Revenge After Death

Zion stared at his colleague in shock.

“How did we miss such an important clue before this?”

The female officer explained, “Things have been complicated with this orphanage. In the beginning, it was privately run, with not many records and files. Moreover, the orphanage director was exposed several years ago for constantly abusing and violating the children.

“Consequently, he was sentenced, and the orphanage was shut down. Some of the orphans who were not adopted were transferred to other welfare institutions. The information of those who were adopted is incomplete, making it difficult to trace.”

She continued, “It was when I started asking around the neighbors and family members of the victims that I found them all to be adopted. I probed further in this direction and discovered that all the deceased were indeed adopted from this orphanage.

“Many of the victims‘ families were initially unwilling to mention this but later confessed. It was all

because of this welfare home!”

“It seems that we were wrong from the beginning… We thought the victims were connected because they frequented nightclubs and other entertainment venues, but it seems to just be a coincidence, said Zion while lighting a cigarette in frustration.

1 looked at the policewoman in astonishment. If all the victims were females adopted from this welfare home, then something wasn’t right. I wasn’t an adopted child. I was my parents‘ biological child. Was I just unlucky?

“Mike, Yasmin….. I heard from Lily that Yasmin was actually adopted! The Bailey family has always been charitable. They must have liked Yasmin because she was intelligent, so they brought her home to keep Lily company!”

Jack said anxiously after he remembered something, “Is it possible that the killer was targeting Yasmin…”

So, it was not that the killer was targeting women wearing red dresses. Instead, the killer had dressed the victims in red dresses after killing them. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

I staggered backward hopelessly, a bitter smile on my face. The truth was that I died on Yasmin’s behalf. What kind of injustice was this? Why did I have to die because of her? This was so unfair!

“Stephie… No…”

Steve had come back from somewhere and was holding dearly to a photo frame. He was standing at the door. He handed the photo frame to Zion.

I looked at Steve with hatred.

“Liar. You’re just a liar and a psycho! A murderer! Stop acting, you freak!”

213

the hilled so many people

i desperately wanted to grab his collar and shout to the whole world that he was a murderer, but no ou could hear my vatce I was in despair, feeling utterly hopeless.

ou took the photo frame and looked up at Keenan

sou

“The pics who were adopted all wore red www.photographed in red dresss…”

sses. When their adoptive families took them away, the

Keenan glanced at the photo and then looked at Steve, who was easy to identify because he was mixed

“Is this you?”

Steve nodded.

“No Stephie Isar’t an orphan. She’s Mr. and Mrs. Carlson’s biological daughter. She’s also not from the orphanage Does that mean the killer might spare her?

“Maybe he didn’t kill her, and that’s why her body hasn’t been found. She’s waiting for me… She’s waiting for me to save her!” Michael shouted maniacally, appearing very agitated.

“gion… you must find Stephie. I need to find her. She’s waiting for the,” he continued while grabbing Zion’s arm anxiously.

A man with pride was suddenly pleading with the police in such a humble and anxious manner.

“Please, please find her…“.

1 burst into laughter watching Michael. The contrast between his demeanor from before and now was too stark, making his act very fake.

“Didn’t you just think that the murderer hadn’t taken her away?” Zion asked with furrowed brows, obviously annoyed.

Dejected, Michael stepped back and mumbled, “I don’t know…”

He didn’t expect things to end up like this. He honestly didn’t know that I would still go to Sunset Alley on the 15th.

“That silly woman… Why would she go there on the 15th? Why didn’t she call me…”

“We checked Stephanie’s phone records. She did call you a few times, and you even answered,” stated Zion, interrupting him..

Michael was stunned for a minute there as if his heart had just been shot.

Smiling, I said, “Yeah, you answered my call, Michael, and you asked me to die…”

And here I was, dead. It was just as you wished, Michael Ford.

He retreated dispiritedly and fell to the ground embarrassingly. He said nothing and kept quiet. Then,

he looked like he wanted to get up. He remembered what he had said.

“No… I didn’t… I didn’t mean that. I just…” he stuttered, his eyes becoming red. Those who didn’t know him might even think he was so in love with me.