Chapter 3 My Death Announcement

On the morning of the fourth day, the police came.

Matthew rushed in frantically and shouted, "Mr. Smyth, the police are here! They seem to be here for Caleb!"

Dad was reading the newspaper. When he heard this, he threw the newspaper into the trash and stormed outside angrily.

"What trouble has that brat gotten into this time? Did he steal something or get into a fight?"

Dad walked to the door and saw two police officers.

Before they could even speak, he immediately yelled at the top of his lungs, "Officers, although he's my son, he's full of lies and is a terrible person! I don't care what crime he's committed, just take him away.

"It would be best to lock him up in juvenile detention so he stops causing trouble for us at home!"

The police officers froze when they heard what he said.

The young male officer's eyes were bloodshot. He gave Dad a very strange look before taking out a transparent bag. Inside was a cheap electronic watch stained with blood.

It was my watch!

I had bought it for five dollars with money I earned by collecting bottles. Although it wasn't worth much, I thought it was really cool. I had always kept it hidden in my pocket, planning to wear it for Dad during the New Year and ask him if I looked handsome.

"Mr. Smyth." The young male officer's voice trembled slightly, as if he were holding back something. "Caleb didn't commit a crime. He was the victim. We've arrested the suspect, and she confessed that she kidnapped Caleb three days ago..."

"Oh, give me a break!" Dad sneered, cutting him off.

"Officer, did he fool you, too? Just a couple of days ago, he got someone to put on an act to scam money out of me. When I refused, he threatened to kill himself. Tell him that this trick won't work on me! Also, tell him to stop playing these stupid games and hurry back home!"

Dad's voice was loud and piercing. I floated beside him, wanting to cover my ears. Unfortunately, I couldn't.

Dad, stop talking. Please, just stop.

The officer's expression turned grim. He raised his voice and said sternly, "Mr. Smyth, this isn't an act! We found Caleb's body beneath an unfinished building. He really is dead. When he died, he was still clutching this watch tightly in his hand."

Dad froze. The sneer on his face stiffened, making him look so weird.

"D-Dead?" he stammered. "How is that possible? How could he die? You're lying to me! He must have teamed up with you to trick me! There's nothing he wouldn't do for money. Faking his death? That's exactly the kind of thing he'd do!"

Dad kept shouting, but I saw that his hands were shaking badly.

Just then, Rylan poked his head out from the stairway.

He held a handful of sunflower seeds, cracking them open as he blinked his eyes and asked, "Dad, is Caleb really dead? Does that mean I can tear his doghouse down and turn it into my game room?"

His voice was clear and innocent. He sounded as though he was just asking whether he could have some ice cream.

Dad suddenly spun around and glared at Rylan fiercely.

At that moment, Dad's eyes looked terrifying. He looked as though this was the first time he was truly seeing Rylan.

Rylan shrank back and stuck out his tongue. "I was just asking. After all, he's never coming back."

I looked at Rylan, and my heart was filled with sadness.

I wondered if he really hated me that much. After all, he seemed to only care about my room after I was dead.

Dad said nothing. Instead, he turned back to the police officers and said, "Take me there. I want to see him with my own two eyes."