- 3 hours ago
My Husband Solve My Murder
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Short filmTranscript
00:00My husband was America's best criminal psychologist.
00:02He never said I love you, until after my death.
00:06Then my body was found on a mountain north of the city.
00:09Philander stood over my corpse, cold and detached.
00:12He said,
00:13This is the work of a serial killer.
00:15He didn't know he was looking at his own wife.
00:17Then his phone rang.
00:20Your wife didn't come to work today.
00:23Philander frowned.
00:25She's fine.
00:26He hung up and went back to the case.
00:28The case he was solving was my murder.
00:32My husband never said I love you, until after my death.
00:36He was a criminal psychologist.
00:38The moment he texted,
00:39I'm sorry babe.
00:40I've been really busy.
00:42I'll come home for our anniversary.
00:44I was already bleeding out on the street.
00:46He didn't even know I was dead.
00:47He just kept working cold.
00:49Perfect.
00:50Brilliant.
00:51Until the case he was solving, turned out to be my murder.
00:54My husband, Philander Wagner,
00:55was the most renowned criminal psychologist in America.
00:58He barely ever came home.
01:00After three years of marriage,
01:02we had hardly spent any time together at all.
01:04Today, his supervisor had kindly given him some time off.
01:07Your wedding anniversary is coming up, isn't it?
01:10Once this case is wrapped up,
01:12go home and spend some quality time with her.
01:14Behind his glasses,
01:15Philander's gaze was cool as ever.
01:16Since she chose to marry me,
01:18she chose this life.
01:20There's no need to celebrate something as boring as an anniversary.
01:24My spirit hovered beside him,
01:26lost and hollow.
01:27Indeed,
01:28we wouldn't be celebrating our wedding anniversary.
01:30Unbeknownst to Philander,
01:31I had died on my way home just now.
01:35It hurt like hell to have your throat sliced open,
01:38my windpipe tore under the force,
01:40air rushing in and out through the ragged gash.
01:42I tried to scream for help,
01:44but my mouth could only produce wet,
01:46gurgling sounds.
01:47The pain was unbearable.
01:49The ingredients I had carefully selected for Philander
01:51were scattered across the ground,
01:53stained a deep,
01:54glaring crimson.
01:55Tonight,
01:56I had intended to bring him soup.
01:58He loved clam chowder,
01:59but was terribly picky he could tell with a single taste
02:01if it wasn't made just right.
02:03I had gone to several different markets
02:04to find the exact kind he liked.
02:06All of it was wasted.
02:08The night was pitch black.
02:09My vision blurred,
02:10my gaze dull and unfocused
02:12as it fixed on the flickering screen
02:13of my phone lying nearby.
02:15Philander had just sent a message.
02:17Don't bother coming.
02:18I don't have time for you.
02:20The next instant,
02:21the killer wrapped my entire face
02:22in a filthy, stinking cloth.
02:24He snarled viciously.
02:25You died because of Philander Wagner!
02:27Get it?
02:28Even if your ghost wants revenge,
02:30you should go after him!
02:31With that,
02:32the last of my strength drained away.
02:34I was gone.
02:37Perhaps the killer's curse truly took effect.
02:40Once my spirit left my body
02:41and I regained awareness.
02:42I found myself standing near Philander,
02:45in the vast office.
02:46Only the lamp on his desk was lit.
02:48Wearing his glasses,
02:49he was bent over case files,
02:50deep in analysis.
02:52The phone with which he had just sent the message
02:54lay dark and silent by his hand.
02:56Bathed in the warm yellow light,
02:57I observed him closely for the first time.
02:59He had a sharply defined face,
03:02eyes that held no warmth,
03:03and thin lips that never seemed to form a gentle sentence.
03:06The office was overly air-conditioned.
03:09Philander briefly curled his fingers against the chill.
03:12Instinctively,
03:12I reached for the jacket nearby to drape over his shoulders.
03:15My hands passed right through the fabric.
03:17I stood there frozen.
03:19It was then that the truth of my death truly hit me.
03:21When I turned to look at Philander again,
03:23I remembered our last meeting,
03:25back when I was still alive.
03:27It was near the end of June,
03:28when he came home from the office without a word.
03:30When I opened my eyes,
03:31what I saw was his cool arm resting beneath my head.
03:34Years spent mostly indoors.
03:36Philander was unusually fair-skinned.
03:38The slightest movement from me woke him.
03:41Loretta.
03:41He said my name softly.
03:43Within the hour,
03:44pack what I need for the trip.
03:48His time was too valuable to waste on mundane tasks.
03:51He was always thinking,
03:52analyzing,
03:53and weighing pros and cons.
03:55He only ever viewed things from a criminal's perspective.
03:58I changed out of my pajamas,
04:00feeling heavy-hearted.
04:01Do it yourself.
04:02Philander studied my face,
04:04intrigued,
04:05and sat up in bed.
04:06Inner eyebrows raised,
04:07corners of the mouth downward,
04:09eyelided slightly swollen,
04:11faint redness in the eyes.
04:12He began his analysis,
04:13stating with certainty.
04:14You cried last night,
04:16more than once,
04:17for over 30 minutes.
04:18I turned away,
04:19avoiding his gaze,
04:20and started packing his luggage as he had asked.
04:23Philander,
04:23I don't like it when you do this.
04:25Ever since we married,
04:26I disliked how he used criminal psychology theories on me.
04:29It was as if I stood naked before him.
04:31Every emotion easily laid bare.
04:33But Philander never listened.
04:35This time was no different.
04:37He stepped out of bed barefoot and moved closer.
04:39I'm right.
