Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

Chapter 40

“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.

“As if. He treasures Melody like the crown jewels; he’d never use her as

my wife.” Dexter clung to that term. “And with Phoebe already in harm’s way, I

to myself, knowing he would

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

aback, sitting rigidly in

through

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

15:04

Chapter 40

her earlier–she tried to

his silence seemed

she’s still out there breathing. If we don’t find her soon, she’s as good as dead.” After a long

convince Melody to lend a hand to the

way to the killer

But Dexter hesitated.

amassed enough disappointment in Dexter to face

heart, I never held a place of

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

hotel, and the banquet hall was still bustling with

there, looking less than

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

lowered his head,

finding the scene

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

but saying nothing. He just