Chapter 44: Chapter 44

Rachel sat on the ground, looking at Steve. “Where’s Stephie…”

Steve dropped the stick in his hand as if he had been startled by something. He turned and ran, but Zion pinned him.

“Why are you running? What’re you doing here? Take him back for interrogation!”

Zion shouted, seething with rage-

It was always Steve!

I knew that Zion’s suspicions of Steve had deepened.

I sighed in relief. That was a good sign.

As long as the truth was discovered soon and my body was located…

The police took Steve away, and Zion carried Rachel.

I was temporarily relieved and stood there in a daze, looking at the lollipop that Steve had dropped.

It was fruit–flavored.

Steve was arrested, and the police interrogated him for 24 hours. He didn’t say a word.

Without evidence, the police had to let him go for the time being.

I sat in the police station lobby, watching Steve being led away by the Lincoln family. My vision was numb.

$

This murderer… was too cunning.

Steve still seemed to be of great value to the Lincoln family. The Lincoln family had hired Huma’s best lawyer to bail him out.

I wondered if it was proven that Steve was the serial killer, would the Lincoln family try to get him.

out?

If that was the case, then those dead women were too pitiful.

In the afternoon, Michael came to the police station to inquire about the investigation.

He seemed very eager to know if I had been found.

I guess he wanted to find out if I was dead.

“The mission failed because it wasn’t Yasmin.” Zion began to suspect Steve, assuming that Steve ce not to kill because he realized that Rachel was not Yasmin.

Crate 14 “We found a handkerchief with traces of sedatives in Steve’s pocket. There was a stick and other criminal tools too.” Zion frowned. Even if Steve was released on bail, they would still keep an eye on him.

“It’s Steve, that lunatic! He’s the murderer! Stephanie must be in his hands!” Michael angrily exclaimed. “Why don’t you arrest him?”

“First of all, the lunatic you’re talking about is the scion of the Lincoln family. Ignatius Lincoln stepped in to bail him out.

“Secondly, they’ve hired the best legal team to release Steve on bail. And lastly… Steve has a psychiatric evaluation to prove that he has a mental disorder. Even if he carries drugs and a stick in his pocket, there’s no way to tell that he’s the murderer.”

Zion warned Michael to act rationally.

Things would be different if Yasmin was the one who went that night. Once Steve was arrested in the process of trying to kill her, Zion would have the confidence to detain Steve temporarily.

Michael didn’t say anything and took a deep breath.

The Lincoln family… was indeed not to be trifled with.

“I always have this feeling that… Stephie is right beside…” Michael muttered.

After a while, he spoke again, “If we keep an eye on Steve, is it possible… to find Stephie?”

Zion didn’t say anything, but he hoped so.

The police had already started to suspect Steve and were watching him 24 hours a day.

I believed that under such tight surveillance, he would show his true colors sooner or later.

$

Rachel sat on the bench, looking a little lost. “Is Steve the murderer? Why don’t I think so?”

I sat down next to Rachel, smiling gently. “That’s because you’re too kind.”

Rachel froze, turning her head in my direction.

I froze too, not knowing why I felt like crying.

Her eyes betrayed her deep sadness, and she shook her head. “Stephie’s going to be okay.”

“Murderers are all good at pretending, especially psychopaths,” Michael said in a deep voice. “He doesn’t seem to be pretending.” Zion, being a police officer, had his fair share of experience. “I’ve contacted experts in criminal psychology. I suspect… Steve has multiple personalities or some other mental disorder.”

I shook my head and sighed. I had suspected Steve was suffering from multiple personality disorder before. Yet, now I was more inclined to believe that Steve had an accomplice.

Ste 14 “Zion, the bodies of the women who were adopted in that photo have all been found. All except for a woman named Mildred Silva, and this Yasmin.”

A colleague came over and looked at Zion. “We’re searching for Mildred.”

Zion nodded.

-Can’t we just arrest that lunatic? Why does the Lincoln family still want to protect a loony guy!

him?”

Michael’s emotions spiraled out of control as he turned and left the police station. He intended to confront the Lincoln family.

I ignored Michael. He wasn’t anxious for my sake. He was just worried that Steve would hurt Yasmin.

Rachel’s eyes reddened as she turned her gaze to Zion. “Seriously? Is there no other way? We can only keep our eyes on Steve? Is that it?”

“Let’s wait and see. We’re watching Steve.” Zion poured Rachel a cup of hot water.

Rachel took it, but her tears couldn’t be held at bay. “I’m afraid… I’m afraid Stephie is now…

“Rach, I’m fine,” I reassured her in a hushed tone, suddenly feeling relieved.

I was dead by now. At least I didn’t suffer much.

The pain of dying was all but forgotten now too.

“Officer Landon! Something’s wrong…”

Outside the door, a young policeman rushed in with a pale face. “Steve sneaked out from the Lincoln family’s residence. We followed him all the way… We found Mildred’s body in the ditch behind the old orphanage…