Zion threw the cigarette butt in the trash can and spoke again.
"Sophia’s phone has suffered varying degrees of damage, but it’s not completely irreparable. It’ll Just take ti to recover the data, so we’ll wait and see,"
He turned to leave but suddenly rembered sothing and looked back at Damien.
"If your hesitation and protection result in Sophia’s death or any other more dreadful outco, you’ll be partly responsible. Even if the law can’t punish you, morality and conscience will always be your shackles."
Damien stood numbly in place, looking unusually exhausted for a mont.
I glanced back at him once and never looked back again.
I didn’t know when my soul would disappear and when I would truly die. I didn’t understand why I was in my current state. All I could do was wait.
I hoped for my body to be found and the truth to be revealed so that my remains could be cremated and laid to rest. Perhaps then, I could truly find release.
"Officer Landon, the lunatic... Dexter has gone missing! We were all busy with the scene investigation, and when we turned around, he was gone."
Zion frowned and got into the car.
"Find him and keep an eye on him. He surely knows sothing."
Zion was convinced that Dexter knew so secrets.
Sitting in his car, I looked at the phone in his hand. It was the photo of the little girl in a red dress that Dexter had found at the welfare ho.
In the photo, Dexter was the most dazzling figure, always catching people’s eyes at first glance. Perhaps it was because he was just so good–looking.
Standing next to him was another boy, who looked sowhat timid. He was clinging to Dexter’s arm in fear and hiding behind him. Standing in front of the boy as if protecting him, Dexter looked like a big brother.
Zion studied the photo and said in a deep voice, "Dexter...."
"Lawson, can we find out about these children in the orphanage photo?" he said into his phone after dialing his subordinate’s number.
Dave replied, "A few years ago, there was a big fire at the orphanage. The director knew that his cris were about to be exposed, so he intended to burn all the children to destroy evidence."
"Except for the girls in red dresses who were already adopted, only Dexter survived... He wasn’t a fool before, he was said to be a genius, but he beca ntally disabled after that big fire."
Zion looked at the children in the photo again. Except for those who were adopted, they all died, leaving only Dexter.
"He’s the murderer on a killing spree. He’s killing everyone from the orphanage back then. This person is very dangerous. He either has a split personality or... he’s just very good at disguising," I said to Zion, but he couldn’t hear .
However, Zion was clearly beginning to suspect Dexter as well.
"Keep a close eye on Dexter after we find him!"
Seeing his suspicion of Dexter, I felt relieved.
Just as he hung up the phone, his phone rang again. It was Keenan.
"Zion! Violette is missing. She might have gone to find Juliet. Are you with her?"
Zion paused for a mont before subconsciously looking toward the direction of the hotel. I also nervously watched the entrance of the hotel.
Violette was on the way to see Juliet?
Zion quickly got out of the car and walked toward the hotel. I followed, feeling worried.
In the hotel corridor, Juliet was leaning against Damien, looking pale and weak. Standing at the door, Violette didn’t lash out at her but was speaking very subtly.
"Please, help save Sophia."
For my sake, she could only plead with Juliet.
"I’m sorry..." Juliet choked up and buried her face in Damien’s chest.
Damien was infuriated as he said, "Violette, stop acting crazy here. Juliet’s going through a lot now, and you’re here only to provoke her."
Violette shot daggers with her red, swollen eyes at Damien and cursed, "You deserve to die..."
He fell silent and said nothing.
"You don’t have to go, but lend your red dress," said Violette again, this ti asking Juliet for her dress.
I had been wearing my red dress the day I went missing.
Taken aback, Juliet looked at Violette and said, "You’re insane... We’re talking about a murderer here."
"Soone like you naturally doesn’t deserve anyone to risk their lives for you," Violette answered, her voice hoarse but firm.
"What’s so good about Sophia that you’re willing to go this far for her..." Juliet murmured, seemingly unable to understand or believe Violette’s actions.
"Do you even deserve to learn about her?" Violette coldly replied while clenching her fists. "Juliet, you better pray that Sophia’s incident has nothing to do with you. Otherwise... I won’t let you go."
