Afterwards, Sofia's father received a ransom call from the kidnappers, demanding diamonds worth five million US dollars and warning not to call the police, or else they would kill her.

I can't remember what time it was, just that everything was in chaos.

At first, we didn't completely believe it and tried to search for Sofia, but we could never find her. Later, her father, concerned about Sofia's safety, did report to the police.

The police arrived first, then the FBI...

We trusted them, trusted them without reservation, but in the end... they told us they had arrested the wrong person.

Sofia was completely out of reach; they betrayed our trust.

My husband also succumbed to his grief and passed away...

This event changed our entire family and altered the course of my life."

"Before and after the kidnapping, did anything unusual happen, or did you see any suspicious people?"

Kelly Lax was silent for a moment, then shook her head, "It's been too long, I can't remember."

"How long had the babysitter been working in your home at that time?"

"For a long time. Even when I first met Sofia's father, the babysitter was already taking care of them."

"Have you kept in touch with the babysitter over the years?"

"No, six months after the kidnapping, the babysitter left.

We haven't been in contact since... we all tried to avoid that incident, it was too terrifying."

"Do you still have photos of Sofia from when she was younger?"

"No. I've been trying to forget that dreadful memory. I got rid of many things, moved to a new place, tried to start a new life... but it's not that easy."

"Does Sofia have any physical characteristics?"

Kelly Lax thought for a while, "I remember she had a scar on her right arm."

"Anything else?" Luke also saw this piece of information in the FBI case file.

Kelly Lax pondered again, then shook her head, "No, I can't recall anything else."

Luke asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

"No."

"OK, let's stop here for today." Luke stood up and handed her a business card, "If you think of any new clues, feel free to call me."

"I will." Kelly Lax took the card with both hands, her eyes red, solemnly saying, "Captain Lee, please make sure to bring Sofia back. She's suffered so much over the years, you must save her."

"We will do our best," said Luke as he rose to leave.

Kelly Lax escorted them to the door and watched as they got into the police car and left.

Jackson glanced at the distant mansion through the rearview mirror and said, "Captain, doesn't it seem like her attitude is a bit odd?"

"How so?"

"It's been ten years, and as a mother learning her daughter might be alive, I would expect her to be especially excited and emotional, maybe even crying.

But she didn't, apart from some initial surprise, she quickly calmed down."

Luke replied, "It only suggests that their relationship wasn't very deep.

She is a stepmother, not the biological mother. Ten years have passed, a lot has happened since then, Sofia's father has also died, and there are no strong ties between her and Sofia anymore."

Jackson continued, "There's something else that feels suspicious; earlier when you told her Sofia was found, she immediately responded, 'Oh my god, did you find her body?'

How could she immediately assume Sofia was dead? Is she being too presumptuous, or did she know something all along?"

Luke thought for a moment, "Actually, after so many years, everyone subconsciously assumes Sofia is dead, not just her, the deputy captain thinks so too.

I think it's unnecessary to overinterpret it." After speaking, Luke asked, "Do you suspect Kelly Lax is involved in Sofia's kidnapping?"

Jackson hesitated, "I don't know how to put it."

"Just describe your hypothesis directly, simply as a potential scenario."

Jackson nodded, "Sofia was kidnapped, Sofia's father died too, yet Kelly Lax lives in a mansion and has a handsome younger boyfriend. I just can't help but feel...

Isn't there a saying?

Who stands to gain most could be the culprit."

Luke didn't discourage his initiative, saying, "Your hypothesis has some merit; it's not entirely impossible, but you'll need to find evidence first."

Jackson was confident, "I've already found a direction for the investigation."

"Let's hear it."

"The babysitter.

Judging by Kelly Lax's tone, that babysitter must have been with Sofia's family for many years. Perhaps, apart from Sofia's father, the babysitter knows Sofia best and can describe the case more objectively.

Captain, what do you think?"

Luke agreed, "I've also noticed the babysitter, but there's no exact address for her in the FBI files, and her phone number has changed.

You need to find her first."

Jackson smiled, "I will."