Chapter 6 chapter Five

It took nearly an hour to drive to Grunsky, and despite the lack of traffic and Frank driving, it was excruciating.Sam slumped pitifully in the back seat, next to the monitoring equipment, Frank deliberately switched to the Dublin 98 music channel, turned up the volume, hummed all the way, whistled wagging his head, tapped the steering wheel to beat time, but I almost ignored for both of them.It was a nice, sunny afternoon, and I hadn't left my apartment for a week, with the car windows fully rolled down and the wind blowing through my hair.The moment Frank started the car, the fear that was as hard as a black rock in my heart was also shattered, turning into a sweet and intoxicating, light yellow feeling like a lemon.

Well, the car drove into the village of Glensky, and Frank said: See how well you understand the surrounding environment, and then you will lead the way. Go straight through the village, the fourth alley on the right.The road is so narrow, no wonder Daniel and Justin’s car looks like it’s been in a side-by-side drag race, just like Dublin, it’s dirty all day long, and I replies in his accent: Home, James.I was a little dizzy, and my jacket kept me out of my mind all afternoon.From time to time, I smell the fragrance of lily of the valley, and I can't help turning my head suddenly to see who is approaching.I thought it was funny to think that I was getting nervous by a jacket, like an episode in a Dr. Seuss storybook.Even driving to the side road leading to the cabin, where I met Frank and Sam on the day of the crime, didn't calm me down.

The path was not paved with asphalt, with potholes and holes. The trees on both sides had been besieged by vines and bushes for many years. Their faces had long been blurred, and they kept tapping on the car windows.A moment later, a magnificent wrought-iron gate loomed before us, rust hanging like a drunkard's teetering edge over the bars.Hawthorns are overgrown on the ground, and the stone pillars are submerged in it, like a half-drowned person.here.I said. Frank nodded, turned the car in, and saw an elegant path with no end in sight, with cherry trees in full bloom on both sides.Dry!I said: Why would I hesitate to come?Can I put Sam in a suitcase and have him live here with me forever?

Forget what you just said, Frank said: When we get to the door, you have to pretend to be indifferent to everything in front of you.Besides, this room really sucks, so don't get so excited. Didn't you say they were refurbished?I thought there would be cashmere curtains and white roses in the dressing room, or should I get a decorator? I said they had remodeled, but not that the house was brand new. The driveway made a slight bend, leading to a semicircular parking space, white gravel mixed with weeds and daisies, and I finally met Hawthorn House.The photo is wrong.Dublin is full of Georgian buildings, most of which have been converted into offices, with gloomy fluorescent lights that let you see in from the outside.But this house is different, all parts are in perfect harmony, as if born and raised here, living with the hills behind, watching Wicklaw gracefully in front of its eyes, safely between the parking lot and the misty shadows of the mountains in the distance The room is like a treasure held in the palm of your hand.

I heard Sam gasp suddenly.It's good to be home.Frank said and turned off the radio. They waited for me at the door, lined up on the steps.To this day, they still look like this in my heart, dyed golden by the sunset, shining brightly like the image in the prophecy, every crease of the clothes and every line of the face are so simple, clear and dazzling.Xiaorui leaned against the railing, with her hands in her jeans pockets; Abby stood on tiptoe slightly in the middle, with one hand bent over her eyes; Justin put her feet together and clasped her fists behind her back; Daniel stood with his head up between the goalposts , the glasses sparkled.

Frank drove the car to an open space and stopped, the gravel splashed, but the four of them remained motionless, like relief portraits of medieval buildings, feeling mysterious and self-sufficient, revealing some kind of lost information, only Abby's skirt occasionally caught the wind Fluttering. Frank glanced back at me and said: Are you ready? alright. Good boy, Frank said: Good luck, let's go.After speaking, I got out of the car and went to the rear compartment to pick up my luggage. Take care of yourself, said Sam, without looking at me, I love you. I'll be home soon, I said.Facing so many staring eyes, I can't even touch his arm. I will find a way to call you tomorrow.

Sam nodded and Frank closed the trunk, and the sound hit the front of the house and bounced back so loudly that the crows in the trees fluttered away.Frank opened the car door for me. I got out of the car and straightened myself up with my hands on my hips.Thank you, Mr. Detective, I said to Frank: Thank you for your help. I shake hands with Frank.Where, Frank said: Don't worry, Miss Lacey, we'll get the guy. Frank snapped up the handle of the suitcase and pushed the suitcase in front of me.I pulled my suitcase across the parking lot, toward the steps and my four roommates. They were still motionless, and when I got closer, I was surprised to find that their backs were stiff and their heads were raised. The tense atmosphere pervaded the four of them, so intense that it almost broke the silence.The wheels of the suitcase dragged on the gravel and rattled, like a bursting mechanism

Hi!I walked up to the steps, looked up at them and said. I thought they wouldn't answer, they had seen through me, and I was so panicked that I didn't know what to do.But in the next second, I saw Daniel taking a step forward, and the picture that was originally like a photo loosened instantly. A smile appeared on Justin's face. Xiao Rui stood up and waved to me. Abby rushed down the steps and hugged me tightly. . Hey you, Abby said with a smile: welcome home.Her hair smells like chamomile, and I let go of my grip and hug her back.It felt very strange, as if hugging someone who came out of the painting, and found that the collarbone of the other person was as warm and solid as mine, it was unbelievable.Daniel stood behind Abby and nodded solemnly at me, reaching out to scratch my hair, Xiao Rui grabbed the suitcase and began to ping pong pong up the steps, Justin kept patting me on the back, and I was grinning Then, without realizing it, Frank started the car and drove away.