04:41Philander took a few steps back,
04:43scanned the bedroom,
04:43walked to the living room to glance into the refrigerator,
04:46and finally leaned against the bedroom doorframe,
04:49looking down at me.
04:50Someone in your family died.
04:51A relative.
04:53Not immediate,
04:54but you were close to them.
04:55Probably over 40.
04:58Let me think.
04:59He was trying to recall a face from our wedding
05:01that matched his description.
05:05But I closed my eyes,
05:06cutting him off quietly as tears fell.
05:09You don't have to go to all that trouble.
05:11I had already texted him the news about my aunt's passing.
05:14My apologies.
05:15Philander paused,
05:16attempting to offer comfort,
05:18yet his professional instinct made his words come out detached.
05:20There's no need for excessive grief over someone who has passed.
05:24Psychology indicates that complicated grief severely impacts work and daily life.
05:29Besides,
05:29your behavior this morning affects my efficiency,
05:32interferes with my cognitive focus,
05:34and hinters my ability to save lives.
05:37Loretta,
05:38I don't want my partner to be overly emotional.
05:41What a cold, commanding tone.
05:43I let out a humorless laugh.
05:45Finally,
05:46I finished packing and looked up at him.
05:47He was already dressed.
05:49The well-fitted suit framed him,
05:51giving him the air of someone cool,
05:52precise,
05:53and utterly cerebral.
05:54My heart sank at that moment.
05:56I asked,
05:57almost bitterly,
05:58In your life,
05:59is there only room for work?
06:01Philander took the suitcase and replied without hesitation.
06:04A childish, pointless question.
06:06The front door opened and closed.
06:08He didn't look back.
06:09That was the last time we ever saw each other.
06:13An elementary school teacher and a criminal psychologist normally had nothing in common.
06:18If not for a mutual acquaintance,
06:20we would never have met.
06:21On our blind date,
06:23Philander was two hours late.
06:24I was about to leave when he finally arrived.
06:27His face and clothes were stained with blood,
06:29as if he'd just come from a crime scene.
06:31It frightened everyone who saw him.
06:33It frightened me too.
06:34Even after he sat down,
06:35It took me a while to process.
06:37We stared at each other in silence.
06:39I tried to break the ice,
06:40offering him a few napkins.
06:42But he was already getting up to leave.
06:44Skip the introductions.
06:46Two strangers reciting their identical life stories is a waste of time.
06:50I already know the basics.
06:52He held my gaze,
06:53took the napkins,
06:54and wiped the blood from his face,
06:55revealing cold,
06:56sharp features.
06:57He called the server over and took out his wallet to pay.
07:00As it happens,
07:01I'm willing to marry you.
07:04Philander handed me the receipt with his contact information written on it.
07:07Assuming nothing comes up,
07:09you may reach me after 10 p.m.
07:12Later,
07:13we actually got married.
07:15It all happened in a blur.
07:16My best friend said I was insane.
07:18What do you see in him?
07:20He has nothing going for him except his looks.
07:22At that time,
07:23I was at the mall picking out a coat for Philander.
07:26His previous one had gotten stained with brain matter at a crime scene.
07:29He'd wanted to just wash and keep wearing it.
07:31I insisted he throw it away and said I'd buy him a new one.
07:35Outside of work,
07:36Philander wasn't much different from the mischievous kids in my class.
07:39I can't tell you.
07:40I selected a coat and answered my friend softly.
07:43I couldn't tell her I'd once seen Philander on campus during college,
07:46or tell her I'd obsessively searched for his profile online.
07:49And I definitely couldn't tell her how fast my heart raced the moment I saw him at that cafe.
07:54When he said we could get married,
07:56I felt completely weightless with joy.
07:58Perhaps only Philander knew how much I loved him.
08:03Every time I tried to sneak a kiss while he slept,
08:06he'd notice.
08:07Those cool eyes would lock on me.
08:09His hand resting over my heart.
08:11Loretta,
08:11he'd say,
08:12your heart rate is unusually high.
08:14It matches the rhythm of an adolescent during their first homicide.
08:19Outside the window,
08:20heavy rain began to fall.
08:21My thoughts returned to the present.
08:24Philander had,
08:24at some point,
08:25put on the coat I bought him.
08:27Tired from work,
08:28he rubbed his temples.
08:30He reached for his phone,
08:31but his supervisor,
08:32Lorenzo Burnett,
08:33came in just then carrying a food container.
08:36Long night,
08:36Proffer Wagner.
08:37Lorenzo smiled warmly and opened it,
08:39revealing creamy clam chowder inside.
08:42Your wife mentioned you should take better care of yourself.
08:44Said you like this.
08:45Took the liberty of having my wife make something.
08:48Try it.
08:48You need to keep your strength up during a case.
08:50Philander took a spoonful,
08:51frowned slightly,
08:52set the spoon down,
08:53and looked up.
08:54Is there something you need?
08:58Lorenzo didn't beat around the bush.
09:00I'm here to talk about you taking some time off.
09:02Your anniversary is coming up,
09:04isn't it?
09:05Once this case is wrapped up,
09:07go home and spend some quality time with Laura.
09:09I'd almost forgotten I really had asked Lorenzo for this favor.
09:12For our fourth wedding anniversary,
09:14I needed Philander to come home.
09:16Not just for the occasion,
09:18but also to discuss divorce.
09:20Being with a cold and distant person
09:21would slowly cool the most passionate heart.
09:24Philander was unmoved.
09:26She chose me,
09:27knowing full well what that meant.
09:29She chose this life.
09:30We do not need meaningless anniversaries.
09:33The words clearly shocked Lorenzo.
09:35Out of his depth,
09:36he could only sigh.
09:38You'll regret this one day.
