Chapter 4

After Jack left, Alex and I both let out a long sigh of relief.

That moment seemed to make the air in the entire room a bit lighter.

Alex sat next to Grandpa, cursing under his breath, "This guy's using his police interrogation tactics on me. Good thing I'm quick-witted."

I sat beside Alex, feeling so tense I was almost faint. My emotions that night had been like a rollercoaster, up and down, unable to calm down.

Late at night, the house gradually quieted down. I gazed at the moon outside the window, its silver-white light spilling into the courtyard, making everything seem particularly peaceful. Occasionally, the sound of insects chirping reached my ears, adding a touch of life to this quiet night.

I knew that once Jack left tomorrow, it might be our final goodbye. I understood that I should go see him one last time, but I was afraid that if I did, I wouldn't be able to let go.

As I was struggling with this dilemma, I heard a soft creak. Jack gently pushed open the door and walked into the small courtyard.

The faint moonlight fell on the ground. Using this dim light, he searched for something. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He crouched down and carefully picked up the rag doll, gently brushing off the dirt.

So, he came to find Bebe?

Bebe was my rag doll. I took it everywhere with me; I couldn't sleep without it.

Jack stared blankly at the doll, his expression somewhat dazed. He murmured softly to himself, "Did she not want you either?"

My heart ached. This doll was my most important companion, and he always knew what it meant to me. Seeing him now, holding Bebe so preciously, tears welled up in my eyes.

I knew him too well. He must have started to suspect something.

His intuition had always been sharp, especially after he became a police officer. His keen observation and judgment made it even harder to deceive him.

I consoled myself that as long as nothing unexpected happened, he would leave tomorrow. Then everything would return to normal, and my secret would remain undiscovered.

Early the next morning, just as dawn was breaking, someone knocked on our door. The knocking sound seemed particularly jarring in the quiet morning. My heart suddenly leaped; for some reason, I had an ominous feeling.

"Jack, are you there?" Mrs. Thompson from next door stood at the small courtyard gate, knocking and calling out.

Jack went over and learned that last night, someone had taken advantage of the darkness to rob the graves around the village. Mrs. Thompson was asking him, as a police officer, to help investigate.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Thompson. I'll handle it as soon as possible," Jack reassured her while quickly changing his shoes to go out and taking out his phone to cancel his train ticket.

Watching this scene, Alex couldn't help but try to dissuade him: "Jack, do you really have to go?"

Jack coldly retorted: "Can you mimic catching thieves too?"

After saying this, he thought for a moment, then turned back to grab the exhumation tools, clearly planning to handle both matters.

Alex and Emily volunteered to help, and even Grandpa, who wasn't fully lucid, insisted on going along.

So, a large group of people set off towards my grave. I stood behind them, feeling a bit lost, wondering how things had suddenly developed to this point.

When we arrived at the gravesite, we found that my coffin had already been pried open.

I shouted internally: "Damn it, who would steal from my grave!"

Alex's reaction was even stronger than mine. His face instantly turned ashen, "Who's so heartless to steal from the dead!"

Jack didn't say anything. He just glanced at the pried-open coffin, thought for a moment, then silently took out his tools, preparing to start the exhumation.

Seeing Jack's attitude, Alex became somewhat irritated and angrily said, "Jack, what do you call this? They didn't even spare the dead, it's completely inhumane!"

Jack remained silent, continuing his work, and said calmly, "Why are you so angry? You don't know the deceased. Or do you?"

Alex was suddenly at a loss for words, the anger in his heart seemed to be blocked.

Jack continued, "This timing is perfect. Let Grandpa watch us finish so he can be at ease, and then I can go catch the thieves."

Alex didn't say anything more. At the auspicious hour, the exhumation ritual finally began.

Jack first lit three incense sticks for the deceased at the grave, then tapped the wall around the tombstone with a large hammer, signaling to the departed about the upcoming actions.

Following tradition, he first grasped the hand of the deceased, indicating "we're going to get up now."

Jack's expression froze the moment he saw my hand bones.

He kept leaning closer, trying hard to discern something, even holding his breath.

Slowly, he rubbed the broken joint with his fingertip.

I felt a bit scared. He might recognize me.

This hand was missing a joint because of saving Jack.