I climbed into the squad car, giving Eric a nod to signal I was alright. My mind, though, was


    preupied with Colln.


    “Take this for DNAparison with Phoebe, I overheard Finn instructing another officer to test the


    handkerchief he’d used to wipe my


    face.


    He suspected… that I wasn’t Foebe but Phoebe.


    Too bad, he couldn’t fathom the idea of a soul reborn. This body was, without a doubt, Foebe’s.


    “No way, Phoebe is dead for sure. Her body was disyed in a ss case, shocking the whole of Sea


    City,” one cop expressed his confusion.


    “I suspect a switcheroo, a bait–and–switch,” Finn sneered. “Dig deeper, and don’t underestimate the


    lengths to which some lunatics will go…”


    Finn got into the car and sat beside me.


    I nced at him but kept silent.


    “Heard the nutjob wasmitted to the mental institution, right? Good ce for him; lunatics belong in


    the loony bin, Finn was a little too chatty.


    I clenched my fists and spoke up. “Where should you be going then? To a beauty parlor? Considering


    how much you value your looks, if someone messed up your face again… wouldn’t you just jump off a


    roof?”


    Finn’s eye twitched with irritation. “Hah…”


    He let out augh, then casually added, “Caleb really has a collector’s obsession, huh? Likes the


    Phoebe type. I guess… it takes a nutcase to attract another nutcase. Birds of a feather.”


    “Indeed, we are birds of a feather, and you’re the odd one out, hardly human.”


    “Sharp–tongued, Finn gritted his teeth.


    Outside the car window.


    Dexter was still negotiating with the police.


    “She acted in self–defense. Sure, she went a bit overboard… but she was threatened.“.


    I scoffed. Was he speaking up for me or making things worse?


    As the police car drove me away, Dexter’s gaze followed me withplexity.


    It was as if he saw me as a born troublemaker, his expression a mix of regret and concern. Regretting,


    perhaps, why I had to be so bad.


    “Phoebe… don’t worry, I’ll get you out of this,” Dexter tried to reassure me.


    “Better watch over your lifesaver. Wouldn’t want her to get whacked by a murderer,” I gestured across


    my


    Dexter stood frozen, watching as I was taken away.


    Melody clung to Dexter’s arm, terrified. “Dexter, she’s so scary…”


    neck.


    “People say after spending a lot of time together, they start to resemble each other,” Finn remarked,


    looking at me. “You and Caleb are quite alike.”


    “Would you tell me about Caleb and Phoebe?” I wanted to know.


    And Finn, despite his sharp tongue, was at least objective. He didn’t stoop to lies.


    “Caleb and Phoebe?” Finn chuckled. “A match made in heaven or hell–what’s there to tell?”


    Despite his scornful tone, he seemed eager to dish.


    “Caleb was always aloof, even as a kid. In school, he was my deskmate. I’d ask him a question, and


    he’d barely acknowledge me!”


    Têxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    I took a deep breath. I wanted to hear about Caleb and Phoebe, not his personal grievances with


    Caleb.


    Finn rambled the whole ride, mostly about his love–hate rtionship with Caleb, without touching on


    anything substantive.


    The squad car pulled up in the precinct yard, and before Finn could step out, his phone rang.


    “Trouble! There’s been another murder on Tangle Lane! A male body! Time of death no more than two


    hours ago.”


    Finn’s expression turned grim.


    After Dorian’s case went cold, there hadn’t been another murder for a while. The higher–ups were even


    considering closing the Serial