Thirteen murder cases had rocked the city, leaving everyone on edge.
The day I went out to buy groceries, my husband became the fourteenth victim.
He was stabbed ninety-nine times, mutilated beyond recognition.
When I rushed downstairs, my mother-in-law had just jumped from the thirtieth floor.
Her blood and brain matter splattered directly onto my face.
I cried so hard that I fainted several times.
Yet, the lead detective of the criminal police unit walked up to me and stated with certainty.
"You're the murderer!"
——
I was kneeling in front of my mother-in-law's corpse, crying my heart out.
No one could have known that upon hearing the detective's words.
I was actually smiling inside.
But the next moment, I suddenly looked up.
My eyes were swollen like walnuts, my voice hoarse and trembling.
"Captain Colson, what did you say?"
"How could I possibly be the killer?"
Detective Wyatt Colson's gaze locked onto mine.
His dark, piercing eyes seemed to see right through me.
I felt a pang of guilt and shifted my gaze, avoiding his stare.
Wyatt stared at me, his voice low and serious.
"Catherine Sandberg, this is the first time we've met, right?"
"Then how did you know my last name is Colson?"
A hint of arrogance flickered in his eyes, as if he'd already caught my first mistake.
Before my husband was murdered, Neveridge City had already seen thirteen consecutive homicides.
Wyatt was the head of this special investigation team.
It was likely that only the killer would pay such close attention to the team's movements.
For example, knowing that the detective in charge of the case was surnamed Colson.
Hearing Wyatt's words, I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
Then, I pretended to panic and burst into loud sobs.
"The special investigation team was featured in a news interview a few days ago and you were on screen for a few seconds."
"I just happened to have seen that news report."
"Captain Colson, I've just lost two family members. If the police can't catch the real killer, does that mean you can just randomly accuse the victim's family?"
Outside the yellow line, not far away, many neighbors were watching.
Seeing me crying so pitifully, Aunt Lily, who always likes to meddle in other people's business, spoke angrily.
"That's right! Young man, Catherine just lost her husband and her mother-in-law jumped off a building for no reason. She's already heartbroken."
"Why are you police questioning Catherine here instead of investigating the murderer?"
"I tell you, Catherine and her husband have a perfect relationship. They are inseparable. It is impossible for Catherine to kill her husband!"
This was an old neighborhood. Most of the neighbors knew our family well. Many people chimed in, agreeing with Aunt Lily.
"Yeah, I always saw the two of them holding hands on the way to buy groceries. They've been married for ten years and were still so in love."
"Catherine's mother-in-law, Georgia Schmidt, is also very kind. She always praises Catherine as a good daughter-in-law who cares for the family and is filial. Georgia always smiles when she mentions her daughter-in-law."
"Sigh, they were such a harmonious family. I don't know what evil they'd done to deserve having two people die like this."
Listening to their comments, Wyatt frowned even deeper.
He shouted angrily.
"What are you yelling about! You are disrupting public affairs, do you understand?"
The neighbors suddenly fell silent, quietly stretching their necks, trying to see some other excitement.
I almost laughed out loud. I had to dig my fingernails into my palm to stop myself.
The next moment, Wyatt strode up to me.
He stared intently at me, his expression solemn.
"Catherine, I've been a criminal police officer for twenty-two years."