09:40Philander tapped his finger lightly on the desk,
09:42confident.
09:43In my professional judgment,
09:45regret is the least useful emotion.
09:48I won't have any.
09:49I watched him quietly,
09:50remembering how my mother had asked me
09:52the same thing before the wedding.
09:53For a man like Philander,
09:55you'll regret marrying him.
09:57My answer back then had been just as confident.
09:59By now,
10:00the weight of it all was slowly crushing me.
10:05A clap of thunder split the sky,
10:07lighting up the room.
10:08In that quiet,
10:09softly lit office,
10:11my vision blurred,
10:11and I whispered so faintly.
10:13Philander,
10:16I really do regret it.
10:18After Lorenzo left,
10:19Philander stood up to get a glass of water
10:21and rinse his mouth.
10:23Remembering what Lorenzo had just said,
10:25he let his gaze rest on his phone for a few seconds.
10:27Then he opened our chat history
10:29and scrolled through it.
10:30Not that there was much to C-Daw,
10:32our conversations were sparse
10:33because he was too busy to reply often.
10:36Right after we married,
10:37I used to share bits of my day with him every day.
10:39A student gave me flowers today.
10:41Said she really likes me.
10:43Had broccoli and steak for lunch.
10:46Remember to eat yours.
10:47The evening sky looked amazing on my way home.
10:50What was it like over there?
10:52Are you very busy lately?
10:54Text me when you have time.
10:56Philander,
10:56are you okay?
10:58When are you coming home?
10:59I sent to many.
11:01He found them annoying
11:02and blocked me a couple of times.
11:04Later,
11:04I contacted him less just checking in occasionally.
11:07Until finally,
11:08our chat sank to the bottom of my list.
11:10But I never expected Philander
11:12to pin my contact to the top.
11:13His finger paused on the time stomp
11:15of our last message tonight.
11:17He thought for a moment,
11:18typed something,
11:19then deleted it.
11:21I'll make time to come home for our anniversary.
11:23It was seven days away.
11:25After he sent the message,
11:26there was no response at all.
11:28A dead person couldn't reply.
11:32Philander thought for another moment,
11:33then called me.
11:35My ringtone played through the receiver.
11:38Philander sighed.
11:40He told me many times
11:41he disliked this ringtone
11:42and wanted me to change it,
11:43always adding a polite disclaimer.
11:45Just a suggestion, of course.
11:47It's your choice.
11:48I'd asked why he didn't like it.
11:50He never answered,
11:51and I never changed it.
11:52The song played to the end,
11:53and the call went to voicemail.
11:55Hi, this is Loretta.
11:56I can't take your call right now,
11:58but leave a message
11:59and I'll get back to you soon.
12:00So have a message.
12:01It's not touching you, Dave or Batley.
12:02Loretta.
12:03Philander started to speak,
12:04but the landline on his desk rang.
12:06He hung up without another word.
12:08A hiker had discovered a woman's body
12:10on the mountain north of the city.
12:11It had been buried deep,
12:13not easy to find.
12:14But last night's heavy rain
12:16washed away the loose topsoil,
12:17exposing the corpse's decomposing fingers.
12:20Philander took the call
12:21and went out with the police immediately.
12:25He put on shoe covers and a mask
12:27and soon arrived at the scene.
12:29The area was cordoned off with police tape.
12:31An officer nearby was calming the person
12:33who'd reported it.
12:34Philander shot a cold glance there.
12:36Double.
12:36Eye as he passed,
12:38then ducked under the tape
12:39to approach the body.
12:40Condition.
12:41He said flatly,
12:42then began rapidly observing the corpse.
12:44It was the first time I'd seen him at work focused,
12:47meticulous,
12:48no different from his demeanor in daily life.
12:50The medical examiner briefed him promptly.
12:52The body is in the bloated sphage of decomposition.
12:55Time of death is approximately
12:56within the last 72 hours.
12:57Cause of death,
12:58slash throat,
12:59weapon likely a small blade,
13:01five to 10 centimeters.
13:03The victim is an adult female
13:04between 22 and 30.
13:06No signs of assault.
13:07I moved closer to look
13:08and was immediately
13:09startled by the state of the body.
13:11It was gruesome.
13:13Around me,
13:14detectives covered their noses
13:15and averted their eyes.
13:16A younger officer turned away,
13:18leaning against a tree and retching.
13:20Only Philander showed no reaction,
13:22circling the corpse without hesitation.
13:27He pulled on rubber gloves,
13:28examining and analyzing,
13:30his eyes cold and utterly detached.
13:32Finally,
13:33he delivered his conclusion in an icy tone.
13:36In criminal psychology,
13:37death by throat slashing
13:38is considered one of the most brutal.
13:40The victim experiences acute pain
13:41and suffocation first,
13:43followed by dissociative symptoms.
13:44As blood enters,
13:46the trachea,
13:47they suffer uncontrollable coughing reflexes
13:49until cardiac arrest leads to brain death.
13:51Perpetrators who use this method
13:52typically display high antisocial traits,
13:54a strong desire for control,
13:55and an intensely personal hatred
13:57toward the victim or someone connected to them.
13:59Philander grew more animated as he spoke.
14:02Finally,
14:02he removed his gloves
14:03and offered a cold, thin smile.
14:05This is the work of a serial killer.
14:07The reality of death
14:08lay so starkly before me.
14:10Even as a spirit,
14:11I couldn't bear the shock of it.
14:13I backed away,
14:14and a thought suddenly struck me.
14:15When they found my body,
14:18I would probably look like this, too.
14:20And Philander would probably be the same as he was now.
14:25The Bureau formed a task force
14:27to investigate the case.
