Chapter 700: The Cheetah Hunts Everything
The Familiar Clue
A red, low-cut evening dress and high-heeled boots.
Although they were ripped and stained with blood, Diana felt a strange familiarity. She felt like she had seen them somewhere before.
Eva's voice spoke up,
"The latest summer design from Only, by French designer Belderek. It debuted at the Paris Fashion Show a month ago. It currently retails for $45,000, and the high-heeled boots are custom matching accessories."
As the AI spoke, the screen changed, showing the dress's complete style.
Diana instantly realized.
Barbara!
She was wearing this exact dress and high-heeled boots last night. It was identical.
"Could it be her?"
No, it was impossible. Barbara was so innocent and kind; there was no way she could be a killer.
"Princess, have you discovered something? Do you need me to track it?"
"N-no... no need. It's over."
Diana strained a smile and quickly turned off the communicator. She said one thing, but her inner world was churning. All signs pointed to Barbara being the prime suspect.
A normal person wouldn't undergo such a massive change in just one month.
The simple, kind fat girl and the sexy, cold-blooded Queen of the Night—how could those two personalities exist in the same person? She must have suffered something.
Black magic? Or a meta-human ability?
Diana couldn't sit still. She left the rooftop and rushed to Barbara's home, but she wasn't there. When she asked the neighbors, she learned Barbara had moved, and no one knew where she lived.
"Eva, help me find her location."
Barbara Minerva's personal file and her assets appeared on Diana's retina. It clearly showed that in just one month, Barbara had not only become a shareholder in three nightclubs but also owned five properties worth millions.
Diana couldn't help but ask,
"How does she have so much money?"
"Barbara Minerva auctioned off a collection of antiques a month ago, totaling over $50 million. She then became friends with Senator Flick and, with his assistance, purchased a majority stake in three nightclubs at 70% of the market price, becoming the largest shareholder."
Diana fell silent. Barbara had once said that the place she hated most was a nightclub. If she hated them, why would she become a nightclub owner?
Of the five properties, three were large villas in the suburbs, one was in the city center, and the last was a large farm spanning several kilometers outside the city.
Diana checked them one by one, starting with the city center property, then the suburbs, and finally the farm. Unfortunately, she searched everywhere but found no trace of her.
Her calls went unanswered. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.
Diana couldn't think of any other option and returned to the museum. Soon after, her phone rang. It was Barbara. Diana quickly answered.
"Where are you? I've been looking all over for you."
"I'm right across from you."
The door opened, and Barbara walked in with a big smile, waving her phone. Dressed in a yellow dress suit, she was bright and beautiful, like the sun.
Diana was momentarily stunned and couldn't help but ask,
"You... you... you last night?"
Barbara rolled her eyes. "Speaking of which, you didn't even say goodbye when you left last night! I was worried you'd run into some dangerous character again."
Diana took a breath and asked with a serious expression,
"Barbara, where were you last night?"
"A secret."
"I'm not joking with you." Diana stood up, pressing her hands on the table, staring straight at her. "Tell me, where did you go last night?"
The atmosphere became tense.
Barbara forced a smile. "Why are you suddenly so interested in my private life?"
Diana watched her without moving, scrutinizing every change in her expression. After a moment, she shook her head with a look of disappointment.
"Last night, there was a murder near the park. In the grass beside the victim, there was a dress and high-heeled boots, presumably left by the killer. The latest summer design from Only, by French designer Belderek. The exact same clothes you wore last night."
"You suspect me!"
Barbara's eyes widened, filled with shock. "You... you actually suspect me."
"It's not suspicion, just..."
"Enough! Don't say another word, Diana. I considered you my friend, but you suspect me of being a murderer. Fine, you suspect me, right? Come with me. I'll show you exactly what I was doing last night right now."
With that, she grabbed Diana's arm and marched out.
Diana was thoroughly embarrassed. She wanted to pull free but felt it was inappropriate. She wanted to apologize but felt that was also wrong. She could only leave the museum with Barbara. The car started and stopped in front of a heavily secured villa.
Barbara sent a text message on her phone. After a short wait, a quite handsome middle-aged man walked out of the villa.
Connes Flick, a Washington State Senator and a rising political star.
He walked over to the car, looking flustered.
"What are you doing here?"
Barbara said coldly, "Where is my dress?"
"Stop fooling around. I'll buy you a new one."
As he spoke, he nervously glanced at Diana.
Barbara gritted her teeth and yelled angrily,
"I only want the dress from last night! Find it! If you don't return it to me, I'll call the police!"
"You..."
Flick was furious, but he eventually restrained himself. He waved his hand, telling his subordinate to go to the trash can and retrieve the dress, which was now torn and covered in oil stains.
Seeing this, Diana understood everything. Her face flushed with shame, wanting only to sink into the floor.
Barbara flipped the middle finger, aggressively pointing it at him, then slammed the gas pedal and drove away.
Ten minutes later, the two arrived by the river. Barbara lit a cigarette and took drag after drag.
Diana sighed internally and said softly,
"I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be like this."
"It's nothing. It's over now."
The more she said this, the more guilty Diana felt.
"When did you two get together?"
"He's married. He has a wife."
Diana: "..."
"Go ahead and laugh. You don't have to hold it in."
Barbara extinguished the cigarette butt. "I had needs, and he was decent. It just happened naturally."
Diana hesitated. "Then what do you plan to do in the future?"
"I'll worry about the future when it comes. Is there anything else? If not, I'm leaving."
With that, she walked straight away.
Diana opened her mouth, unable to think of any reason to stop her. She could only watch her disappear from sight. After this incident, the two were likely no longer friends.
The thought made her want to slap herself.
So stupid. Utterly stupid.
She had suspected her friend of being a murderer based only on speculation, without evidence. Who could bear that kind of slander, plus the revelation of a secret affair?
"I'm truly stupid. How could I be so stupid?"
Diana held her head, feeling on the verge of madness.
On the other side, Barbara returned to the villa and opened a bottle of vodka. She tilted her head back and poured it down her throat. The liquor's burn seemed to have no effect on her; instead, it stirred the wildness hidden inside her body.
Her pale brown eyes unknowingly turned amber. Fur sprouted from beneath her skin. She shed her human form, transforming into a half-human, half-leopard beast.
"Diana Prince."
The beast let out a low growl, filled with bone-chilling intent to kill.
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