Rebirth Into My Second Chance

When they got back to the police station, Claude rushed in.

He grabbed Richard by the collar and demanded, "Where's Kate?"

Richard let out a mocking laugh. "When Claire went missing, I didn't see you so worked up. I have no clue where your precious Kate is. You'll have to find her yourself."

As Claude was about to throw a punch, Ronald grabbed his wrist to stop him. "The situation is complicated, Mr. Hart. Let us handle it."

But Claude wouldn't listen. "Richard's a psycho. People like him shouldn't be roaming free. They belong in jail, forever."

"Mr. Hart," Ronald continued, "there are two things you need to know. Kate has been taken, and we're currently investigating it. When Richard kidnapped Kate earlier, she told him that Claire was abducted and held in a cabin at Serenity Bluff. We checked it out and found this bracelet belonging to Claire."

Claude glanced at the bracelet with his hands clenched tightly.

"So, you found the bracelet but not Claire? She must've left it there on purpose," he said, believing I was cunningly manipulating the situation.

Ronald snapped. "Mr. Hart! How did Kate know to find Claire's belongings in that cabin? And why didn't she speak up before?"

Claude was at a loss for words. Still, he stubbornly came up with an excuse. "Kate must've seen Claire when she was abducted and taken to that cabin. That means Claire was involved in the kidnapping. She must've kidnapped Kate, too. It all adds up." Claude's talent for bending the truth to favor Kate blew me away. He truly was a smooth-talking lawyer, through and through.

"Claude, you're a real piece of work!" Already fading, my spirit felt even more diminished, only my head left, bobbing and floating aimlessly. It seemed I'd never see the day when the truth would come out.

"Claude, the truth won't stay hidden forever. Kate is implicated in this matter, one way or another." Richard was calm, a smug smile on his lips.

Then, a young detective hurried to Ronald to report, "Dr. Hilton said the surgery was a success. The patient's awake."

A rare smile crossed Ronald's usually stern face. Finally, there was a breakthrough. I smiled, too.

Ronald then ordered more men to search for Kate and Claire before hurrying to the hospital.

I followed Ronald to the hospital.

Upon arrival, we saw Max removing his surgical mask, his expression cool as he turned to Ronald. It seemed he glanced my way, causing me to step back. Could he see me?

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Following his gaze, Ronald looked back at me. "Something wrong?"

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Max shook his head. "Nothing, just my eyes playing tricks on me. The patient's awake. You can question now."

him

Ronald entered the patient's room, where Scar Man attempted to speak.

"Do you know Claire Floyd?" Ronald asked, sitting beside him.

Scar Man barely managed to blink in response.

Ronald asked, "And what about the cabin at Serenity Bluff?"

As he asked, I felt he was piecing together the case.

"Did Kate instruct you to do all this?"

I watched eagerly as Scar Man didn't nod or blink but firmly said, "No."Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

His answer took us by surprise.

Ronald pressed, "Then why did Kate know about the cabin at Serenity Bluff?"

Struggling for breath, Scar Man slowly

plained, "Because my

s kidnapped her, and ite

happened in that cabin."

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His confession almost mirrored Claude's speculation.

Indeed, Kate and I had gone hiking, both kidnapped. However, Claude rescued Kate in the end, leaving me behind.