14:29Philander, as expected,
14:30became a Corps member
14:32and began working around the clock.
14:33In just two days,
14:34they had thoroughly uncovered
14:36the girl's identity and personal connections.
14:38The victim's name is Lindsay Gentry.
14:41She lived in Dunwooger
14:42at a tutoring center.
14:43To see her at the men are full
14:44and worked as a teacher's a talk,
14:45her social circle was simple.
14:47Also,
14:48surveillance shows
14:49she went missing
14:50on her way home from work.
14:52The suspect has
14:53strong counter-surveillance awareness
14:54and knows the blind spots.
14:56Identifying him visually is difficult.
14:58We'll proceed by examining
14:59the victim's personal circumstances,
15:01hoping to find leads
15:02related to debt disputes
15:03or crimes of passions.
15:06After the officer finished his report,
15:08Lorenzo nodded
15:09and turned to Philander.
15:10Proffer Wagner,
15:12what led you to conclude
15:13this is the work of a...
15:14Philander crossed his legs
15:15and gave a faint smile.
15:17This is clearly a random homicide.
15:19He was cut off by his ringing phone.
15:24Philander frowned,
15:26declined the call
15:26and set his phone to silent.
15:28But moments later,
15:29it began vibrating insistently.
15:31He was about to power it off
15:32when Lorenzo gestured
15:33for him to take it.
15:34Might be urgent,
15:35Proffer Wagner.
15:36Handle it first.
15:37Philander left the conference room
15:38with his phone
15:39and finally answered.
15:40Ten seconds.
15:41He glanced at his watch,
15:43his voice icy.
15:44You have ten seconds
15:44to state your purpose.
15:45I'm busy.
15:46I'm and busy.
15:46I don't have time for sales calls.
15:49Every minute you waste
15:51is a minute.
15:52Someone remains in danger.
15:54Starting now.
15:55Is this Mrs. Palmer's husband?
15:57It was the school principal
15:58on the line
15:58of thorough and responsible lady.
16:00She didn't take
16:01Philander's opening words personally.
16:03Her tone remained steady.
16:04Didn't come to work today
16:05or submit any leave
16:06or resignation request.
16:07Her phone goes unanswered
16:09and she hasn't replied to messages.
16:10We're very concerned.
16:12I had died on Friday.
16:13It wasn't strange
16:14for the principal
16:15to call Philander now.
16:16A flicker of impatience
16:17crossed Philander's eyes.
16:22If an adult
16:23has been reachable
16:23for 24 hours,
16:24you should call the police,
16:26not the family.
16:27Involving relatives
16:27only increases
16:28the potential scale of...
16:29His unfinished words
16:30were a tragedy.
16:32After being married
16:32to Philander for so long,
16:34I could read his subtext.
16:35Yet now,
16:36he paused.
16:37Almost as if he didn't want
16:38to analyze my absence
16:39in his usual way.
16:41He simply sighed.
16:42Never mind.
16:43I'll reach out to her later.
16:45Don't worry.
16:46She'll be fine.
16:47Before hanging up,
16:48he emphasized again.
16:49Don't call the police.
16:51I'll contact her.
16:52She'll be fine.
16:53Saying it again
16:54was not his style at all.
16:57Yet,
16:58he still didn't try to reach me.
16:59As soon as he hung up,
17:01he was called back in
17:02to conduct a criminal
17:03psychological profile.
17:04In the briefing room,
17:05the projector ligue.
17:07HD flickered brightly.
17:09Philander dismissed
17:10all the anxious eyes
17:11fixed on him.
17:11He immersed himself
17:12completely in his analysis
17:14of the victim's
17:14behavioral patterns.
17:16Criminal intent,
17:17and childhood trauma.
17:18He kept using
17:19professional terms
17:20I couldn't understand.
17:21I stood below the podium,
17:23watching him intent me.
17:24This version of Philander,
17:25so fully in his element,
17:27was why I had fallen
17:28in love with him.
17:32Later,
17:33based on Philander's assessment,
17:35two more female victims
17:36were discovered
17:36within three days.
17:38All killed
17:38with identical methods.
17:40The case was officially
17:41classified as a serial homicide.
17:43As public attention
17:44rapidly grew,
17:45the higher-ups
17:46started pushing,
17:47saying the case
17:47had to be solved
17:48without delay.
17:49Everyone at the bureau
17:50was swamped,
17:51barely finding time to eat.
17:53Philander was no exception.
17:54Right up until the day
17:55before our anniversary,
17:57his phone remained
17:58inaccessible to unknown callers.
18:00Day and night,
18:01he stood before
18:02the evidence-covered map,
18:03muttering to himself,
18:04There's another body.
18:05Where would it be?
18:06My heart ached
18:07as I saw his red-rimmed eyes
18:09from exhaustion.
18:10I reached out
18:10and pointed toward
18:11the park closest to our home.
18:13Philander,
18:14I'm right there.
18:14That park was where
18:15we had our first data
18:16sort of pet-friendly area.
18:18While we were strolling,
18:19Philander took a work call.
18:21Wanting him to relax,
18:22I pulled him over
18:23to play with a puppy nearby.
18:27The puppy got too excited,
18:29lunged,
18:30and knocked me off balance.
18:32Philander,
18:32phone still in one hand,
18:34caught me easily with the other.
18:35During that moment,
18:36my lips lightly brushed
18:37against his cheek.
18:38Our ears both turned bright red.
18:41Ahem.
18:42Philander hung up,
18:43clearing his throat awkwardly.
18:44If you like dogs,
18:46we could get one.
18:47I pressed my lips together,
18:49happiness nearly overflowing.
18:50I just nodded slowly.
18:53Got it.
