"How could I bear to destroy my own research achievements?"

"Please answer directly."

Lydia Kuni's gaze flickered, her nostrils flared slightly, and she choked, "The arson case on July 11th has nothing to do with me."

Luke had been observing Lydia Kuni's micro-expressions; her emotions were complex, showing sadness, helplessness, and finally, signs of lying.

From the current situation, it seems likely that Lydia Kuni was involved in the arson case. As for her reasons, there are roughly four possibilities: for profit, under someone's influence, out of hatred, or because of a threat.

Previously, when Luke was taking a statement from Kem Smith, Kem Smith mentioned that Lydia Kuni had also put a lot of effort into developing the new antihypertensive drug. Luke had seen sadness and reluctance in her expression just now, which implies she did not intend to commit arson subjectively.

Kem Smith also said that the reason he and Lydia Kuni broke up was because Lydia Kuni's daughter did not like him, which shows that Lydia Kuni cares a lot about her daughter.

Moreover, Lydia Kuni just lied about her daughter's whereabouts, leading Luke to speculate that something has probably happened to her daughter.

Luke said, "Get in touch with your daughter, I want to speak with her."

Lydia Kuni showed a nervous expression, "Why? My daughter doesn't know anything, what do you have to talk to her about?"

"Is your daughter really at your mother's house?"

Lydia Kuni stared at Luke, "I have no reason to lie to you."

Luke nodded, "Do you know? I have been involved in investigating several kidnapping cases, many involving young girls.

Some girls were rescued in time, but some were brutally murdered, which is very heartbreaking."

"What's the point of telling me this? I don't want to hear it."

"No, I think you should know.

Do you know when most of those murdered girls were killed?" Luke stared at her, answering his own question, "After the victims' families paid the ransom.

Because at that point, the hostage is no longer of use, and thus has no reason to stay alive..."

Lydia Kuni's eyes were swollen, she shouted, "I beg you, please stop talking about it, I don't want to hear..."

"Hey, if, and I am saying if, your daughter was kidnapped and you were threatened, you should bravely speak out, so we can rescue your daughter in time.

Every minute you delay now increases the danger to your daughter." Luke glanced at his watch and continued, "It's been 36 hours since the fire, I don't mean to discourage you, but I have to tell you the truth, your daughter has missed the optimal rescue window..."

"No, please stop, my daughter will be alright, she will..." Lydia Kuni finally broke down, squatted on the ground, and started crying.

Xiao Hei said, "I've seen pictures of your daughter, she's very cute.

I also have a daughter, even cuter.

I understand how you feel.

If I were you, I definitely wouldn't gamble my daughter's life on the robbers' mercy."

Luke said, "If you're worried about your own safety, you should cooperate with the police investigation, as long as you help us catch the other arsonists, we can offer you a plea deal."

Jenny also persuaded, "Ms. Kuni, don't hesitate any longer, your daughter may already be in danger.

Only we can rescue her."

Lydia Kuni looked at Jenny, "Can you guarantee that you'll save my daughter?"

"No, no one can guarantee that, but we will do our utmost to try." Luke's tone was very sincere.

Lydia Kuni pondered for a long time, sighed, "You're right, you guessed correctly.

My daughter has been kidnapped, they threatened me to set fire to the company building to spare my daughter."

"Why didn't you report it to the police?"

"I was too scared, they said they would be watching me, if I dared to report, they would kill my daughter." Lydia Kuni's tears fell down her cheeks, "When my husband died, I promised him I would take good care of our daughter.

She is my everything, I must protect her."

Luke said, "You need to tell us more about the kidnappers so we can find them and rescue your daughter."

"The kidnappers are two men, one wore a hood, so I couldn't see his face clearly, the other is a white man, he had a mustache, a hooked nose, medium build..." Lydia Kuni pressed her forehead and thought hard.

Luke took out a photo of Walda Becker, "Is it him?"

"Yes, that's him.

He forced me to lead the way and assist him in burning down the research lab and data for the new antihypertensive drug.

I really didn't want to do it, but for my daughter, I had no choice."

"Do you know where he is now?"

"I don't know.

After we set the fire in the Kerman Company building, we went our separate ways.

He told me to wait at home, not to call the police, and that when things calmed down he would return my daughter to me."

"Describe what happened the night of the fire?"

Lydia Kuni let out a sigh, bowed her head, as if unwilling to recall, or maybe feeling guilty, "Around eleven o'clock, we went to Kerman Pharmaceutical Company.

We climbed over the wall to get in, and the security guards didn't notice us.

He also brought two cans of accelerant...

We first went to the power room and sabotaged the circuits so that the surveillance cameras couldn't work.

Then, we entered the building from the west gate, went to the laboratory on the sixth floor, he poured the accelerant all over the lab, and then ignited it...