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Mason was Iris's older brother, a detective in the area.
I'd texted him after leaving the equipment room, asking for help. But wasn't he in Silverwood City? He got here faster than I expected.
Soon, the scene was under control. Mason's police team had secured the area.
I drank some water, trying to calm down, but I could still feel intense eyes on my back.
I turned and met Mason's gaze.
Nervously, I said, “Mason, I swear I didn't kill Iris. The blood on my clothes is from—”
“Luna, I know,” Mason cut me off. “This is a setup.”
I wasn't sure what he meant until he showed me his phone. Iris had texted him at 2:30 PM: [Mason, it wasn't Luna. Believe her.]
2:30 PM—that was when we were just arriving at the bar.
But Iris had tutoring on Sundays. Why was she here so early?
And did she really send this?
Mason saw my doubt and explained, “See these symbols []? Iris and I agreed on them. It's a distress signal—in case she was in danger, like being kidnapped.”
“So she really sent it.” I felt a chill.
That meant Iris might have sensed something was wrong and was killed because of it. Did she die around 3 PM?
What did she go through?
Terrified and heartbroken, I started crying.
Mason silently handed me a tissue. When I calmed down, he said, “Tell me everything you know and suspect. Let's compare notes.”
I left out the part about being reborn. I told him about Ingrid, Eli, and Liam's strange behavior, and how I'd climbed into the equipment room.
When we stepped out, Auntie Ava and Uncle Alex stood up. They seemed to have aged instantly. Holding Mason, they looked slightly relieved.
I learned then why Iris's parents arrived so early—Mason had called them after getting Iris's text, warning them she might be in danger.
But when they arrived, Ingrid intercepted them and poisoned them against me.
Mason had someone take his parents home. He apologized to me. I smiled and said it was okay.
Suddenly, I noticed Mason's clothes had bloodstains, and he looked pale.
Worried, I asked, “Mason, are you okay?”
He shook his head and suggested we go to the equipment room. As we passed the front desk, the TV was reporting a car accident. The person involved was…
I covered my mouth in horror. “Mason, you were in an accident?!”
Officer Chase, following behind, chimed in, “Yeah, Captain got a huge gash on his leg. He was in the hospital getting stitched up when he suddenly shot up like a ghost and insisted on coming—”
Mason shot him a look. Officer Chase instantly shut up.
My feelings were all over the place.
No wonder I didn't see him last time. He was probably unconscious in the hospital. If Mason had been there, maybe I wouldn't have died...
I shook off the thought.
What's done is done. I'm back now. No use dwelling on it.
The bar was cleared out. Only Ingrid, Eli, and Liam remained.
When Ingrid saw me, she looked smug.
“Officer, my sister killed Iris. Please arrest her.”
