My Brother, The True Killer novel Chapter 7

Lucas flinched, the weight of the ME’s words hitting him. He had blamed me for our parents' deaths. Would he now be consumed by the same guilt, the same self-hatred, if I were truly dead?

The thought seemed to disgust him. His voice, when he spoke, was cold and determined. "Check the water and electricity records for Downtown LA. The killer cut the body into so many pieces. He must have used a lot of water to clean up. And if he was working alone, he probably used a meat grinder or something similar. There should be a spike in electricity usage, probably during the night."

The police went to check the records. Lucas noticed a note Simone had left on the coffee table.

"Lucas, it's Simone. Don't worry about me. I needed a break from studying, so I decided to go hiking in the mountains. I heard there are some thugs who rob people up there, but I'm sure it’s just a rumor. Don't worry.”

Lucas panicked. “We have to find her!”

He ignored the ME’s protests, rushing out to search for Simone.

It was a trap!

Ever since her father’s execution, Simone had been consumed by a single-minded desire for revenge. She wouldn’t be satisfied until our entire family was dead. She was waiting for Lucas, ready to kill him.

Lucas, don’t go!

But the ME, sensing his determination, didn’t try to stop him. He just sniffed the air, his brow furrowed. “What’s that smell?”

“It’s just fish. Simone and her friend were cooking,” Lucas replied dismissively.

“That’s not fish, Lucas. That’s blood.”

The ME’s voice was sharp, his expression grim. He ordered the police to search the house.

My spectral heart pounded with a mixture of hope and despair.

The evidence I had sacrificed so much to gather had been destroyed by Lucas's blind trust in Simone.