Chapter 9

It had been a long time ago, back when my father wanted to encourage my little dream of becoming a police officer. He gave me this pen recorder, telling me it could capture evidence of crimes.

From that day on, I carried it with me everywhere.

Now, as he held the recorder in his hand, my father suddenly realized it was still playing.

It was Davina’s voice.

“Here’s two hundred dollars. Take care of Ruby for me, and make sure you get good videos and photos.”

On the other end came a greasy, hoarse, and unnervingly old voice.

Others might not have recognized it, but I did instantly.

It was he, the man from the mountains, who had haunted my nightmares for years.

“Ruby thinks she can compete with me. Oh, come on, if it were not for her cushy family background, who would even bother staying here?

“Good thing those two old fossils are dead. I had never wanted to live that kind of poor, miserable life with them around.”

The room fell into an abrupt, suffocating silence.

Even the voic