Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace (Dexter) novel Chapter 422

He didn't want to explain, and frankly, he couldn't be bothered.

I got it. In the eyes of ordinary folks, Colin and I with our oddball attitudes were the weirdos.

Just by being us, we were the anomalies.

Colin knew in his heart that Stella and Bran might still be alive, but explaining that to people who didn't share his level of understanding was futile... They probably wouldn't believe him anyway.

Only when we'd escape this place and they saw Stella and Bran alive would they truly get it.

"Stella's not dead?" Robin asked Colin, his voice laced with anxiety. "Colin, you gotta make this clear, man."

"If she's innocent, she won't die," Colin replied, locking eyes with Robin. "Are you absolutely certain she's innocent?"

Robin frowned. "She has to be."

"Those who get caught fall into a few categories: the villains from the old orphanage incident, all bad to the bone, none spared. Then there's the cops, you, Finn, Stella, you're witnesses. As long as you don't do something incredibly dumb and walk into the lion's den, the puppet master won't touch you."

I glanced at the security camera, offering an explanation for Colin. "And then there's the mastermind or someone who could upset the whole scheme."

My gaze settled on Melody. "Like her. The reason she's still kicking isn't luck or fate but because she's under Damian's protection. The person pulling the strings of this horror show isn't out for blood but to provoke, to challenge the forces behind Melody, to poke at the web of kidnapping, human trafficking, genetic tampering, and possibly more crimes."

"It's also mockery. He's revealing the truth bit by bit, laughing at the so-called specialists like Finn for their inaction." I frowned, looking at Finn.

Finn opened his mouth, probably to argue, but apparently too embarrassed, he looked down. "No one thought to connect human trafficking with genetic crimes."

"Idiot," Colin chimed in, timely as ever.