Ashley and the detectives gathered around a whiteboard covered with photos of my dismembered body, each image annotated with their analysis and speculations.

The key ones were circled.

"No match on the deceased's DNA for identification, indicating no criminal record."

"There haven't been any missing persons matching his age and height recently."

A detective asked, "How could someone just disappear like this without any family looking for him?

"Or does he have no family?"

Ashley mused, circling the words "left arm" on the board.

"We can't confirm the identity of the deceased. If we find that missing left arm, maybe we can find something to identify him," she said.

Meanwhile, I crouched by the trash can, desperately trying to lift the prosthetic arm, but my transparent hand passed through it, forever unable to touch it.

I thought, "The clues you're looking for are right here in this prosthetic arm.

But now you've tossed it away."

Ashley then wrote "dismemberment scene" and circled it.

There was little blood in the sewer, suggesting it was just a dumping site.

Usually, killers dismembered corpses in familiar or perceived safe places, often returning to the crime scene.

Finding where this happened could break the case wide open.

"We've searched the sewer thoroughly, but found no sign of the left arm or remaining body parts."

"That means the killer didn't dump those parts here."

"But why dispose of the body separately? This part likely holds key identifiers."

Ashley paused, frowning as she stared at the "left ear" on the board.

Instinctively, I touched my left earlobe, where a small red birthmark rested.

Ashley knew this mark well from the times she used to pinch it playfully.

A detective said, "The killer tortured him for days before brutally killing him. There's a vendetta involved, possibly against the victim or his family."

"Revenge..."

Another detective glanced sharply at Ashley.

"Ms. Fenn, could the killer be someone from a criminal group we've cracked down on? Maybe they held a grudge and targeted him to provoke us.

"But that doesn't add up. No one from our precinct has reported a missing family member. And if someone did disappear, why wouldn't they file a report?"

Ashley's brow twitched momentarily as if a thought had struck her.

But she shook her head dismissively, denying her own suspicion.

I thought, "Ashley, did you just think of it?

I once told you about my health issues.

But you only saw it as jealousy towards your ex-lover, thinking I lied about my health to win your sympathy.

Unfortunately, you've missed another crucial lead."

When it came to cops that criminals hate the most, Ashley topped the list.

If she weren't so indifferent to me and went home to take a look, she would definitely find the clues I left for her.

Ashley hesitated briefly, then dove back into work, organizing the detectives into small teams.

One team conducted interviews to check if anyone had a missing family member.

Another team searched for the initial crime scene and any remaining body parts.

A third team visited hospitals as the victim had cancer; if he sought medical help there, the hospital records should show it.

Additionally, experts were enlisted to reconstruct my skull.

By applying principles of anatomy and facial bone structure, along with data on my facial tissues, they would sculpt skin, hair, and features on a soft plastic model.

Once my skull was reconstructed, they could match it with ID records in the public security system to confirm my identity directly.

However, this skull reconstruction process would take some time.

Ashley rubbed her temples, looking weary.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed.

She pulled out her phone. A gentle smile appeared on her face when she saw the caller ID.

"Ashley, I think I saw a suspicious figure outside the window..."

"Where are you now? Okay, don't move. Lock the windows, turn on all the lights, and wait for me to get back!"

After she had finished the call, she checked the time. It was almost 10 p.m.

"Everyone, go home and rest for now. We'll discuss further matters tomorrow."

My heart ached instantly.

Ashley was a workaholic, often disappearing for days on end when she was focused on a case. So, I never dared to disturb her.

But now, just one call from her old flame could make her drop everything and rush back to be with him.

In her heart, I would never be as important as him.

I drifted along with Ashley until we arrived at a house.

It was her residence from her pre-marriage days.

Ironically, I only learned in death that the supposedly rented place was housing him, Bruce Wayne, Ashley's old flame, and the hostage she rescued from criminals three months ago.

For these past three months, she must have been staying here with him.

The thought tugged painfully at my heart.

Bruce suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Ashley feared for his safety and dreaded retaliation from the criminals who sought the rescued hostage.

So she sped through the half-hour drive in less than twenty minutes.

She dashed to the door of the house, her voice trembling.

"Bruce?"

I had only seen this kind of panic on her face when her father passed away.

Bruce curled up in the corner of the couch. Upon hearing Ashley's voice, he rushed forward, enveloping my wife in his arms, clearly struggling to contain his fear.

Ashley stiffened slightly, reaching out, then hesitantly returned the embrace.

She stroked his soft hair, murmuring, "It's okay. I'm here..."

Bruce relied heavily on her, his voice tinged with hurt. "Where did you go? I thought... you didn't care about me anymore..."

Ashley explained calmly, "There was a dismemberment case today. The autopsy results came out today. So, I've been busy."

Bruce blinked as he released his hold on Ashley's hand.

"Oh? Did you find any clues?" he inquired.

"Well, the victim was a disabled male, a cancer patient. It appears to be a targeted killing, but the victim's identity is still unknown, and there are no solid leads yet," Ashley replied.

"A disabled person... how pitiful," Bruce muttered with feigned sympathy, but his eyes gleamed with hidden satisfaction.

His hypocritical facade made me sick to my stomach!

It was clear he was fishing for information.

Once tight-lipped in front of me, Ashley now seemed defenseless against Bruce.

Was this the difference between love and indifference?

Because she loved him, her former unattainable flame, all her principles seemed to fade away in his presence.

Ashley seemed eager to share with Bruce, saying, "The killer brutally dismembered the victim, so we suspect it could be an act of provocation from someone who escaped capture three months ago."

