Chapter 22: That Madman Killed Again

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: That Madman Killed Again

"Officer Lowell, I hear you let that lunatic go?" Julian Fletcher asked, displeasure in his voice. He was at the police station, with Erin Whittaker in tow.

Erin Whittaker looked as if she’d had a terrible fright, hiding in Julian Fletcher’s arms.

Julian Fletcher took off his jacket and dotingly draped it over Erin Whittaker before pulling her into his embrace. "Cold?"

Erin Whittaker gave a delicate nod.

"Mr. Fletcher, the suspect has a legal guardian who has already posted his bail. They said you can contact them if your friend has any issues. They’ll cover all medical expenses and other damages." Zeke Shaw handed Julian Fletcher a business card.

Julian Fletcher took the card. After a quick glance, the look in his eyes visibly shifted, and he frowned. "Jaxon Lancaster?"

The Lancaster Family...

I stared at Julian Fletcher in shock. ’The Lancaster family?’

The Lancaster family of Meridia was at the very pinnacle of the corporate world—the undisputed wealthiest family in the city.

Not even the Fletcher family could hold a candle to them.

’But how could someone from the Lancaster family have grown up in an orphanage? And be mentally ill, on top of that?’

My body began to tremble uncontrollably as I thought about Asher’s identity.

’Is that how he’s managed to kill so many people and never get caught? Because he has the powerful Lancaster family backing him?’

’So that’s it. Someone’s been cleaning up his messes.’

’What am I going to do? Where is my body? Will the truth about my death ever come out?’

"He... He’s actually from the Lancaster family?" Erin Whittaker was just as shocked. She was stunned for a long moment before speaking again. "Someone from the Lancaster family is a lunatic? I’ve never heard anything about that."

"Three years ago, Master Lancaster’s eldest son, grandson, and granddaughter all died in a car accident. His only remaining son is sterile and can’t produce an heir." Julian Fletcher frowned, his voice low and deep.

"It’s obvious this lunatic... must be of Lancaster blood. Otherwise, Master Lancaster, Jaxon Lancaster, wouldn’t be so invested in him."

"Invested?" Zeke Shaw scoffed. "If they were truly invested, they wouldn’t have let him wander the streets. It’s more likely they just want to keep the bloodline going."

Julian Fletcher said nothing. He wasn’t interested in the Lancaster family’s affairs and had no desire to get involved. "Officer Lowell, since you’ve gotten your answers, focus your energy on catching the killer. You can stop worrying about Cecilia Caldwell."

Julian Fletcher opened the car door and held it for Erin Whittaker, steadying the frame as she got in.

It was clear he cherished her, attentive to her every need.

"Erin and I are getting married," Julian Fletcher said, sounding very self-assured. "She’ll definitely show up for the wedding."

I let out a sarcastic laugh. ’So Julian’s plan is to use his wedding to Erin to smoke me out.’

"Well, congratulations," Zeke Shaw said, giving Julian Fletcher a meaningful look. "I also hope this is just one of Cecilia Caldwell’s practical jokes. I hope she can make it to your wedding, and that she’s safe."

’In your dreams...’ I stood to the side, mocking him silently. ’I’m not coming. I’m never showing up again.’

Julian Fletcher got into the car and drove off.

I stood frozen in place, with no idea where to go.

’A lost, wandering soul... I suppose that’s what I am now.’

Even after death, my soul has nowhere to go.

"Cecilia Caldwell, where in the world are you?" Zeke Shaw asked suddenly, his gaze drifting up toward the sky.

I turned to look at him and managed a faint smile. ’I’m dead. I don’t even know where my body is...’

"Lowell! We’ve got a situation!" A young officer ran into the station, his face pale with panic. "Glaven River... they found another one. Another female body. Same M.O.... red dress, frequents Nocturne, sexually assaulted before death... cause of death was asphyxiation."

Zeke Shaw’s brow furrowed. He threw the cigarette butt from his hand to the ground. "Goddammit... that son of a bitch!"

Zeke Shaw was furious. He lost control and kicked at a nearby trash can, hating himself for his incompetence, for his failure to catch the killer.

For letting so many innocent women be murdered.

"The skin on the victim’s face was completely peeled off, making identification impossible..."

That seemed to quiet Zeke Shaw. He stood there in silence. "Let’s go have a look."

I followed behind Zeke Shaw in a panic. In my final memories before I died, the killer had definitely tied up several other women.

Right before I died, I saw several women in red dresses cowering in a corner.

’There are survivors, Zeke Shaw! There are survivors! Go to the abandoned orphanage! Search the abandoned orphanage!’ I shouted desperately as I trailed behind him.

’There are still people alive! The killer murders one person every so often, but he kidnaps them first.’

’There have to be survivors!’

’Zeke Shaw! There are survivors!’ I screamed in desperation, trying with all my might to make him hear me, but it was useless.

It was like we were in two separate worlds. He couldn’t... sense my presence at all.

"It’s strange," a female officer reported to Zeke Shaw after returning from the scene. "This body also had something of Cecilia Caldwell’s on it. There’s an earring in the victim’s left ear. It’s been identified as the one Cecilia was wearing the day she disappeared."