18:53Tyric Wright,
18:54an officer,
18:55burst into the office
18:56with a still from
18:57a surveillance video,
18:58announcing the good news excitedly.
19:00Following Prof. Wagner's
19:02predicted activity zone
19:02for the this fest.
19:03We've identified his face
19:04on camera.
19:05We're requesting
19:05an arrest warrant now.
19:06Prof. Wagner's prediction
19:07is awesome.
19:08I see your F-trotted
19:09experience, Otracissary.
19:10He's so foul no mints
19:12the Sherlock home.
19:13Move! Move!
19:13Don't let him get away!
19:15Coordinate with other units
19:15for the arrest!
19:16Philander rarely participated
19:18in field operations.
19:19The noisy crowd of officers
19:21streamed out,
19:21leaving him alone behind.
19:23He stood there alone,
19:24his back held rigidly straight.
19:29He picked up the suspect's photo
19:31from the desk.
19:32His eyes still locked
19:33on the evidence board.
19:34His phone rang.
19:36Hi, are you the resident
19:37in room 1502,
19:38Cloud Crest Estates?
19:40Your dog hasn't been out in days.
19:42It's barking non-stop.
19:43We've had several
19:44neighbor complaints.
19:45Are you out of town?
19:47We've tried calling.
19:48Please have someone handle this.
19:49Philander glanced
19:50at the suspect's photo,
19:52annoyed.
19:52You should contact Loretta.
19:54Philander,
19:55who always lost himself
19:56in his cases,
19:57suddenly remembered
19:58the one person
19:59he should never have forgotten.
20:00His voice grew quieter,
20:02the words fading
20:03into a murmur.
20:03The last trace of color
20:04drained from his face.
20:06Slowly,
20:07his gaze shifted
20:08to the surveillance photo
20:09in his hand.
20:10There,
20:10he saw a face
20:11that looked both
20:12indifferent and defiant.
20:13Outside,
20:15thunder cracked.
20:16Philander,
20:17forever composed and calm,
20:18raced home like mad.
20:22It had been five months
20:24since Philander last came home.
20:25Rain pounded the car's windscreen,
20:27blurring his vision.
20:29He didn't care.
20:30He floored the gas,
20:31running for red lights in a row.
20:33He didn't even close the car door
20:34before rushing upstairs.
20:36Like a drenched bird,
20:37he was soaked to the skin,
20:39desperately dialing my number
20:40again and again.
20:41Hi,
20:42this is Loretta.
20:43He hung up and redialed.
20:44Hi,
20:45this is Loretta.
20:46He hung up again.
20:47Hi.
20:48Philander finally snapped,
20:50hurling his phone
20:50against the wall.
20:51When he reached our door
20:52and fumbled the key
20:53into the lock,
20:54I saw his hand trembling.
20:56Philander,
20:56who faced the most
20:57gruesome corpses
20:58with calm,
20:59was shaking.
21:00He pushed the door open.
21:01Not a single light was on.
21:03In the entryway
21:04sat my silly dinosaur slippers,
21:05the ones I always changed into.
21:07My plaid coat hung,
21:08as usual,
21:09on the crooked coat rack.
21:11On the sofa were clothes
21:12I hadn't gotten around
21:13to washing.
21:14Unopened packages
21:14I'd brought home
21:15sat piled in the corner
21:16of the living room.
21:17The range hood in the kitchen
21:18still had the recipe notes
21:20I'd stuck up for Philander.
21:21I'd even labeled
21:22where every spice jar belonged.
21:27All our photos together
21:28were displayed on the shelves.
21:30I was always beaming.
21:31He always looked
21:32reluctantly amused.
21:33I used to joke
21:34that he looked as if
21:35I dragged him home
21:35against his will.
21:36Everything looked
21:37the same as usual,
21:38except that I wasn't there.
21:40Only the lily of the valley
21:41on the balcony
21:41had died from lack of water.
21:43Philander flipped
21:44the light switch
21:45and winced
21:45at the sudden brightness.
21:46For a second,
21:47he thought he saw
21:48Amby curled up
21:49in the living room.
21:50The dog's food bowl
21:51was licked clean.
21:52He looked thinner.
21:53The moment he caught
21:54Philander's scent,
21:55he went on guard,
21:56baring his teeth
21:57with a low growl.
21:58I stepped between them,
21:59speaking softly.
22:00Shh.
22:01Good boy.
22:02Easy now.
22:03I'm here.
22:04Amby was a border collie
22:05I'd found on my way home
22:06after Philander agreed
22:07we could get a dog.
22:08He was utterly blind.
22:10When Philander found out,
22:11he had a very serious
22:13talk with me.
22:14Time,
22:15money,
22:15and energy
22:16are finite resources.
22:17I believe you could have
22:19chosen a healthy
22:19docile pet
22:20that's easier to manage.
22:21The return on investment
22:22for this dog
22:23will be disproportionate
22:24to the effort required.
22:28I was picking out a leash
22:29for Amby at the time.
22:31I just stroked his head
22:32and smiled.
22:33It's fine.
22:34I'm used to it.
22:35With Philander,
22:36I'd always given far more
22:37than I ever received.
22:40He just never knew.
22:41He'd said those words
22:42right in front of Amby.
22:43Even though the puppy
22:44couldn't see,
22:45he could hear and hold a grudge.
22:47He never warmed up
22:48to Philander after that.
22:49Maybe Amby really did
22:50sense my presence.
22:52His nose twitched.
22:53Then he slowly lowered his head
22:54and let out a soft whimper.
22:56Philander nearly stumbled,
22:57bracing himself on the couch
22:58as he took a few steps forward.
23:00Then his legs gave way
23:01and he half collapsed
23:02to his knees.
