Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

“Take her own life? Ha… If she really had it in her to bite the bullet, Phoebe would still be alive!” Stella’s voice shattered through the air, thick with scorn for

Melody.

It was probably because she thought I died in Melody’s place.

“Easy there, let’s go see what’s going on first.” Robin stepped in, keeping Stella’s tumultuous emotions in check, and handed her off to the forensic expert. “Take care of her.”

The forensic expert nodded and took hold of Stella. “You’re in the medical field, and you should know better than to let emotions cloud your judgment.”

Stella didn’t respond, just stood there with tears staining her cheeks.

“Mr. Fitzgerald, I’ll go back with you to check on things.” Robin glanced at his watch, wrapped up his instructions, and followed Dexter. “Considering the investigation so far, your wife Melody was also one of the girls who left that orphanage back in the day, so the killer will definitely keep an eye on her.”

Dexter’s stride stiffened at the mention, and he reminded in a deep tone. “She’s not my wife.”

Robin found Dexter’s insistence odd but said no more.

I trailed behind them and got into the car, too.

“The girls who left the orphanage back then are scattered all over the city now, with no pattern to the deaths. The killer seems to be acting out of revenge.” Robin looked at Dexter. “If your wife isn’t even

afraid to meet her maker, maybe she could help us out, cooperate with the police so we can catch this killer sooner.”

Robin didn’t want to play it this way, but Melody and Dexter had put Phoebe in the line of fire as

bait.

I flashed Robin a wry smile. “As if. He treasures Melody like the crown jewels; he’d never use her as bait to draw out a murderer.”

“I told you… she’s not my wife.” Dexter clung to that term. “And with Phoebe already in harm’s way, I can’t risk Melody’s safety too!”

I laughed to myself, knowing he would never agree.

“Can’t risk? What were you thinking when you let Phoebe take the risk as bait, Mr. Fitzgerald? Or is it that in your eyes, Melody’s life is precious, and Phoebe’s just doesn’t count for much?” Robin challenged.

Dexter was clearly taken aback, sitting rigidly in his seat.

I felt a chill run through me, a biting cold..

Indeed, how could my lowly life compare to Melody’s golden one?

15:04

“Melody’s not well, and she’s been emotionally unstable,” Dexter snapped back at Robin. “You heard her earlier–she tried to kill herself! You’re a cop, for heaven’s sake. How can you be so callous?”

Robin said nothing, but his silence seemed to affirm his suspicions.

“Dexter, Phoebe didn’t come from the orphanage, and her body hasn’t been found. To us, that means there’s a good chance she’s still out there breathing. If we don’t find her soon, she’s as good as dead.” After a long silence, Robin finally spoke up.

He hoped Dexter would convince Melody to lend a hand to the police and, in turn, to Phoebe.

Robin had put it gently. The fastest way to the killer was through Melody, using her to draw out the predator.

But Dexter hesitated.

I had already amassed enough disappointment in Dexter to face it all with a newfound calm.

In his heart, ver held a place of significance, and his choice was within my expectations.

The affection buried deep from my younger years had withered and died during its rapid growth into a mighty tree. My love story had ended at the age of eighteen before it had even truly begun.

Their car pulled up at the hotel, and the banquet hall was still bustling with guests.

Melody’s parents were there, looking less than pleased.

“Dexter…” Melody’s mother, a woman of grace thanks to their once–wealthy background, only brought low in recent years by bankruptcy and reliant on Dexter’s charity.

Dexter lowered his head, seemingly with regret.

I watched from a distance, finding the scene bitterly ironic.

Melody’s father said, “Dexter, we’ve seen all the good you do for Melody. Whatever the reason, the wedding turned out like this… making Melody lose face in front of our relatives. You should have a word with her.”

Dexter remained silent, opening his mouth but saying nothing. He just nodded. “Alright.”

Robin stood in a nearby smoking area, taking long drags on his cigarette, his addiction seemingly a side effect of long nights working cases.

I stood beside Robin, coughing reflexively at the smoke.

I used to be so sensitive to cigarette smoke, coughing had become a reflex around it.

But after a couple of coughs, I remembered–I was dead. What’s a ghost got to fear from secondhand smoke? I let out a bitter chuckle and said to Robin, though he couldn’t hear me, “See, Melody’s suicide is just an act. If she really wanted to end it, she’d be in the hospital right.

15:04

now, not resting up in a hotel room.”

Robin couldn’t hear me, but it seemed we shared the same thoughts as he scoffed, “Is this really about suicide, or is it about reeling Dexter back in?”

I gave Robin a knowing look, rare to find someone on the same wavelength as me.

“Mr. Fitzgerald, I’d like a word with Miss Melody,” Robin approached after Melody’s parents had

left.

Dexter frowned. “Some other time, please. Don’t agitate her. Her mother says she’s just. managed to calm down and get some sleep.”

How caring he was.

Robin’s brow furrowed with increasing worry, his voice a cocktail of frustration and urgency. “With every passing day, Phoebe’s knocking on death’s door a little louder.” He shot a piercing look at Dexter, his tone edged with a challenge. “Dexter, for heaven’s sake, do you even want to find Phoebe or not?”