It didn't seem like Steven was trying to hide anything.
"Stephie, nothing matters more than you…" said Steven, all choked up. "I'm just guessing that the murderer is intelligent… I lost, Stephie. I lost."
Steven was saying something that I couldn't understand. I guessed he meant that he had lost the game against the murderer when I died.
"You said you love me, but I don't see any hatred toward my murderer." I shook my head. I couldn't help but feel that something had come between Steven and me. It was too obvious—he refused to tell me about what he knew.
He had the key information, but he chose to hide it from me and the police.
Steven's head drooped low, and tears welled up in his eyes. He opened his mouth, but he said nothing.
"I want to know the truth…" I looked at Steven and was getting emotional. "I want to know how I died. I want to know why they hate me so much… I want the murderer arrested!"
In a panic, Steven pulled me into his arms. After a while, as if he finally made a decision, he spoke.
"Okay… Stephie. I'll help you… If it's your wish, I'll fulfill it. I'll help you…"
I sighed in relief. I felt a little guilty for forcing Steven to pick a side between me and the murderer. Right now, it seemed like Steven picked my side.
"Stephie… I'll help you." He tried to console me by repeating his willingness to help me.
"Okay…" I nodded, then slowly closed my eyes as tears welled up. "Steven, we must not run away anymore. It's time to fight back…"
"Okay." Steven nodded hard as if he would obey everything I said. But the murderer was an exception.
I became increasingly curious about who the murderer was. I wondered why Steven, somebody who would sacrifice his life for mine, would be willing to disregard my death to protect the murderer.
"Now, we must find Yasmin. The mutilation case is not over. We can't allow the serial murder case to continue."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Revenge After Death (Michael and Stephanie)
A very good thriller in the beginning ruined by unnecessary twist and unrealistic plots. Exaggerating the story just for the sake of it. Totally disappointed...