Chapter 23: They Suspect I’m a Murderer

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: They Suspect I’m a Murderer

"Is it possible... we’ve been looking at this all wrong? What if the killer isn’t a man, but a woman? What if it’s Cecilia Caldwell herself?" The female officer shared her theory with Zeke Shaw.

Zeke Shaw said nothing.

I tried desperately to explain, but it was no use.

They couldn’t hear my cries, nor could they figure out why the killer, after murdering me, would scatter my belongings across so many different victims.

First, my bracelet. Then, my earring.

’That lunatic... what is he trying to do?’

...

I followed Zeke Shaw to the Glaven River. The area was desolate and a long way from that abandoned orphanage.

Clearly, the murderer had killed the victim elsewhere and dumped the body, which then floated downstream to be discovered in this remote spot.

Standing by the river, I looked at the corpse covered by a white sheet and still found myself covering my eyes in fear.

’See? I’m dead, and I’m still a coward of a ghost.’

"The earring is definitely Cecilia Caldwell’s. The last body had her bracelet, and this one has her earring. What is the killer trying to say?" Zane asked suspiciously. "Don’t tell me Lily was right. Could the killer actually be Cecilia?"

"Even if it’s not her, it has to be connected to her, right? She’s missing, and all her friends insist she’s not dead—that she’s just faking her disappearance. Maybe she really is the murderer, or an accomplice!" Zane said angrily.

"I heard that this Cecilia Caldwell is in love with Julian Fletcher and would do anything to marry him. Could she actually know the killer and be deliberately leaving her belongings behind to provoke Julian and Erin Whittaker?" another officer, Lily Lawson, said as she walked over.

I looked at Zeke Shaw helplessly, frantically shaking my head.

’No, it wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!’

Zeke Shaw was silent for a long moment before he finally spoke. "Issue a wanted notice for Cecilia Caldwell."

In that instant, the last glimmer of hope I had was shattered.

I shot the police a bitter look, then turned and drifted away, completely defeated.

They didn’t trust me. They slandered my name and issued a wanted notice...

I wonder if they’ll feel any guilt for their suspicions when they finally find my body.

But none of that mattered to me anymore.

There was no one left in this world who trusted me.

No one believed I was dead.

And no one believed that Erin Whittaker had killed me.

They all believed Erin Whittaker.

...

「Evergreen Gardens.」

Without realizing it, I had returned to my old home—the place where my family and I lived before my parents’ accident.

In Meridia, our family wasn’t wealthy, but we were comfortably middle-class, living a pleasant and happy life.

Before I turned eighteen, I thought I was the happiest little princess in the world, with my mom and dad by my side and a wonderful life and future ahead of me.

But all of that was ruined.

I could never go back.

I drifted dejectedly down the street, letting the endless stream of cars pass right through my spirit form.

’So this is what it’s like. Death is even more hopeless... As a wandering spirit, I don’t even have the right to die.’

"Cece..."

"Cece, where are you? I’m begging you... please come back, okay?"

Downstairs, near the apartment building, I faintly heard someone crying.

She had a slight frame, and she was squatting by the building, endlessly making phone calls.

I stood under a streetlight, and in that moment, I felt my entire spirit tremble.

It was Madeline Quinn.

My childhood best friend.

The number she kept dialing, again and again, was my own—which had long been out of service.

"Cece, don’t scare me, please don’t scare me," she kept muttering to herself, her voice hoarse from crying. "Cece, don’t scare me... Cece, please come back."

I crouched beside her, lost, wanting to hug her but completely unable to.

’Madeline, I’m here, I’m right here...’ I cried out to her. ’Don’t cry. I’m here, Madeline.’

But she couldn’t hear me.

"Cece, I’ll figure it out. I swear I’ll find out what happened, and I’ll get revenge for you," Madeline Quinn said, her voice hoarse as if she had just made a solemn vow.

’Madeline...’ A bad feeling crept into my heart. I sensed something terrible was about to happen.

’Madeline!’ Madeline was the only person left who cared about me. I couldn’t let anything happen to her.

I followed behind her, frantically calling her name, but she didn’t look back. Wiping away her tears, she made a phone call. "Did you find anything out?"

"The police found another body today. The corpse was wearing one of Cecilia Caldwell’s earrings. They couldn’t confirm the identity at first, but a DNA comparison confirmed the victim isn’t Cecilia."

Madeline had studied medicine and had a friend who was a forensic pathologist, so it wasn’t hard for her to get information.

"Help me get in touch with Zeke Shaw. Tell him I’ve been frequenting Nocturne for a while. I can be his bait to lure out the killer. Have him contact me... If he doesn’t agree, I’ll do it myself." Madeline’s voice was firm.

"You’re insane!" I shrieked, thinking Madeline had lost her mind.

’How could she... go after that killer!’