Chapter 35: Julian Fletcher Fled the Wedding

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Julian Fletcher Fled the Wedding

His clothes seemed to fit him a bit better today. Though still faded from washing, they covered the gruesome scars on his ankles and calves.

He was just standing there under the shade of a tree across the street, his figure looking somewhat lonely.

Zeke Shaw led his men, quickly running across the street to surround him.

Asher seemed a little more normal today.

He wasn’t wearing a hood, and it looked like he had washed his face.

A youthful air seemed to radiate from his very bones. He was so tall, his skin as fair as jade, and his clean face appeared flawless—especially his eyes, which were captivatingly beautiful.

His jet-black hair fell messily across his face. In the play of light and shadow, any celebrity would have seemed lackluster by comparison.

I stood in the light, my gaze fixed on his long, deathly pale fingers, my breath coming in short gasps.

In his hand, he held a bundle of lollipops tied together with a red string.

’It was as if he was hoping I would show up at the wedding.’

’Hoping I was still alive? Hoping I would come and crash the wedding?’

"Cece..." Asher’s voice was hoarse, the rims of his eyes slightly red, as if he was anticipating a result he longed to see.

’I was starting to have my doubts. Was this person pretending to be insane, or was he just a brilliant actor?’

"Cece isn’t here." Madeline Quinn’s previous hostility and wariness toward Asher were gone. After seeing the lollipops in his hand, she spoke, her voice choked with emotion. "Before... were you the one who was secretly protecting Cece and giving her lollipops?"

I froze, looking at Madeline Quinn in a panic. ’Don’t be fooled by him! He’s a murderer! He’s just pretending right now!’

Asher didn’t say anything, just lowered his head.

"Asher, come back with us. If you want to find Cecilia Caldwell too, I hope you’ll cooperate." Zeke Shaw gestured for his colleagues not to scare Asher, his voice gentle.

I stared nervously at Asher, at that face of his. ’Liar... Hypocrite!’

A few female officers came forward to lead Asher to the car. Seeing his face, they shyly averted their gazes. "You really can’t tell... He’s way too good-looking, like a celebrity."

Asher kept his head down the whole time, offering no resistance. He obediently got into the police car and sat helplessly in the corner, staring at the lollipops in his hand.

’He was putting on such an obedient act. His long eyelashes trembled. Even I was captivated by him; for a split second, I wondered if my memories from before my death were just a delusion.’

"What the hell are you trying to do?" I followed them into the car, mustering the courage to sit beside Asher. "Why did you kill me?"

Asher kept his head down and didn’t speak.

’What do you want? What could you possibly gain from killing someone?’ I kept questioning him, though it was as if I were just talking to myself. ’Why did you kill me...?’

Asher remained silent, then suddenly lifted his head, his gaze burning as he looked in my direction.

He startled me, and I nervously looked around.

The burning intensity in Asher’s eyes slowly faded, and he lowered his head again, falling silent.

"Asher, how did you know the murderer would put the body in the abandoned orphanage?" Zeke Shaw asked gently, afraid of agitating him.

But he remained silent.

I frowned, looking at Asher. ’Because he *is* the murderer.’

"Asher, if you don’t cooperate, it will be very difficult for us to find Cecilia Caldwell." Zeke Shaw sighed. "You know Cecilia Caldwell, don’t you? You don’t want her to be dead, right?"

Asher lifted his head and looked at Zeke Shaw.

"The orphanage..." His hoarse voice formed two words.

Zeke Shaw stared at Asher for a long time, then turned to his colleague and said, "Get to that abandoned orphanage!"

The car headed for the abandoned orphanage, arriving after a drive of about twenty-something minutes.

’I was a little surprised. Julian Fletcher and his buddies were actually here too.’

’Wasn’t he supposed to be at the wedding?’

’Is the wedding off?’

"Officer Lowell, we found an eyewitness from the night of the 15th. He saw someone dragging a large suitcase from Street Alley over to the orphanage."

Jake Abbott said nervously.

’Maybe he was also afraid that I was really dead.’

Zeke Shaw looked at the elderly scrap collector and went up to ask a few questions. "You saw it?"

"A person, dragging a big trash can, came this way. I collect all the trash in that area, I remember it very clearly." The old man was a little angry, feeling that person had stolen trash that belonged to him.

Zeke Shaw turned back to look at his colleague. "How far is it from Street Alley to here?"

"Here!" Asher suddenly sped up, walking toward a spot on the compound wall. There was a small gate there, blocked by wooden planks, that led directly to Street Alley.

Zeke Shaw and his colleague exchanged a glance and cautiously rushed over.

The main gate of the orphanage was far from places like Nocturne, but this back gate led directly to Street Alley, and passing through it would take you right to Nocturne.

"Call for backup! Surround the orphanage and do a full search."

In the weeds, Zeke Shaw discovered bloodstains and traces of torn clothing.