23:03The clock's hands
23:04slowly moved toward midnight.
23:06Our fourth wedding anniversary
23:07had arrived.
23:08Philander reached for the silver chain
23:10around his neck
23:10and pulled it out.
23:12Hanging from the end
23:13were our wedding rings.
23:15I'm sorry.
23:19Stunned.
23:20I lifted a hand toward the rings,
23:21then drew back sharply
23:23as if scorched.
23:25Before I knew it,
23:26I was kneeling there too,
23:27facing him.
23:28I sniffed,
23:29my voice shaky.
23:30Why didn't you tell me sooner?
23:32Why didn't he tell me
23:33when I was still alive?
23:36That he wore our rings close
23:37when we were apart?
23:38Why?
23:39Amby shuffled over
23:40and pressed against my leg.
23:42I opened my mouth
23:43and sobbed like a child.
23:44Why couldn't he just tell me
23:46he loved me as much
23:46as I loved him?
23:47The downpour never let up.
23:49Philander walked Amby
23:50to the park where I was buried.
23:52Stumbling through the rain
23:53the whole way,
23:54Amby caught the familiar scent
23:55and began barking wildly.
23:58Straining against the leash,
24:00Philander stopped in his tracks.
24:02He realized the truth
24:03he never wanted to face.
24:04His predictions about crime
24:05were never wrong.
24:10Ripping the leash tightly,
24:11he called the bureau.
24:13The fourth victim.
24:14He had never imagined
24:15that announcing a death
24:16could feel this impossible.
24:17Every word felt like a cut
24:19to his chest,
24:20pain shuddering through him.
24:22Yet he forced the words out.
24:24The downpour felt like
24:25my own unched tears,
24:26a sorrow I could no longer
24:27offer him,
24:28now raining down
24:29upon his face.
24:30Soon,
24:31officers arrived with tools
24:32to excavate the site.
24:34They prepared to use
24:35a police dog
24:35to pinpoint the location.
24:37Philander shook his head
24:38and released Amby
24:39from the hamburger patterned
24:40leash I'd gotten him.
24:41In the next moment,
24:42Amby shot forward,
24:44racing to a distant
24:45patch of grass.
24:46And frantically digging
24:47with his paws,
24:48desperate and whimpering.
24:49An officer moved
24:50to stop him,
24:51not wanting the scene disturbed.
24:53Crawford Fagner,
24:55is this your dog?
24:56Philander didn't answer.
24:57He picked up a shovel
24:58something he never touched
24:59during field work.
25:02I'll do it.
25:04Officers exchanged glances,
25:06thinking how strangely
25:07Philander was acting today.
25:09He didn't stop Amby.
25:10Instead,
25:11he joined the dog
25:12slowly digging up the earth.
25:13The officers didn't understand
25:15but offered to help.
25:16Philander sent them away.
25:18Little by little,
25:19the floral dress I wore
25:20the day I died
25:21gradually came into view.
25:22Philander's breath caught.
25:24He dropped the shovel
25:25and began digging barehanded,
25:26trying to lift me out.
25:29Professor Wagner.
25:30Tyrik stepped in authoritatively,
25:32leading Philander and Amby
25:33away from the scene.
25:35We've got this.
25:36Fifteen minutes later,
25:37my body was fully uncovered.
25:39I was much like the other girls
25:41who had been killed
25:41the same way.
25:42The only difference
25:43was the timing being discovered
25:44later meant my body
25:45was further decomposed
25:46and the odor more pungent.
25:48And my head had been
25:49brutally crushed,
25:50beyond recognition.
25:52The medical examiner
25:53was ready to take me back
25:54for identification.
25:55Philander stepped forward
25:56and gently removed
25:57the wedding ring
25:58from my finger.
25:59That won't be necessary.
26:02I know who she is.
26:05The ring was stained
26:06with a stench of putrefaction.
26:08But Philander carefully
26:09wiped it with his sleeve
26:10and placed it in his inner pocket.
26:12His fair palms were marked
26:13with red lines
26:14from gripping the shovel.
26:16This is my wife,
26:18Loretta Palmer.
26:20Then,
26:20he took Amby's leash
26:21and stumbled away.
26:22His figure grew more distant.
26:24I stood where I was,
26:26taking one last look at myself.
26:28Apart from the wounds,
26:29my limbs and chest
26:30were covered in deep puncture marks.
26:32The killer hadn't been satisfied
26:34with just killing me
26:34he'd kept stabbing long after,
26:36in pure rage.
26:37He hated me intensely.
26:39Or rather,
26:40he hated Philander,
26:41and Philander knew
26:42I died because of him.
26:43The news that Philander's wife
26:45was a victim in the case
26:46spread through the precinct
26:47like wildfire.
26:48But when everyone
26:49wanted to offer
26:49their condolences,
26:51Philander acted
26:52like an outsider.
26:53He buried himself
26:54in files expressionless.
26:56Everyone whispered
26:57that Philander was cold,
26:58heartless.
26:59I perched on his desk
27:00and whispered
27:01in his defense.
27:03He's not.
27:04As time passed
27:05since my death,
27:06my spirit had grown
27:07smaller enough
27:07to fit in Philander's pocket.
27:09So,
27:10only I could see
27:10Philander's grief.
27:12It came through
27:12in small signs,
27:14unusual mistakes,
27:15unsteady hands,
27:16a drifting mind,
27:17and the pair of wedding rings,
27:19side by side,
27:20dangling from the chain
27:21around his neck.
27:22This wasn't like
27:23the Philander I knew.
27:24I sighed,
27:25drifted up to his face,
27:26and gently kissed his cheek.
27:28It's okay.
