The Boy Who Wouldn’t Let Her Die
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CHAPTER 2

Chapter 2: The Bathtub

FREE CHAPTER

A classical European-style villa sat behind a stretch of green lawn.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹96684423› The little garden held a white porch swing and an afternoon tea set, and today the sun was generous — pale blue climbing roses blanketed the swing's frame, golden light making the blossoms look impossibly delicate.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §57defed7

Three police cruisers were parked out front.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (3174e55a) Yellow tape already sealed off the house, and officers could be seen moving in and out.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #7f88db6b

Detective Rawlings stood hunched at the foot of the grand spiral staircase, running his fingers over the grooves carved into the trunk of a bonsai tree.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026 The marks, taken together, looked something like old protection wards.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * d0a61246

A tree like this would normally sit along a stone garden path outside.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·d543fbf0· Rare to see one just standing indoors like this.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #3e142f5d

"Detective, over here."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.d9e53233] His assistant waved from the stairs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.e58bf111] Rawlings pulled his gaze from the completely dead bonsai and followed the gloved young man upstairs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.51535e6f]

The villa had great natural light — on a clear day, the whole layout glowed with an open, airy feel.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (8588661f) Rawlings reached the second floor.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 The decor looked tasteful, but the faint smell that had started on the first floor was thicker up here.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··14710fe2 Much thicker.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:2b93bbc4

A dried pool of blood sat by the bedroom doorway.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·dc3debac From where he stood, he could see a large wedding portrait had fallen off the wall, the frame shattered.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:68edbda8] Crooked streaks of blood smeared the groom's face.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.60d20d5e The bride's half had been torn clean off and taken.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-a2a8305d

Rawlings ducked under the tape and stepped inside.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (7c49ac5a/Wed) The bed dominated the room, and the spot where someone had lain was soaked through with blood.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·666424fb It had spread from the right side, saturating outward.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:a7806260 The pillow was a blackish red, the heaviest bleeding concentrated near the head.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.77495551

He examined every corner before making his way to the en suite bathroom.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··8bda2431

In the oversized double tub, a hand dangled over the rim — badly decomposed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶1ab699ac The water was a murky soup of black clotted blood and yellow grease.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·fedde6b4 Maggots crawled across the exposed skin.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:3c3afba6]

Photos were taken from every angle.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (c9f3cbd2/Wed) Once they were done, the suited-up specialists moved in.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.03c9984a Rawlings gave a tight nod, his expression grim.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §d5821eea The two adjusted their respirators and reached in to pull the drain plug.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹0b04024f›

The plug came out.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.ad959d51 The water barely moved.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·37f6281d Someone reached back in, fishing around, and finally pulled out a length of intestine, blackened and reeking.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹a8971b34›

That bathtub was the source of everything.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·47f7bf64 Once the intestine was removed, the water level finally started dropping.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.112e64b9 Soon enough, the body — or what was left of it — surfaced for everyone to see.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.3e85f407]

The arms had bloated to the thickness of thighs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰04160444 Eyeballs bulged from their sockets, hanging against the face.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 0406e45f·· Unrecognizable.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #f55a51a2 All four limbs had been severed at the joints.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ b59e81e4 What remained was a gutted torso still attached to a head, organs heaped beside the body.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.dec7605a]

Rawlings clenched his jaw against the nausea.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:071c75ec Even his assistant — seven, eight years on the front lines — bolted for the sink and vomited.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·464a3689

Only the medical examiner seemed unfazed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·e49256db He moved in and began the external assessment.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «d179cd40»

"Victim is male.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰b3fa5e0a Based on decomposition, time of death was approximately three months ago.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «1567dfd3» The cold snap hit hard this year — record lows nationwide.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·082e5eb4 The windows here were left wide open.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026 Indoor temperature could've dropped below zero, which slowed the decay.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··ef05341b But temperatures climbed back up recently.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.c78a6786 Once the ice thawed, the smell hit."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⟨de780ff7⟩

"Only one body."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-44ca91dd Rawlings scanned the severed limbs again, counting.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:edf9529c] No extras.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-8af8a4f5 "The wife isn't here."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * 66aeb60a

The assistant came back wiping his mouth, brow furrowed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.e9c1d480 "She's the killer?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 771e641d··

"The women's clothes in the closet are all the smallest size.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·54c2c549· Judging by shoe size, she was five-three at most.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©c186664d/May 27, 2026 A woman barely a hundred pounds, five-three — dismembering a male victim like this?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #33a5d1b1 Even if she could push past the psychological barrier, the physical execution would be extremely difficult."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.3744a049]

"She could've used a power saw," the assistant offered.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·9ad92f63

The medical examiner, who'd been studying the cut marks closely, spoke up.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.0725350e "These do look consistent with a power saw.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶7213c01c The bone cross-sections show blade striations, and the cuts are remarkably clean."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-d36594dd

Rawlings stood thinking for a moment, circled the bathroom, then wandered back into the bedroom — which reeked just as badly.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — ad1268ce He opened a compact and an eyeshadow palette, studied them, and spoke.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.ecdccf77]

"Danny.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·a3630ad5 You notice something missing from this house?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·1d770a86·

Danny Torres thought for a second.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··d464c9bf "I didn't catch that specifically, but something's been bugging me.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶c1bb0805 This couple clearly had a thing for European culture — there's a painting of Jesus on the ceiling downstairs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.f58c9c1c] So why would they have protection wards and warding tokens hanging in the house?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.02dca0b4]

"That's one red flag."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 2210f925 Rawlings continued.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «3c32a0ad» "Here's another — there are no mirrors.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — 262b84f8 Not one.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.7a0a07fd] Even the little mirror in this compact has been smashed out."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-26c85515

