Chapter 157 Pointed Questions
A reporter in the crowd spotted Jericho and nudged a colleague. “Is that Jericho Hilton
from CBP?”
“Impossible. Why would someone from CBP know a suspect?”
“I’m telling you, I saw an interview with Jericho a few years back. That definitely looks
like him.”
Jericho took a step forward, his voice steady and commanding. “Good evening, everyone.
I am the head of CBP.”
A hush fell over the room. He lifted a file in his hand. “This contains the full report on
the Brevard smuggling case from three years ago–an investigation in which Miss Holland played a crucial role. For years, she has worked to bring Brevard to justice, but
he is elusive, cunning, and always one step ahead. Although we have yet to apprehend
him, I want to make one thing clear–Miss Holland has no involvement in this case. I
ask the media to refrain from spreading false accusations.”
His graying hair hinted at his years of service, but the sharpness in his gaze and the unwavering authority in his voice left no room for doubt.
Every word he spoke carried undeniable weight, silencing the room.
Just outside the door, Leah’s eyes widened in shock. “CBP…”
Corrine was working with CBP? And Jericho Hilton himself came forward to defend her?
That was unthinkable.
Wilbur swiped at the cold sweat forming on his forehead, his pulse hammering in his
ears.
He might be stationed at a police department, but Jericho Hilton’s reputation preceded
him.
The man was a legend–CBP’s longest–serving chief, famous for cracking one of the biggest smuggling cases in history. In just a year, he had dismantled dozens of major
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smuggling operations, earning national recognition.
But now, the real question loomed–who was Corrine Holland to have both Jayden and Jericho personally vouch for her?
If clearing her name was the only goal, sending someone else with the files would have been enough. But Jericho had come in person, making it clear that she held a special place in his regard.
The reporters flipped through the case files, their initial skepticism fading into uneasy
silence.
If Corrine were truly guilty, Jericho would never have defended her so publicly. To challenge his words now would be the same as openly going against CBP itself.
“It looks like she really was falsely accused.”
“Maybe those two suspects dragged her into this on purpose–revenge for what happened three years ago.”
Just as the tide of public opinion was about to shift in Corrine’s favor, a shadow of malice flickered in Leah’s gaze.
She had deliberately tipped off the reporters, ensuring that Corrine’s reputation would
take a hit. She wasn’t about to let Jericho’s sudden appearance ruin all her efforts.
Leah’s eyes lingered on Corrine for a moment before she turned away, swiftly typing out a message on her phone as she left.
Inside the room, a reporter’s phone vibrated. She glanced down, her expression shifting as her lips curled into a knowing smile. Then, she raised her voice. “This only proves
she wasn’t involved in the smuggling case three years ago,” she pointed out sharply. “It doesn’t clear her of suspicion in this case. If she’s truly innocent, how do you explain
the illicit funds discovered at the scene? Why would the suspects insist that she was
the mastermind?”
Her words struck a nerve, setting off a wave of murmurs before the questions turned pointed.
“Even if she had no part in the smuggling case, what about today’s incident? As the owner of Timeless Treasures, wouldn’t she have had the perfect opportunity to exploit her position for illegal profits?”
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If she has nothing to hide, she should be able to provide solid evidence, right?”
“Just because she helped solve a case three years ago, does that mean she gets a free
pass now?”
“The law is meant to be fair and transparent. If she’s receiving special treatment just because she cooperated in the past, wouldn’t that undermine public trust?”
Leah observed as the conversation once again turned against Corrine, the corners of her lips curling with satisfaction.
So what if Corrine had helped crack a major case?
Public opinion was still a force she couldn’t control.
She wanted to see who would step in to protect Corrine
Sliding on her sunglasses, Leah returned to her car, pulled up the live stream, and smirked. With a few more taps on her phone, she deployed internet trolls to twist the narrative further–pushing the idea that law enforcement was deliberately covering up
Corrine’s crimes.