27:30I don't hold it against you.
27:33Philander hesitated,
27:34then touched his face.
27:36A tear had fallen.
27:37He looked like
27:38he might cow up blood.
27:39There was a saying
27:40in the investigative world,
27:41no case handled by Philander
27:43lasted more than 10 days.
27:44This one was no exception.
27:46When Tyrik brought
27:47the first suspect in,
27:49Philander showed no reaction.
27:51It's a team.
27:52He didn't act alone.
27:5510 days after the first attack,
27:57all three suspects
27:58were under arrest.
27:59Philander arranged
28:00to see the prime culprit first.
28:02He was the twin brother
28:03of a murderer Philander
28:04had helped convict years before.
28:06Tatum Sullivan sat cuffed
28:08in the detention center,
28:09grinning cockily.
28:10He even whistled.
28:12Well, Preffer Wagner,
28:15enjoy the present I left you.
28:18Philander sat back,
28:19glanced down at the pen
28:20in his hands.
28:21Pathetic.
28:22Tatum laughed out loud.
28:24Still playing the calm professor?
28:28Want me to walk you through
28:31exactly how she died?
28:33I just followed her
28:33through three or four grocery stores.
28:35She never even noticed
28:36too busy texting you.
28:39Then,
28:39when she turned into a blind spot,
28:42I slit her throat.
28:43Easy as that.
28:44She couldn't even scream,
28:45couldn't even dial your number.
28:47Blood sprayed across my face.
28:49She grabbed her neck,
28:50trying to stop it,
28:51but the blood kept coming.
28:52Then she was just gone.
28:54Looked pathetic.
29:00A vein throbbed at Philander's temple
29:02as the last shred
29:03of his calm disintegrated.
29:04He lunged forward,
29:06grabbed Tatum by the collar,
29:07and landed a fist
29:08with all his strength.
29:10Why?
29:10Philander roared.
29:11Why her?
29:14You coward.
29:15You could have come for me directly.
29:18Used your methods against me.
29:20Why target her?
29:21I wanted Philander to stay calm.
29:24But the dead could do nothing.
29:25Tatum spat out blood,
29:27still smiling.
29:28Remember what you taught me?
29:30The worst way to hurt someone
29:31is to crush their will.
29:34Years ago,
29:35Philander had used Tatum
29:36to push his brother
29:36toward suicide effortlessly.
29:38This was just payback
29:39and kind directed at me.
29:41Officers quickly pulled them apart.
29:43Philander shut his eyes,
29:45forcing himself to be calm.
29:46Tatum grinned triumphant.
29:48Looks like I hit where it hurts,
29:50Proffer Wagner.
29:52After the case was closed,
29:54Philander requested
29:54a long leave of absence from work.
29:56He returned home
29:57and began putting things in order,
29:59following the instructions
30:00I'd given him long ago.
30:02Summer and winter clothes
30:03went into separate sections,
30:05jewelry and accessories
30:06into their own drawer.
30:07Philander remembered
30:08not to keep fresh food
30:09for over three days.
30:10To always buy the same brand
30:12of dog food
30:12for Ambien advance.
30:14And to water the lily of the valley
30:16on the balcony regularly.
30:17He also observed
30:18that the television sound
30:19was unstable
30:20and needed servicing.
30:22Philander fumbled his way
30:23through these mundane tasks.
30:24But every time he finished one,
30:26he would just stare
30:27blankly for a while.
30:28That evening,
30:29when he tried to do laundry,
30:31the washing machine
30:32wouldn't start
30:32no matter how many times
30:33he pressed the power button.
30:35Philander frowned,
30:36pacing back and forth,
30:37until he finally lost patience.
30:40Loretta, come check this!
30:42His words echoed
30:43in the empty living room.
30:44I hovered nearby,
30:45anxious, wanting to help.
30:47But I couldn't respond.
30:52Philander shoved his hands
30:53in his pockets,
30:54looked down,
30:55and kicked the washing machine,
30:56simply forgotten
30:57to turn on the water supply valve.
30:59That night,
31:00Philander didn't sleep.
31:01In the bedroom,
31:02he found the divorce papers
31:03I'd asked a lawyer to draft.
31:05He read them for a long time
31:07so long that he almost
31:08memorized every word.
31:09His gaze settled
31:10on my signature,
31:11Loretta Palmer.
31:12It was rounded handwriting
31:14with soft edges
31:14the kind that showed
31:15real effort.
31:16As he looked,
31:17his tears began to fall.
31:19They flowed steadily,
31:20like blood seeping
31:21from a wound.
31:22When I used to see
31:23a man break down
31:24crying on TV,
31:25I'd get oddly excited.
31:26I'd even dare to ask
31:28Philander to try it
31:29just for me.
31:30I wouldn't tease you about it.
31:32I'd even dry your tears
31:33for you, okay?
31:34Philander was always
31:35holding a criminology book.
31:37He'd just snort
31:38and say he'd never
31:39cry in his life.
31:43I spoke,
31:44though he couldn't
31:45hear me.
31:46Was it that you
31:47couldn't cry,
31:47Philema?
31:48Or was it that you
31:49never thought I'd be
31:50the one to dry your tears?
31:54Now, no matter
31:55how much I want to,
31:56I can't.
31:58So please,
31:59don't cry anymore.
32:01After his leave ended,
32:02Philander returned to work.
32:04This time,
32:05something seemed
32:05to have shifted.
32:06The man,
32:07who once thought
32:08no one could ever
32:08match his level,
32:10took on two young trainees.
32:11He began gradually
32:12passing on everything
32:13he knew to newcomers,
32:15holding nothing back.
