I Was the Unwanted Fifth in Their Life and Death Pact Chapter 06

The lead investigator pulled up highway surveillance footage on a computer screen.

“This is traffic camera footage from the night of the 24th.”

The footage was black-and-white, rain pouring relentlessly.

Naomi’s car was traveling normally along the main highway.

An unmarked freight truck suddenly surged out from a side road, slamming directly into her vehicle.

The sedan spun twice, crashing through the guardrail and flipping into the mud.

The truck never slowed. It fled the scene without stopping.

Minutes later, a blood-covered hand stretched out through the shattered car window.

Blood-slicked fingers pressed desperately against the phone’s screen.

There was no audio, but it was crystal clear: the hand pressed the screen four separate times.

After every tap, she waited.

Between each attempt, her head sank lower in despair, her body convulsing violently from the pain.

After the final press, the phone slipped from her grasp.

She went completely still, her head lolling limply against the jagged broken glass.

No one spoke in the police conference room.

Ryan stared at that mangled, bloodied hand on the screen, his throat too tight to breathe.

His nails dug hard into the edge of the table, tearing his skin until blood welled up.

The officer slid a call log across the table toward them.

“This is the raw phone data extracted by forensics. Four critical SOS alerts triggered from the Lifeline app.”

“These were not auto-disconnected for lack of answer. Every single alert was manually rejected by the

recipients.”

Evan’s head shot up, his eyes bloodshot.

“That can’t be… Lifeline alerts take over the whole screen, and the alarm volume is deafening. It won’t stop

unless someone manually dismisses it.”

Cole stared at the log, his voice cold and flat.

“The night Naomi crashed, the three of us were setting off fireworks on the hotel rooftop. Only Lily had stayed behind in the private dining room.”

Ryan spun on his heel and bolted for the door.

“Home. We need to find Lily.”