. He’d gone to sneak a peek and told Nan about it as soon as he got back.

"She died with her eyes open—they wouldn’t close. Her mouth was gaping, and her hands were frozen stiff like this. They couldn’t even get her clothes on. Had to break her arms."

Jim Thorne gestured as he spoke, mimicking Phoenix Golding’s hands clawing upwards and her terrified expression. Nan’s heart skipped a beat. She had read her share of mystery novels in her past life, and an expression and posture like that clearly meant Phoenix Golding had been terrified. It likely wasn’t an accidental fall.

"Jim, was Phoenix Golding face up or face down?"

Jim Thorne didn’t understand. Nan asked more clearly, "When they found Phoenix Golding, was she lying face up or face down?"

"I don’t know. You’d have to ask Fourth Grandpa. He’s the one who led the men to fish her out."

Jim Thorne shook his head, not particularly interested in the matter. "Who cares which way she was facing?" he said. "She’s dead, and she deserved it!"

Nan, however, thought otherwise. The circumstances of Phoenix Golding’s death struck her as highly suspicious. ’It’s the dead of winter, and it’s been especially cold these past few days. With the north wind howling at night, the villagers don’t even go outside to use the toilet. Most just take care of business at home and empty their chamber pots the next day.’

’The toilets in Millstone Peak Village aren’t private; they’re communal. Not every household has one. Generally, several families share a single toilet. So to run outside to use the toilet late at night, especially in this freezing weather, would take immense courage.’

Phoenix Golding going out to use the toilet in the middle of the night was therefore highly suspicious. Nan wanted to get to the bottom of it—not to seek justice for Phoenix Golding, but to confirm her own theory.

She couldn’t count on Jim. Adrian Hawthorne wasn’t home either; he was spending little time there these days. Goldie Thorne was now stationed in Tristone full-time, while Adrian shuttled back and forth. Clayton Xavier, meanwhile, was away in cities like Meridia and Veridia. Everyone was swamped with work.

Nan couldn’t just come out and say what she suspected. Phoebe Huxley and Raina were superstitious about this sort of thing. They hated discussing morbid topics at home and would refuse to listen. For the moment, Nan didn’t know who to turn to for help with the investigation. She could only wait for Adrian Hawthorne to come back.

The weekend arrived, and Patrick Thorne came home, bringing Ellie Ashton with him. The young woman was laden with bags, big and small, which surprisingly included two bottles of Maotai. Byron Thorne’s eyes lit up. Though he couldn’t hold his liquor well, he loved his daily sips, and he’d never once tasted Maotai in his life.

"We have plenty at home. They were all gifts, and my dad isn’t much of a drinker."

Seeing Ellie Ashton’s casual air, Nan’s eye twitched. ’In a few decades, this Maotai will be worth a fortune,’ she thought. ’Then again, with her father’s family’s influence, they might be even more successful by then. They probably won’t care about a few bottles of Maotai.’

Patrick Thorne grabbed a bucket, ready to go catch loaches. He wanted to show off his expert technique to Ellie Ashton. Nan eagerly tagged along; she needed Ellie Ashton to be the one to voice her suspicions. She remembered how, back in Capria, the girl had displayed remarkable powers of deduction. She was sure Ellie wouldn’t let her down.

Jim Thorne and Gentry Chapman tagged along. Amanda Chapman brought a basket, intending to gather some pig feed as well. The whole lively procession made its way to the edge of the field. Ellie Ashton didn’t dare step into the muddy water, so she stayed on the bank with Nan to watch. Jim and Patrick Thorne didn’t even bother with rain boots; they waded into the field barefoot, completely unfazed by the cold.

"Patrick," Nan began with a dramatic flair, "let me tell you! Phoenix Golding fell into a cesspool and died."

Patrick Thorne sounded unenthusiastic. "Jim already told me."

’If you asked him, it was just heaven dealing out justice.’

The mention of a death piqued Ellie Ashton’s interest, and she began to ask about Phoenix Golding. Patrick Thorne replied casually, "She was a woman from the village who didn’t conduct herself properly. She had some issues with our family."

"How could she fall into a cesspool? Didn’t anyone see anything?" Ellie Ashton, not disappointing Nan in the least, immediately zeroed in on the crucial point.