32:16The rest of his time
32:17was spent at home,
32:18cleaning our photo frames
32:19in the living room.
32:20Then he'd clean the portrait
32:22from my memorial.
32:23He'd make a plate
32:24of food for me too,
32:25setting it across
32:26from his own,
32:26just like before.
32:28The professor,
32:29who once never lifted
32:30a finger in the kitchen,
32:31now made a decent
32:32clam chowder.
32:33Ambie passed away
32:34suddenly from a severe illness.
32:36Now,
32:36Philander lived
32:37in the house alone.
32:41The lily of the valley
32:43died again and again,
32:44so he stopped
32:45trying to grow it.
32:46He held on
32:46to the trinkets
32:47I'd crafted,
32:48keeping them close
32:49at hand next to his bed.
32:50As time went on,
32:51he began suffering
32:52from insomnia.
32:53He'd lie awake
32:54staring at the ceiling
32:55until morning.
32:56I didn't know
32:57how to help.
32:58It seemed
32:58I'd be leaving soon.
33:00A week before
33:00the new year,
33:01Philander submitted
33:02his resignation
33:03and went alone
33:04to a church
33:04in the mountains.
33:05He used to dismiss
33:06anything related
33:06to faith or spirits.
33:08Now,
33:09he started to pray.
33:10On the path up,
33:11some pilgrims
33:12knelt with every step,
33:13murmuring prayers.
33:14Philander followed
33:15their example,
33:16kneeling without a trace
33:17of his old pride.
33:18A curious passerby asked,
33:20Struggling with something
33:22too heavy to bear?
33:23Philander nodded.
33:24Something I can't live with.
33:25He was trapped
33:26in it forever.
33:27I walked beside him,
33:28step by step,
33:29until he reached the summit
33:30and obtained
33:31a good luck charm.
33:32Finally,
33:33he placed the charm
33:34before my portrait.
33:35Then he swallowed
33:36an entire bottle
33:37of sleeping pills.
33:38Good night,
33:39Loretta.
33:40He held my portrait,
33:41pressing his cheek
33:42to the cold glass frame,
33:43and whispered,
33:44Wait for me.
33:52After my death,
33:54while sorting through
33:54my things,
33:55Philander came across
33:56a faded diary.
33:57I had always preferred
33:58things I could touch,
34:00things that felt real.
34:03Even in this digital age,
34:04I kept the habit
34:05of keeping a diary.
34:08I said words written
34:09with a pen carried
34:10more feeling
34:11than those typed
34:11on a keyboard.
34:14Philander used
34:15to dismiss that.
34:18Now,
34:19holding the diary
34:20in his hands,
34:21he finally understood
34:22the weight of my words.
34:25He turned to page one
34:26and couldn't bring himself
34:27to read further.
34:32Written across it was,
34:33Philander must not read this.
34:40After a moment of hesitation,
34:41he made up his mind
34:43and turned to the pages
34:43that followed.
34:46Deep down,
34:47he already knew
34:48what he would find.
34:50My heart had never
34:51been hard to read.
34:53And sure enough,
34:54every entry was about him.
34:57In June 2022,
34:59a roommate accused me
35:00of stealing.
35:00I went to the cafeteria
35:02to confront her,
35:03and I met Philander
35:03for the first time.
35:05He was amazing,
35:07figured out the real culprit
35:08in just a few sentences.
35:10Criminal psychology
35:10is so cool.
35:12I've watched his lecture videos
35:14over a dozen times tonight.
35:16I just can't help it.
35:18Even his name sounds lovely.
35:20Must be a righteous man.
35:22My longtime crush
35:23is my blind date.
35:24I'm so lucky.
35:25Gotta seize the chance.
35:27I don't regret
35:27marrying him, really.
35:28But I've seen enough
35:29of him walking away.
35:31I don't regret it.
35:32It's okay.
35:33I don't.
35:37As the diary went on,
35:38the entries grew farther apart,
35:40until the final one read,
35:42I regret it.
35:44Philander froze like a statue,
35:46unable to move.
35:47He remembered the question
35:48I had once asked him.
35:49In your life?
35:51Is there only room for work?
35:53He had assumed
35:53I already knew the answer.
35:59Work occupied 90% of his life,
36:01and the remaining 10% was mine.
36:03But I had always had my place.
36:05Why hadn't he told me?
36:06He tried to marshal his intelligence,
36:08to summon a reason,
36:10an excuse,
36:11a way to justify himself.
36:12But he couldn't,
36:13I was gone.
36:14Against death,
36:15he was powerless.
36:16All he felt was that
36:17this autumn without me
36:18was unbearably long.
36:19And every autumn from now on
36:21would feel the same.
36:22In a daze,
36:23he drifted back to that day
36:24October 14th,
36:26a date he'd never forget.
36:30I had texted that
36:31I'd bring clam chowder
36:32over that night.
36:35Philander gripped his phone
36:36and rushed out of his office.
36:39Wind whistled past his ears.
36:43His heart pounded like that
36:45of a teenager
36:46committing their first murder.
36:50Philander dialed the number
36:51he could never forget.
36:53This time,
36:54it wasn't my voicemail
36:55that answered.
36:59Hello?
37:00My voice rose,
37:01bright with surprise.
37:02You're calling me?
37:04That's a first.
37:05I sounded so bright.
37:07He could even hear
37:07the crisp rustle of leaves
37:09under my feet,
37:10the soft sound of my breathing.
37:12I love you.
37:13He said.
37:14Then he repeated it,
37:15earnest and unwavering.
37:17I love you, Laura.
37:18I love you, Laura.
37:18I love you, Laura.
37:19I love you, Laura.
37:21I love you, Laura.
37:21I love you, Laura.
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