Chapter 24
Zion never expected Rachel would use such a reckless plan to force him to meet her. Therefore, he was furious when he entered the coffee shop at the corner of the street.
“I understand you’re anxious to find your friend, but you’re using the wrong way!” Zion frowned as he lectured Rachel.
“Then tell me what’s the right way to do it? Should I just sit and wait for you cops to solve the case? You’re taking too long!
“How desperate Stephie would be by now if she’s still waiting for someone to rescue her!” Rachel lost. her temper and yelled at Zion.
Zion didn’t seem happy as he rubbed his eyebrows.
“I know how you feel- ”
“You don’t know a damn thing about how I feel!” Rachel interrupted Zion.
Zion glanced at Rachel in silence, feeling speechless.
N
“If I didn’t report to the police that Stephie was missing, no one would’ve reported it! You cops wouldn’t even have started investigating.
“Stephie has lost her parents. She has no one but me! If I don’t do anything, she’ll… she’ll be gone for good.” Rachel’s eyes had reddened as she clenched her fists fiercely.
I could tell that she must be terribly upset right now because her body wouldn’t stop trembling.
“Rach, please, don’t do anything reckless…” I begged her not to go. She should forget about me and
live on without me.
However, Rachel seemed to have made up her mind. She wouldn’t give up before she found me.
“Don’t take the deal, Zion. Turn her down!” I cried, begging Zion not to accept Rachel’s proposal.
Zion pondered for a long while. Then, he said, “Sorry, but I don’t know you, nor Stephanie, I only learned from Michael and his friend that Stephanie isn’t a good person, if not vicious-”
“That’s bullshit!” Rachel shouted furiously.
“Those people are all devils! Fucking bastards! They’ve got a lot of nerves to criticize Stephie! They’re the ones who have been hurting Stephie!
“Michael Ford’s a rapist! You’re a cop, aren’t you? You should arrest Michael Ford! Go arrest him now!” Rachel frantically pushed Zion as she shouted in tears.
Zion was a little at a loss. He probably didn’t know how to calm down a lady.
When Rachel cried, I couldn’t help but cry with her.
oolda’t save me nove.
“Zion, you’re a cop, so you shouldn’t believe that most people would tell the truth. Stephie isn’t the person they described. I can prove it to you.” Perhaps she had vented enough, Rachel suddenly calmed down
Somehow, she seemed scarier now than when she was frenzied,
What do you have in mind?” zion asked.
“Tomorrow night, I’ll wander around the alleys in a red dress. If one day isn’t enough, I’ll keep wandering for two days, three days until I lure that lunatic out.
Rachel clenched her fists tight. She was so agitated that even her breath was shaky. NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
“What kind of friend is Stephanie to you? Why would you risk your life for her?” Zion was a bit irritated, so he went to the smoking area for a cigarette.
Rachel smiled weakly. “You want to know more about Stephanie? Follow me. I’ll bring you to a place where you can understand the real her.”
Zion remained silent and followed Rachel.
I quiddy followed them.
“Stephanie was a top student. She always got first place in our class.”
Rachel drove Zion to the Hamforth Residence, where I was born and raised.
She knew where my house key was hidden since this place used to be our little hideout when we were
students
Stephanie was beautiful. She had been the campus belle of our school.” Rachel took a key out from a shoe, opened the door, and entered the house.
There was a photo hanging at the entrance of the living room. It was a beautiful artistic photo of me, taken when I took part in a ballet performance when I was 18.
I was wearing a white tutu, posing like a swan spreading its wings in the photo.”
“She was so beautiful.” Zion nodded his head as he glanced at that photo.
“After her parents had died in the car crash, their company went bankrupt and owed a lot of money. Stephanie didn’t need to bear those debts. But she still paid them off with her parents‘ death benefits she had claimed from the insurance, without keeping a cent for herself.”
Rachel took a box out of the drawer. “After we went to college, Stephie would hand me the money she received from her scholarship every year.
“We would donate the money to help the children at welfare homes. She said the children would be so lonely without their parents.”
Chanter 24
Bang! The door suddenly opened.
Steve stood at the doorway, breathing heavily. His eyes were all reddened.
1 was standing at the entrance, looking at him in disbelief. Wasn’t he taken away by the Lincolns?
No, that wasn’t the point. The real question was, how did Steve have my house key?
Rachel was shocked to see Steve too. “Who are you?”
Zion’s first reaction was to press Steve against the wall. “Why are you here?” “Stephie… Stephie!” Steve shouted for Stephie in his shaky, hoarse voice.