Bruce gasped, visibly shaken. "That's... terrifying. Have you found out who it is yet?"

Ashley replied with concern, "Not at the moment.

"It's likely the work of the criminals' associates, and I fear they might harm you if they know you're alive.

"Stay indoors, and call me immediately if anything seems off."

Bruce nodded before changing the subject.

"Ashley, you come here every day to keep me company. He... won't be pleased, right? After all, he's your husband, and he wasn't happy before..."

At the mention of me, Ashley's expression turned cold in an instant.

She glanced at Bruce with a soft look as though afraid of upsetting him.

"Why bring him up? If not for him, my dad wouldn't have..." Ashley trailed off, furrowing her brow.

"You should rest now; it's getting late."

"But I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I think of that day..." Bruce confided.

"Don't worry., I'll stay with you until you fall asleep, then I'll leave."

Floating above, I watched Ashley comforting Bruce at his bedside with gentleness in her eyes that I had never seen before.

I thought, "They seem so compatible.

I, on the other hand, am always just an outsider.

Yet Ashley, the one you currently protect so diligently, is a demon in disguise..."

The next day, accompanied by a police officer, Ashley visited various hospitals, searching for any missing patients.

After hours of running around, they finally arrived at Oreon Hospital.

She flipped through the patient registry, cross-referencing details, hoping to find a clue.

Nearby, a nurse muttered, "Leo Moore, why can't we reach him? His scheduled surgery time has long passed."

Ashley paused briefly but didn't dwell on it.

Perhaps she thought there were too many people with the same name in the world.

I was a fraud to her, a liar who pretended to be ill and came to the hospital to track her under the guise of a check-up.

In her mind, I was a complete sinner, faking illness. So, how could I really be sick?

A nurse said, "Oh, by the way, do you remember the major case three months ago? Seems like he... "

Suddenly, Ashley's phone rang.

"Captain Fenn, we've got a lead!"

Ashley hung up and hurried out.

On the next page of the registry she'd been reading was my registration information.

I thought, "Ashley, so close, you almost knew I wasn't lying...

That day at the hospital, I really came for a check-up.

Your father's death wasn't my fault..."

Ashley hurried back to the police station.

Today, a letter suddenly appeared at the station.

It read: [Guess who I am? Hint: gift.]

The letter seemed to materialize out of thin air in a surveillance blind spot, making it impossible to trace its sender.

Everyone gathered around the letter, their expressions grim.

They thought, "Could it be... the gift from yesterday?"

Ashley frowned, pulled out her phone, and removed my number from the blocklist, dialing several times with no answer.

She angrily sent me a voice message.

"Leo, do you ever stop?! Did you think I'd forgive you for this? Not in a million lifetimes! I'll never forgive you! Your pranks only make me hate you more!"

Barry looked serious. "Just to be cautious, we should investigate, in case..."

Ashley disagreed strongly, saying, "We don't need to bother with that jerk's pranks."

Barry remained doubtful and insisted on investigating that prosthetic arm.

Ashley didn't want to get involved with anything related to me and headed towards the archives. "I'll go check the organized crime files."

Barry and his team rushed to collect trash near the junkyard, working for hours until they retrieved the discarded prosthetic arm.

Barry examined the arm thoroughly and accidentally found a switch.

"Ah!!"

The switch clicked, and a strong, foul odor filled the air.

"Ugh..."

"Ashley! Leo's in trouble!"

Barry turned pale and dashed towards the archives.

Upon hearing my name, Ashley was impatient.

"His problems have nothing to do with me. Even if he's dead, don't look for me!"

Barry urgently said, "There's crucial evidence inside that prosthetic arm from yesterday!

"Are you sure that the box from yesterday was really sent by Leo?"

Ashley was momentarily stunned. "There was evidence in the prosthetic arm?"

Yesterday, she had concluded it was my mischief without even verifying if I had sent the box.

Today, tracing the box's origin was impossible.

Barry's expression was grave.

"Ashley, I have a terrible suspicion... How long has it been since you last contacted Leo?"

Ashley looked incredulous.

"How could it be! Leo..."

A police officer rushed over. "Captain Dent, someone's here for Captain Fenn, saying..."

He looked at Ashley, continuing, "There's a substitute teacher named Leo Moore, missing for a week!"

It was a teacher, Amanda Queen, from the special school I volunteered at, where I had promised to teach the children every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

But I hadn't been there for a long time, and she couldn't reach me.

Knowing my wife, Ashley, was the captain of the criminal police team, she came directly.

"I thought Mr. Moore wouldn't come back after his injury, but he never replied to my messages, and I'm a bit worried..."

Ashley' was shocked. "What did you say? Injured?!"

Amanda looked puzzled. "You don't know? Mr. Moore's arm has been injured for three months!"

Ashley yelled in a near-breakdown, "Tell me! What did Leo promise you to act in this farce with him?

"You tell him I've seen through his tricks! Let him stop wasting his efforts. Even if he's dead, I won't see him!

"Someone like him, using such tactics, makes me sick!"

Amanda stepped back in fear.

Barry restrained the out-of-control Ashley. "Ashley, calm down!

"I know there are many misunderstandings between you and Leo, but we all know he wasn't involved in your father's case! You're just taking your anger out on him. But now he's injured and missing. Enough!"

Ashley screamed in a rage, "What injury? It's a shame! See him? Not a chance! He's not worthy! He's the one who caused my father's death! He's not worthy!"

I thought, "She still hates me like this!

I'm clearly innocent!"