Chapter 642 Who Tampered With the Samples?
Before Elspeth had a chance to contemplate, she received an incoming call from the manufacturer side.
The current drug research had progressed to the critical stage of preliminary sample testing, where there was no
room for any mistakes.
The consequences of any mistake would extend far beyond damaging their reputation.
"Miss Lynwood, I have some terrible news! We've got a big situation on our hands!" The urgent voice on the other
end conveyed the severity of the situation.
Elspeth's long-standing unease, which had plagued her for some time, suddenly materialized into a stark reality.
With a nervous jolt, she swiftly rose from her seat and anxiously inquired, "What's happened?"
"When I arrived at the manufacturer to inspect the goods today, the whole batch was completely ruined! I asked
the manufacturer about it, but they were just as clueless. They said everything was fine during the early morning
check, and they can't explain how it turned out like this."
Furrowing her brow with concern, Elspeth replied, "Let's not panic for now. I'll head over there and investigate
firsthand."
Deep within her thoughts, she harbored a sense of gratitude for not having fully committed to this batch. She
couldn't help but ponder the potential consequences if she had inadvertently allowed these problematic products to
infiltrate the market. The mere thought of the chaos it could unleash sent shivers down her spine.
She nonchalantly grabbed a jacket and drove to the outskirts where the manufacturer was located.
The distance between the company and the manufacturer was relatively short, just a half-hour journey.
As Elspeth stepped out of the car, her secretary, Mia, awaited her at the entrance with an anxious expression,
bordering on tears.
Elspeth noticed the distress and immediately asked, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Mia's voice trembled with a hint of sobbing as she replied, "All of the samples have been completely destroyed."
A heavy sense of despair settled in Elspeth's heart, but she managed to maintain her composure as she calmly
inquired, "Was it intentional?"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Yes, and the culprit was incredibly careful. We haven't found a single clue."
"Are you telling me there's absolutely no clue?"
"Yes, chances are the person slipped in wearing gloves and shoe cover. Moreover, they picked the dead of night
when everything was calm and silent. No one could have caught a whiff of their presence."
To make matters worse, it occurred in the secluded outskirts where the culprit could carry out their deeds without
interruption.
As Mia continued to cry, Elspeth took out a tissue and handed it to her. "There, there. This is not your fault, nor is it
a result of any negligence on your part. You are not to blame, so please don't cry."
Mia accepted the tissue, sniffling and expressing her gratitude in a soft murmur.
Noticing her distressed state, Elspeth advised her to take a moment to rest in the car. Then, she made her way
alone into the factory building.
A small crowd had gathered inside, and they directed their unwavering attention toward her as she entered the
premises.
Her sharp gaze immediately caught sight of Jorman Karr, the owner of the manufacturer, whose eyes revealed a
hint of guilt.
"Miss Lynwood, I'm truly sorry," he apologized with a hint of remorse in his voice.
She shook her head and proceeded to inquire, "Was there any surveillance? Did it capture any evidence?"
Jorman's unease was palpable as he responded, "Well, you see, it's not that we didn't want to pull up the
surveillance footage, but there happened to be a power outage last night, and none of the cameras were
functional."
She squinted suspiciously. "A power outage on the exact night this incident occurred? That seems like quite a
coincidence."
"Yes, I also find it too coincidental, but that's exactly what happened," he replied.
His flustered state grew more apparent as he struggled to find the right words. Sensing his panic, Elspeth waved
her hand to signal him to calm down. "Where are the damaged samples? Show them to me."
Carefully, he took out a vial of solution. "There are puncture marks on the rubber stopper of the vials. It appears
they were injected with a syringe."
Elspeth's brow furrowed in contemplation. "But why did you choose to seal them with rubber stoppers when adding
the solvent in the first place?"
Jorman stuttered for a moment before reluctantly speaking up. "Well, rubber stoppers are cheaper and easier to
use…"
Taking a deep breath, Elspeth realized that now was not the time to place blame on him.
After that, she surveyed her surroundings and noticed that the floor was spotless as if no one had ever set foot in
there. "Did the person come in wearing shoe covers?"
Jorman nodded in agreement. "Most likely, because when we entered, there wasn't a speck of dust from outside."
Intrigued by this observation, she crouched down and examined the area meticulously.
Although there was some dust on the floor, it was mostly in the corners and edges.
It looked like someone had deliberately wiped it clean.
Taking note of these significant details, she stood up and casually inquired, "How frequently do you clean this area?"
Jorman did not expect her to bring up this question out of the blue and hesitated for a moment. "Generally, it's
twice a day. Once in the morning when we arrive and another time in the evening before we leave."
As she listened to his reply, a conviction began to form in her mind. He's lying.
As she listened to his reply, a conviction began to form in her mind. He's lying.
As she listened to his reply, a conviction began to form in her mind. He's lying.
"Why would you help that person cover up the traces?" Elspeth chuckled and mercilessly tear off the veil of deceit.
Jorman, initially startled by her words, panicked and exclaimed, "Miss Lynwood, I understand that our negligence
may have led to this mistake, but you can't falsely accuse me. How could you pin such a big incident on me?"
"Whether it's a false accusation or not, don't you know deep down inside?" With a chuckle, she pointed at the
ground and pressed on, "Could you please explain why you chose to clean the area this morning, despite being
aware of the theft that occurred last night?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmCaught off guard, Jorman was at a loss for words. He couldn't come up with any other explanation and could only
muster a response with forced confidence. "I was simply prioritizing cleanliness without delving into such details."
Then, she directed her attention toward the person standing behind him and called out, "You there, come here for a
moment."
Gordon Tarmin slowly shuffled closer.
"Are you the one in charge of cleaning this area?" she questioned.
Gordon's eyes widened in surprise. He had been an inconspicuous presence, merely blending into the background.
How did he get noticed by her?
His response stumbled out hesitantly. "Umm…"
"Everyone around here has clean shoe soles, except for you. Yours are marked by water stains. You're likely the one
responsible for scrubbing the floor," she explained.
Elspeth's analysis was logical and persuasive, making it difficult for anyone not to be convinced.
Realizing that she had already figured it out, Gordon could only lower his head in admission, confessing, "Yes, it was
me who was cleaning today."
"Now, can you explain why you tried to cover up the evidence?"
Seeing Elspeth's relentless questioning, Jorman swiftly intervened and positioned himself in front of Gordon. "Miss
Lynwood, you're in the wrong here. He's just an ordinary employee. How can you put such a big blame on him?"
Gordon blinked nervously, and his forehead glistened with sweat.
"Whether my accusation is false or not, let's cut to the chase and ask him directly. We'll get to the bottom of it in no
time."
Then, she extended her arm and gave Jorman a push. Although it didn't seem forceful, he unconsciously stumbled
back a few steps.
Witnessing her display of strength, Jorman instantly deflated and dared not to challenge her any further.
Instead of succumbing to anger, Elspeth sported a sarcastic smile as she approached Gordon with her arms
crossed. "Tell me, who instructed you to do this? And where is the person who tempered with the samples now?"