Chapter 7

Martin snorted in annoyance, clearly embarrassed. "I told you—Beatrice is alive, and who she is to me has nothing to do with this case!"

Jason retorted in equal annoyance, "We're asking for your cooperation here, Mr. Fitzgerald. Please don't further complicate this investigation."

I was laughing at Jason right then. "There's no way he'd tell you the things he did to his so-called sister...

"Cap!" Another police officer came running down the hallway just then. "We have confirmed the blood and skin tissue samples. They belong to Beatrice Cox, not the victim."

Jason nodded. "Then we must presume that the serial killer got to her as well."

"No," Martin said, clenching his knuckles. "Beatrice is smart. She's just trying to stage her death to be dramatic."

Seeing that he still refused to believe that I was dead, I sighed in exasperation, once again disappointed.

Jason narrowed his eyes in turn. "Mr. Fitzgerald, your refusal to cooperate will slow us down to the point that we won't be able to save Ms. Cox in time. If our serial killer has her, she'll despair even as she waits!"

My eyes were reddened, and tears welled up in them as I turned back to Jason—he was definitely right, as no one knew how much I despaired before I died.

I prayed countless times for the cops—or even Martin—to reach me.

But in the end, just remembering Martin left my heart hurting.

Ring!!!

Martin's phone rang.

As he answered, Yvie shouted in agitation from the other end, "Martin! I just saw Bea at Nightzone!"

Martin did a double take but soon turned to Jason, who looked sharply at his colleague. "Get moving!"

I shouted right then, "No, don't go! She's just trying to distract you so that you won't find my body! Don't believe her!"

Naturally, no one was listening.

Even as I followed Martin, he clearly believed Yvie, not even stopping to ask what I might be doing at a seedy nightclub like Nightzone this late at night.

He was cursing my name like he would kill me when he got me.

Thankfully, he wouldn't have the chance to do so.

-

Jason and the officers were dressed casually as they reached Nightzone, following Martin to reach Yvie, who was at once sobbing, "I came looking for you because I'm scared of the thunder… Then, I saw Bea sneaking around suspiciously before coming in here, but it's so crowded that I lost her…"

Martin quickly hugged her. "It's fine. Everything's alright now."

As for the officers, they were staring at Yvie for a moment before entering Nightzone, although they found nothing after spending the night searching.

I followed Jason, sighing. "It's really hard being a cop, having to run around this late at night just to follow a so-called lead…"

That was when someone yelled, "Stop!"

A burly figure wearing a hoodie was just leaving an alley and started to run when an officer told him to stop.

The other officers promptly gave chase, quickly subduing him.

When I saw the man's face, I was reeling in shock.

It seemed that my fear lived on even in death, as that face was as handsome as any A-list actor, and his skin astonishingly pale… But he was also the same crazy serial killer who took my life!

"What are you running around in the middle of the night for?" One of the officers kicked him just then.

However, his eyes were fixed in my direction.

I clasped my hand over my mouth in fear.

H-He could see me?!