Chapter 7
515 Words
"Since he saw you, why didn't he kill you?"
Luke shot me a sideways glance, clearly annoyed that I had interrupted him.
"Ms. Alison, relax. Let me explain."
I fell silent, obediently listening to Luke's tale.
"When Frank came at me with a knife, I felt like my heart was going to leap out of my chest. I was trembling with fear, completely frozen, unable to move."
Luke licked his lips, his eyes wild as if the memory was still haunting him.
I could understand. After all, he had nearly lost his life, and anyone would be terrified at that moment.
"When Frank knocked me down, grabbed my head, and pressed that cold, blood-stained knife against my throat, I suddenly had a thought and instinctively told him a lie."
I paused my note-taking, realizing the heart of the story was about to unfold.
"Was it that lie that made Frank let you go? What lie did you tell him?"
Luke picked up the cup of coffee before him and took a sip to soothe his cracked lips.
"I told him I was just like him, that I was a murderer too."
I was momentarily stunned, asking in disbelief, "Really? How could he possibly believe you?"
Luke regarded me with interest.
"Why wouldn't he? Not everyone thinks someone would stand there calmly without running away or calling the police, just pondering about writing a novel after witnessing a murder! If someone sees a murder and doesn't report it, isn't that just as much a sign of their fear of the police as it is of his?"
I steadied myself, replying firmly, "That's true, but I've looked into Frank. He's calm and careful when he commits his crimes, a rational and cold-hearted person. Even if your behavior is unusual, he wouldn't just take your word for it!"
At this, Luke shook his head.
"You've researched him? So you know about his family background?"
I was momentarily slow to follow his line of thought, pausing for a second before responding.
"Frank comes from a rich family, but when he was eight, he was kidnapped along with his mother. Later, when his father refused to pay the ransom, his mother was killed by the kidnappers, and only Frank was released."
I hesitated for a moment, then voiced my speculation.
"But, I've heard that Frank's father brought his mistress and their illegitimate child into the Lee family just a month after his mother's death. It feels like he must have intentionally refused to pay the ransom to get rid of Frank's mother under the guise of a kidnapping."
I continued, "Because of this, Frank grew to hate mistresses and cheating men, and all the people he killed were those types. His father and stepmother were the first victims."
Frank's background was indeed tragic. He witnessed his mother being killed by his father and endured the presence of his father's mistress and their child for years.
It wasn't hard to imagine how twisted his personality would become.
How could someone so deeply affected possibly let Luke go because of a lie?
- Writer
