Generally speaking, wraiths that haven't entered the Land of the Dead only possess obsessions; they don't develop true consciousness.
They usually linger around their own corpses, or hover near whoever their obsession is tied to—murderers, lovers, or people they couldn't let go of.
But Lynn had never seen a wraith like this one—one that actually knew to come all the way to the police precinct to report something.
Even the thirty-something wraiths around Count Kolsais had only wanted revenge.
Reaching the entrance of the Manhattan Police Department, Lynn activated his Phantom Spirit ability and began communicating with the female spirit.
But no matter how he questioned her, the spirit only pointed to her abdomen, then shook her head, two streams of bloody tears sliding down her cheeks.
Lynn couldn't help wondering—had she been pregnant before she died? Was her obsession tied to the child in her womb?
The female spirit opened her mouth, and as it moved, several butterfly-shaped souls fluttered out, circling her before slowly dissipating.
Lynn was stunned for a moment.
What was going on?
Then the female spirit turned and looked into the distance.
Without another word, Lynn went straight to his car, used the Power of Death to guide the spirit into the passenger seat, started the engine, and drove in the direction she was facing.
During the drive, whenever the female spirit's gaze shifted, Lynn adjusted the wheel and continued forward.
Finally, when the car reached the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge, the spirit suddenly lifted her hand and pointed beneath the structure.
Lynn parked, walked under the bridge, and—guided by the female spirit—found a large suitcase.
Opening it, a woman's corpse lay inside.
Lynn immediately put on gloves and lifted the victim's shirt. A long, clearly sutured incision stretched across her abdomen.
After confirming the corpse belonged to the female spirit beside him, Lynn pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and muttered, "Didn't expect you to actually come call the precinct. Why don't you deepen that obsession a little more and learn to talk while you're at it?"
The spirit showed no reaction. She simply kept pointing at the stitched wound.
"I know, I know. Once the medical examiner arrives, they'll run the autopsy."
The call finally connected.
"Damn it, Lynn! Where did you disappear to again? Do you know that because of what you just said, Jennifer—"
Before George Stacy could finish blowing up, Lynn cut him off:
"George, we've got a body under the Brooklyn Bridge. Homicide. The victim's abdomen was cut open. Get the medical examiner down here immediately to process the scene."
Hearing that, George Stacy swallowed the rest of his rant.
"No problem—but Lynn, Brooklyn isn't under the jurisdiction of our Manhattan precinct. I need to coordinate with the Brooklyn PD first."
After George hung up, Lynn found a spot against a pillar, lit a cigarette, and waited quietly for the forensic team.
Half an hour later, George arrived in a police car with the medical examiner and several forensic techs.
Once everyone stepped out, Lynn pointed them toward the suitcase and the body beneath the bridge.
George crouched down, took one look at the corpse in the alley-like space under the bridge, then accepted a cigarette from Lynn.
"How did you find the body?" he asked.
Lynn didn't answer. Instead he said, "First, you tell me—how did you know I was vacationing in Miami?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D. sent over a secondment notice saying your assignment with them was completed."
"Fuck the S.H.I.E.L.D.! Sigh.. those S.H.I.E.L.D. people are really something. They borrow you when they need you and send you back the moment they don't."
"I was planning to enjoy a few more days in Miami."
"Let's talk about that later."
George waved him off, then grew serious. "The real reason I needed you back fast is that several major incidents have happened in Manhattan."
"Just four hours after you left, we found a female corpse on the roadside."
"The cause of death was asphyxiation. After she died, the killer shoved two wooden sticks into her eye sockets and carved a heart shape into the backs of her hands."
George exhaled a long stream of smoke.
"While we were still working that case, a second body turned up—headless. Same heart carved on the backs of her hands."
"And before the day was even over, we found a third victim. Same cause of death. Her heart had been cut out and placed on her forehead, and the same heart pattern was carved into her hands."
"So I suspect this is a serial case, and the murderer is extremely violent and mentally unstable."
Taking a deep breath, George looked toward the forensics team processing the scene.
"You have a sharp instinct for homicide cases—that's why I called you back. The media already picked up the story. If we don't crack it fast, the public—especially women—will panic."
Just then, one of the forensic techs called out, "George, Lynn! Found something unusual!"
Lynn and George walked over immediately.
The technician turned the victim's wrist inside the suitcase, revealing a black heart-shaped marking.
Seeing it, George's eyes narrowed.
"This makes four victims with the same symbol. Lynn… any thoughts?"
Lynn thought for a moment.
"I need to see the bodies of the first three victims."
There was nothing he could do.. the Female Spirit kept pointing at her stomach, so the autopsy and everything else would have to wait until they got back.
And since she had no clear way of communicating, it was possible the wraiths of the other victims were still lingering near their bodies.
Hearing Lynn say this, George Stacy nodded.
After confirming there were no additional clues at the scene, George led everyone back to the Manhattan Police Department.
In the forensic division, the Medical Examiner began dissecting the newly recovered body, while Lynn headed to the morgue to inspect the three earlier victims.
Unfortunately, their wraiths were nowhere to be seen.
Lynn could only frown—he had nothing to go on.
When he returned to the autopsy room, the Medical Examiner had completed the dissection.
The sutured abdomen was opened, revealing that the kidney area had been hollowed out—and inside the cavity lay a cluster of dead butterflies.
George Stacy's brows knit tightly.
"Damn it, what is this killer trying to do? Some kind of sick ritual?"
"George, Lynn, according to the examination, her cause of death was also asphyxiation," the Medical Examiner said.
"Same as the previous victims."
Hearing that, George rubbed the back of his head in frustration.
Meanwhile, Lynn slowly turned his head—and locked eyes with the Female Spirit.
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(づ￣ 3￣)づ
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