"Ha — what, you think the place is haunted?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.312c9298] Danny laughed like he'd heard a joke.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:39e925ee A healthy dose of skepticism from the day he was born.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··77f9b034 Ghost stories were entertainment, nothing more.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * 3402fe47

"Hard to say.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #2f9e1b15 Let's keep collecting evidence."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:fdd0f0a8]

Rawlings crouched by the bed, tweezers in hand, plucking hairs from the sheets.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.28a2ac8b He bagged eight or nine long black strands, sealed them in an evidence bag.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:a7756199] When he pulled back the comforter, on the inner side, he found a single strand — long, curled, dyed brown.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.da4a7847]

A third woman between these two?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #db835431

Crime of passion?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:d1a37020

Rawlings sealed the brown hair in its own evidence bag, labeled it, and set it aside carefully.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.0595214a

The morning's work wrapped up.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:f7930fdd] Back at the station, they used the ID found at the scene to contact next of kin.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (1a8de1f7)

The following afternoon at four, the family arrived.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.65dc67a4 Rawlings had been up all night, hadn't even closed his eyes, and was immediately pulled into the interview.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.e7cb66b8]

The notable detail: it wasn't the victim's family who came.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §254b18ac It was the missing wife's parents.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.39450da0

The woman — designer labels head to toe, unmistakable poise — was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.e152baa6] The moment she saw Rawlings, she grabbed his arm and demanded to know what had happened to her daughter.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-a4ffe197 Her husband appeared calmer, but his sunken eyes told a different story.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #478ff808

"Please, sit down.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.6e3a6de4 Try to stay calm.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.b594078c The body we found is not your daughter.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.59baac7b We've confirmed the victim's identity — his name is Preston Caldwell.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·4f9b63b5· What was Preston's relationship to your daughter?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.d9876574

The woman tried to explain through her tears, but she was crying too hard.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (d1e1f2f1) Her husband took over.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶4cfd2849 "Preston was my daughter Cordelia Devereaux's fiance.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:d37c6d5d They'd known each other two or three years.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 227cfa1e·· Got engaged last October, took the wedding portraits.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * da4a4abd In December, he and my daughter went to Europe for a trip.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:bbe15990] By January, we couldn't reach either of them."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©a6cf1472/May 27, 2026

"I called her coworkers, her friends, old classmates — everyone.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰f0952192 She hadn't been in contact with a single person.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §988f0ac0 We filed a missing persons report at the police station.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (ab072b96) They tracked her movements — she never left the country.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.af514616] No travel on her ID, nothing on Preston's driving record either."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.11074192

"Were you aware Preston owned this property in Cape Meridian?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [f0261ec7]

"No.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — galley 73a4edcf — Preston's family has money — properties all over the country.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #eeb40e71 I never imagined he'd bring my daughter to Cape Meridian."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.c42c7437

"Tell me about your daughter.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··bce29f9d Cordelia Devereaux — what kind of person is she?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹452c128c›

Rawlings sat across from the couple as the interview proceeded, someone beside him handling the recording and transcript.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * dc109c39 Everything was running by the book.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.3d349a65

"Cora is an exceptional girl.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.0813a210] She never gave us a moment's worry, not once.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.1be9de30] Academics, daily life — everything was meticulous, organized.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.d57a1f5f She liked keeping things neat, loved planning ahead.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.11a020b6 As a child she studied several instruments and foreign languages.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (8dfade6e) Other kids would cry their way through lessons — not her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶6bcdc5bd She'd be the one talking the crying kids into sticking with it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (6b72b325/Wed) More persuasive than any adult.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.796ab1d3 Born leader, through and through."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [40a848d4]

"Her father is the chief of staff at Savannah Memorial Hospital.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.77adf7ae She earned her master's from Johns Hopkins Medical School.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.0d003d94 Made attending neurosurgeon by 28.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©dff3cea0/May 27, 2026 She's so young, so much ahead of her — my daughter..." The woman broke down again, burying her face in her husband's shoulder.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.c68a6b4c

Her husband let out a heavy sigh.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:c35f38b6] Eyes glistening, he looked at Rawlings.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [a3a6d02f] "Please.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 300ef3ce Tell us.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··8173a2d7 Is our Cora still alive?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.78fe48d0]

Rawlings thought about the blood work results that had just come back.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 1908d0ac

The blood in the bathroom and the blood on the bed didn't match.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ fa0a6fc4·· Two different people, both seriously injured.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.9d7efee5

And the amount of blood on the bed — it was nearly enough to kill.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §acccb58a That night, Hurricane Louise had made landfall.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.88790945 The thunderstorm knocked out power across the entire city, and cell service was practically nonexistent.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — 176dac57 No surveillance footage of any value.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·863b0370

Rawlings pressed his lips together, told them what he could, then added: "We'll need a DNA comparison to confirm whether that blood belongs to Cordelia."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·2d4ce4e6

If it wasn't hers, there was a good chance it belonged to the woman with the brown curls.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:9e0cd971] Either way, Cordelia Devereaux was a prime suspect.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «56da76fa»

A doctor.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©52989f2f/May 27, 2026 First off, the psychological barrier to dismembering a cheating fiance barely existed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (c507b239) According to her parents, Cora had been precocious — meticulous from a young age, obsessed with order and planning.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (18989cd3/Wed) Possible perfectionist tendencies.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 9bf3087f·· Maybe even a touch of OCD.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 3e74c90a

That kind of person, pushed to the extreme?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 24a97ca9 The methods would be beyond anything you'd expect.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰e651b218