"This should be the victim's left leg! We just found it! It was in the trash bin downstairs at Arthur's place!"
Jackson attached the left leg to the body.
It was clear that the left and right legs were asymmetrical, with the left leg's bones angling abnormally.
Jackson exclaimed, "This is a clue! The victim had suffered an injury to this leg before, impairing their walking!"
Chris looked uneasy and cast a worried glance at Arthur.
"It was found in the trash bin beneath your apartment... and the leg had been injured. Maybe you should call Chloe?"
Arthur's face turned ashen.
"It couldn't be her. Chloe Kade called me late last night to vent, sounding very much alive and kicking!"
I couldn't help feeling disappointed. He had missed the clue again.
Indeed, I had called him at dawn.
But I hadn't spoken a word.
After all, by that time, I was in too much pain to speak.
Seeing Arthur mention me with undisguised disgust, I felt a sigh of relief.
He would probably be happy to know I was dead.
Chris hesitated repeatedly before finally speaking up.
"Arthur, why don't you head home and check in? It's mealtime already, and Chloe hasn't called you. Plus, the crime scene is so close to your house. Typically, we'd canvass the neighborhood.
"Just now, Louise and the others checked around your area. No one's missing except... they knocked on your door, and no one answered..."
Arthur didn't retort immediately as usual.
After a moment, he relaxed his furrowed brows and snorted lightly.
"She's made a scene before. She pretended to disappear to make me worry and only to come back obediently. Who knows where she's off gallivanting this time? She is cunning! Don't let her usual demeanor fool you!
"Enough, let's not bring up things unrelated to the case!"
His determination was evident.
Seeing this, Chris and the others held back their words, finally ceasing to mention me.
I was growing anxious.
But I was the victim.
How could they solve the case without mentioning me?
I watched as Arthur was consumed with the case, spinning his wheels with no progress for days.
All the nearby missing persons had been checked, yet none of the clues pointed to me.
Arthur looked exhausted.
Chris and the others brought me up again.
This time, Arthur didn't refuse.
He went home.
Upon entering, he seemed to have steeled himself before calling out my name.
The room was empty, and no one responded.
He glanced around the room with disdain.