Chapter 95 Testing

"Does Kevin know about this money?" Mu Xin asked.

"According to the bank records, Kevin hasn't transferred the money out since it arrived, nor has he made any large purchases."

Jessica paused, "But he should have discovered it by now. A deposit of fifty thousand dollars—anyone would notice that."

"Has he mentioned it to OBrien?"

"Richard asked OBrien about it indirectly yesterday." Jessica flipped to another page.

"OBrien said that his cousin seems to have changed bosses recently and got a raise, but he didn't mention the specific amount."

"Did OBrien receive any money himself?"

"No, there are no unusual deposits in OBrien's personal account, and his credit card statements haven't changed."

Mu Xin leaned back in his chair, his mind racing.

OBrien had passed on the message, but he didn't know he was doing it for Old Williams. His cousin had received the money, but OBrien hadn't taken a single cent himself.

This was a carefully designed trap. Old Williams wasn't trying to bribe OBrien; he was creating an ambiguous situation for OBrien that he couldn't explain away.

If OBrien ever wanted to report Old Williams, Old Williams could say, "You helped me contact someone from the Environmental Protection Agency, and your cousin took my money. What right do you have to report me?"

And OBrien would be unable to defend himself.

This was Old Williams's method: tying a person's interests and reputation to his own, making it impossible to get away even if you wanted to.

"Mr. Mu, what do we do now?" Jessica closed the report.

Mu Xin was silent for a few seconds. "First, let's determine one thing: does OBrien actually know he's being used?"

"How will you determine that?" Jessica frowned.

"Let Richard probe him." Mu Xin thought for a moment and said, "OBrien is Richard's campaign manager, and they are in contact every day."

"Richard should find an opportunity to mention the Environmental Protection Agency matter and watch OBrien's reaction."

"If OBrien volunteers information about the connection he made, it means he was just being used and had no intention of hiding anything."

"If he avoids the topic or lies, then he has something to hide."

Jessica nodded, took her phone out of her bag, and sent a message to Richard.

...

The next evening, Richard met OBrien for dinner at an Italian restaurant in Cincinnati.

Mu Xin didn't go. He waited on the third floor of the Morris Building with his phone on the table, screen up, ready to take Richard's call at any moment.

Jessica sat on the sofa, holding a glass of red wine, looking even more nervous than Mu Xin.

Victoria was also there, sitting in the corner with a pile of financial documents spread out in front of her, but her eyes kept darting toward Mu Xin's phone.

At 9:20 PM, the phone lit up.

Mu Xin answered the phone without saying a word.

"Mr. Mu." Richard's voice came through the receiver. "OBrien volunteered the information."

Mu Xin's fingers relaxed slightly.

"Tell me the details."

"I met him at the restaurant, we talked about the campaign and the next steps, and then I pretended to casually mention that the Environmental Protection Agency had recently inspected the construction site."

Richard spoke slowly. "I said I didn't know who was behind it, maybe Old Williams."

"What did OBrien say?"

"He froze for a moment, then said something that really surprised me." Richard paused. "He asked if Mr. Mu's project was being targeted?"

"I said yes, people from the Environmental Protection Agency came and issued a fine of twelve thousand dollars."

"Then OBrien was silent for a few seconds and suddenly said, 'I might know who did it.'"

Mu Xin's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"He said it?"

"He said that not long ago, an old acquaintance of his in Columbus named Dennis Morris called him."

"Dennis said a friend wanted to invest in Oxford Town and wanted to understand the environmental situation, asking if he knew anyone at the Environmental Protection Agency."

"OBrien said he didn't think much of it at the time and gave Dennis the contact information for Brennan's deputy."

"After he finished, he asked me a question." Richard's voice lowered. "He asked if he had done something wrong."

"How did you answer?" Mu Xin breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

"I said you just provided a contact, that's not wrong, but if you had known that person was Old Williams, would you still have given it?"

"What did he say?" Mu Xin continued to ask.

"He said he didn't know it was Old Williams's person, and then he offered to let me give his contact information to Mr. Mu; he is willing to explain in person."

Mu Xin was silent, thinking.

OBrien had spoken up voluntarily. He hadn't waited to be questioned or exposed; instead, after hearing that the Environmental Protection Agency had inspected the site, he had told the truth himself.

This showed that he didn't have a guilty conscience; he had simply been used.

A person who has been used, upon realizing it, will have the first reaction of explaining, confessing, and attempting to make amends.

"Richard, you did well. Tell him to come to Oxford Town tomorrow, and I will talk to him in person."

"Okay."

Mu Xin hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair.

Jessica looked at him. "How did it go?"

"He volunteered the information." Mu Xin rubbed his temples. "Over a month ago, an old acquaintance in Columbus called him to ask for help contacting someone from the Environmental Protection Agency."

"He gave the contact information, but he didn't know that person was Old Williams."

"He didn't know?"

"He didn't know." Mu Xin shook his head. "Based on Richard's description, he wasn't lying."

"So are you going to see him tomorrow?"

"Yes."

...

The next morning, OBrien appeared on the third floor of the Morris Building right on time.

He was a bit thinner than when Mu Xin first met him, and his eye bags were deeper, but overall, he still looked energetic.

He was wearing a dark gray suit and a white shirt, with no tie and his collar open.

"Mr. OBrien, please sit." Mu Xin pointed to the sofa and sat on the chair opposite him.

Jessica brought in two cups of coffee, then retreated and closed the door.

"Mr. Mu, Richard told me about the Environmental Protection Agency matter yesterday." OBrien's tone was a bit nervous, but he didn't dodge. "I wanted to explain it to you in person."

Mu Xin didn't speak, just looked at him, signaling him to continue.

"Over a month ago, an old acquaintance of mine in Columbus, Dennis Morris, called me." OBrien spoke every word clearly.

"Dennis said a friend wanted to invest in Oxford Town and wanted to understand the environmental situation, asking if I knew anyone at the Environmental Protection Agency."

"I didn't think much of it at the time and gave him the contact information for a deputy I knew at the Environmental Protection Agency."

"That was all. I didn't receive any money, didn't promise anything, and didn't even ask who his friend was."

"I admit, this was my oversight. I should have found out who the other party was before giving out the contact information."

OBrien's voice was a bit hoarse. "I really didn't know that was Old Williams's person."

Mu Xin leaned back in his chair and looked into OBrien's eyes. There was nervousness and unease in them, but no evasion.

"Mr. OBrien, regarding this Dennis Morris you mentioned, do you know what his relationship is with Old Williams?"

"I don't know." OBrien shook his head. "I met Dennis when I was doing lobbying work in Columbus."

"He has a very mixed circle and knows all kinds of people, but I don't recall him having any dealings with the Williams Family."

"What about your cousin?" Mu Xin's tone was calm. "Did you know your cousin is working at Old Williams's farm?"

OBrien's fingers trembled slightly.

"Kevin?" He frowned. "Kevin is working on a farm near Oxford Town, but that boss... is Old Williams?"