I sighed from a distance. It was she who deceived into going to Sunset Alley.
"Violette, you’re going too far," Damien interrupted angrily, still trying to protect Juliet.
"Ms. Turner, just do as she says. If you’re unwilling to cooperate with us, it’s fine. But lend us the dress," Zion, having listened for a while from the side, quickly stepped forward.
In fact, he could already differentiate between the good and the bad. Juliet was deliberately delaying ti because she never wanted to help save Sophia.
When Juliet found out she was being targeted by the murderer, she got to lure the murderer on her behalf. Juliet was a selfish woman, and everyone could see that, except for Damien.
Zion looked aningfully at Damien. Was he really that foolish? Or was there so hidden agenda?
"I’m sorry... I don’t have the red dress anymore," Juliet stamred, hesitating to give it because she didn’t want the police to find out anything.
Taken aback, Damien said, "But clearly..."
Clearly, there was another one. Juliet had said she liked that one very much, and Damien bought it for her.
"That... That one got ruined in the wash. It bled in the washing machine, so I threw it away," she stuttered.
Damien didn’t say much after that.
Violette was so angry that her eyes were bulging with redness when she asserted, "Tell the brand and style of the dress. I’ll buy one myself."
Damien remained silent for a long ti before answering, "It’s the Luxe Yonder autumn collection. There’s only one red dress in that collection."
Listening to his words, my heart ached faintly. When I was 18, he asked what gift I wanted, and I said, "Give a dress. I like the designs of Luxe Yonder."
He agreed, but in the following years, the person he bought dresses for was no longer .
Too lazy to say anything anymore, Violette only glanced at him before walking away. He’d better not regret it after this.
With furrowed brows, Zion followed her out and uttered to himself, "There’s sothing wrong with Juliet."
"Officer Landon, could we get started with the plan as soon as possible?" Violette asked as soon as they got into the elevator. She was no longer able to wait for another second.
"Please, let try... I don’t dare to think about what Sophia is going through right now. Please," she pleaded.
Zion took a deep breath and nodded.
"Alright, I’ll go with you to buy the dress first and then we’ll leave this hotel with you disguised as Juliet. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you."
Violette nodded while gripping her hands tightly.
"I must catch that murderer," she swore.
"Zion, you must make sure that no harm cos her way," I nagged, despite knowing that he couldn’t hear . "You must protect her."
That night, Violette changed into the sa dress that Juliet had, straightened her long hair, and left the hotel with a face mask.
I was worried, so I followed her all the way. I was afraid that she might encounter any danger.
She went to a bar and drank so alcohol. Soon, she was drunk, and her hair was all disheveled. To avoid suspicion and make her act look authentic, she had actual alcohol.
I sat beside her with red eyes the whole ti.
"Violette, don’t be afraid. I’m always here beside you."
I wanted to be her guardian angel to always protect her, but there was nothing I could do. The police made sure that everything was going perfectly according to plan so that Violette would not get hurt.
Violette stumbled out alone into the night and walked back through Sunset Alley. Suddenly, there was a faint sound behind her.
Nervously, I looked back at the dark corner while trembling with fear. Even I, a ghost, was afraid of human intentions. What was truly frightening was never ghosts but the hearts of humans.
"Violette... be careful," I said nervously while staring straight at the darkness.
"Zion... Zion, where are you guys?" I shouted in fear, but they couldn’t hear .
A dark figure flashed by and ran into the distance. The policen who were watching from afar followed the figure.
I felt an inexplicable fear. I had a feeling that this was a diversion.
"Violette..."
I tried to pull Violette away to escape, but it was too late. A figure had already erged from the darkness. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and ill-fitting pants, revealing scars on his ankles. There was a long stick in his hand.
"Don’t... Don’t co any closer!" I scread and shouted in fear, stomping my feet in place. "Violette! Run, Violette!"
He was the murderer. He was indeed the murderer! It was Dexter!
"No..." said Dexter hoarsely when he noticed Violette sitting on the ground.
"It’s not her..." he muttered, his eyes also red. His extrely handso face revealed a hint of coldness.
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