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Chapter 40: A Small Incident
🕑 Added 2024-11-28 15:23:39 +0000 UTCTwo hours later, Josh and John Leibler stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in Leibler’s office, watching as Lyndon Schneider was escorted into a police car.
Although Schneider had already received John Leibler’s forgiveness, the case had attracted significant attention, necessitating some formalities. Schneider would need to spend some time in the police holding facility, though it was almost certain he wouldn’t end up in prison.
“Josh, I really can’t thank you enough for this!” John Leibler expressed his gratitude with genuine warmth.
His thanks were sincere. Schneider’s decision to turn himself in had resolved a significant problem for Leibler—not merely the stolen jewels.
While the jewels were touted as being worth a million dollars, anyone familiar with the jewelry industry would know that the production cost was less than 30% of that value. For the wealthy Leibler family, such a loss was relatively minor—merely an inconvenience in replenishing stock and a loss of indirect profits.
What truly pleased John Leibler was the exposure of Emery as a major insider threat, particularly before the police had discovered it.
As a lawyer who had worked with the Leibler family for decades, Emery had access to a wealth of confidential information about the Leibler Group. If this information were to leak, it would result in losses far greater than the theft of jewels.
Had the police uncovered Emery’s role in the case first, it could have led to unforeseen complications.
Josh’s decision to bring Schneider to John Leibler for reconciliation before involving the police proved to be a fortunate and timely move, giving Leibler sufficient time to clean up any sensitive loose ends.
“Haha, Uncle John, there’s no need to be so formal. You’re Margaret’s uncle, and that makes you mine too. We’re family!” Josh replied tactfully.
“Yes, yes, we’re family!” John Leibler was momentarily startled before bursting into laughter. He clapped Josh on the shoulder, clearly delighted.
Yesterday, Josh’s public gesture of purchasing war bonds had improved Leibler’s impression of him. Now, Leibler truly saw Josh in a favorable light.
He couldn’t help but think that Margaret had chosen wisely this time.
“Father, I heard... Why are you here?” At that moment, John Leibler’s second son, David Leibler, barged in. Upon seeing Josh, his face immediately darkened.
“What kind of behavior is this? Can’t you see I have a guest? Where are your manners?” John Leibler’s anger flared at his son’s rude demeanor.
Compared to Josh, who displayed maturity far beyond his years, Leibler’s thirty-something younger son was a constant source of frustration. Fortunately, John had never pinned his hopes on this frivolous, womanizing son. His eldest son, who managed the family’s businesses across several eastern states, was the true heir to the family legacy.
David, accustomed to his father’s reprimands, merely shrugged it off and reluctantly greeted Josh.
Josh, unbothered, bid farewell to John Leibler and left the Leibler Group.
Having already informed Margaret of his whereabouts, he didn’t rush home. Instead, he stopped to buy food and supplies to take to Dix, ensuring the man wouldn’t starve before his injuries had a chance to heal.
As he walked through the streets, Josh noticed that the police checkpoints, which had been everywhere just a day before, were gone. Only the usual patrol officers remained.
It was clear that with Schneider’s surrender and the resolution of the jewelry theft case, the police were eager to close the matter and move on.
“You look much better!” Josh remarked when he arrived at the apartment and saw Dix looking healthier. Dix’s gunshot wound was a through-and-through injury that hadn’t hit any organs. As long as the bleeding had stopped and there was no infection, a doctor’s visit might not even be necessary.
“Yes, the bleeding has stopped. Thank you so much, Mr. Carn. What’s the situation outside?” Dix thanked Josh before asking about the outside world.
“There’s good news and bad news,” Josh replied. “The good news is that the police have withdrawn, so you don’t need to worry about being hunted or fleeing to Canada.”
“That is good news. And the bad news?” Dix nodded, bracing himself.
“Your companion Cody was killed in a shootout with the police,” Josh said, shrugging as he shared the information he had gleaned from the police.
“Louis and Goss?” Dix sighed heavily at Cody’s death. Though he had expected the possibility, hearing the news still weighed on him. However, he quickly composed himself and inquired about his other partners.
“The police didn’t mention them, so they likely weren’t caught,” Josh replied.
“Thank you!” Dix expressed his gratitude. Knowing his other companions were safe gave him some solace.
“Alright, don’t overthink it. Rest up. I’ll check on you tomorrow.” Leaving the food and supplies behind, Josh departed. After spending so much time out, Margaret was probably worried.
Sure enough, when Josh returned home, Margaret asked about his visit to the Leibler Group.
Josh didn’t hide anything, recounting his chance encounter with Lyndon Schneider, his connection to Josh’s father, and how he convinced Schneider to surrender.
“Emery orchestrated all this? That’s unbelievable,” Margaret remarked, shocked to learn that someone they knew was behind the theft.
However, knowing that the situation had been resolved put her at ease.
Josh also thought the matter was settled—but there was still a twist to come.
The next morning, the newspapers reported that the jewelry theft case had been solved.
Alongside the news of Schneider’s surrender, two additional developments caught Josh off guard.
First, Emery had shot himself before the police could apprehend him.
Second, a middleman named Corby, apprehended by Officer Dietrich, confessed to the involvement of everyone, including Emery.
This led the police to Louis's home the same night. However, they found him gravely injured and already dead. Only one accomplice, Goss, was arrested.
Now, Dix was the only one still at large.
Fortunately, for Josh, this small twist didn’t pose any real issues.