When I walked into Hawthorn Forest House, my first feeling was: I have been here before.That feeling runs through the bottom of my heart, as if the sound of cymbals made me straight up.The place should have looked familiar, after all the hours I'd spent gazing at photos and videos, but it felt more than familiar.It's the smell, old wood, tea leaves and the faint scent of dry lavender, and the sound of small footsteps echoing in the stairwell and upstairs corridors, making me feel like I'm really at home.You may think that I like this, but you are wrong, all I have is a red light that symbolizes danger.

What happened next, and what happened that night, feels as blurred as a scene on a merry-go-round.It was all a jumble of colours, pictures and sounds, too dazzling to behold: the carvings on the ceiling, the cracked china vases, the piano chairs and the bowl of tangerines, and us running up and down the stairs, laughing loudly.Abby took me by the wrist, with small, strong fingers, and led me to the flagstone porch at the back of the house, where besides the wrought-iron chair, there was an old wicker rocker chair that swayed gently in the sweet breeze.The green grass is thick and stretches all the way to the loud stone wall.Trees and vines half covered the wall, and the shadows of birds flashed across the flagstones.

Daniel helped me light a cigarette. He covered the match with one hand, lowered his head slightly, and was only a few centimeters away from me.Their voices are clear and loud, unlike the blurry and difficult to distinguish in the recording, which made it difficult for me to adapt for a while.Their eyes were so bright it almost burned me.Until now, I sometimes still hear their words that day in a half-dream, as if right in my ears: Come here, Justin shouted, come out quickly, the night is so beautiful.Or Abby said that the herb garden should be dealt with quickly, but everyone wants to wait for you to come back, you think but when I open my eyes, they immediately disappeared without a trace. I should have said something, but I almost forgot all about it.I just remember trying my best to imitate Lacey, put my weight on my toes, raise my voice, keep my eyes, shoulders and cigarette in the right place, try not to look left and right, don't move around, don't say stupid things, don't bump into furniture.God, I just feel the taste of being an undercover agent on the tip of my tongue again, and that excitement climbs up the cold hairs on my arms again.I always thought that I remembered and remembered all the details, but I was wrong: the memory is fundamentally fragile, like cotton yarn falling on a sharp blade, lightly, touching deeply into the bone, beautiful and deadly. That night literally took my breath away.If you've ever fantasized about stepping into your favorite book, movie, or TV episode, you might be able to relate a little to how I feel.Everything suddenly came to life, feeling eerie, new and yet utterly familiar.Your heart skips a beat as you walk through a room that used to live only in your head.Your feet are literally on the carpet, and your mouth is literally sucking the air. These people, whom you could only watch in silence for so long, suddenly open up the world and suck you in, bringing you a secret and strange warmth.Abby and I swayed lazily in the rocker chair, and through the little French windows between the balcony and the kitchen, we saw three boys rushing in and out preparing dinner.I smell baked potatoes, hear the squeak of fried meat, and suddenly feel hungry.They asked me to have dinner with Abby, and Xiao Rui came out and leaned against the back of the rocker chair, taking a sip of Abby's cigarette.The orange-yellow sky is gradually darkening, a few gray clouds are like distant smoke, and the cool breeze carries the fragrance of rich grass, soil and crop growth.time to eat!Justin yelled, dishes clinking. The long table was full of food, the red brocade tablecloth was thick and flawless, the napkins were white, the candlesticks were wrapped with vines, and the small fire reflected the arcs of the silver tableware and glasses, shining like will-o’-the-wisps on the dimming windows.The four of them opened the high-backed chairs, their figures appeared soft against the dim light, and their eyes were like shadows.Daniel sat first, Abby took the next seat, Rui and I sat on the same side, opposite Justin.The ceremonial atmosphere I had captured on video and in Frank's notes became real now, thick as incense, like being at a dinner party, a war meeting, or a game of Russian roulette in a lonely tower top. They are so beautiful.Although strictly speaking only Xiao Rui can be called handsome, when I think of them, I can only think of this adjective. Justin plated the steak seasoned with cream and brandy and passed it along, made especially for you.He said to me with a faint smile.Xiaorui scooped the baked potatoes on the plate for everyone, and Daniel gave us the unmatched wine glasses. Just coping took up all my brain cells that night, and I couldn't let myself get drunk anymore.I can't drink it, I said: because of antibiotics. That was the first time the assassination was ever mentioned between us, if not directly.Maybe it was just my hallucination, but the room seemed to freeze in an instant, the slightly tilted wine bottles stopped moving, and everyone's palms froze in the air.Then, Daniel continued to pour the wine, the mouth of the bottle was less than two centimeters away from the glass, and he turned it skillfully.drink it!He calmly said: A small sip will not get in the way, it is a celebration. Daniel handed me the glass and poured himself a drink.Welcome home!He said. When the wine glass passed from his hand to mine, an alarm sounded in the depths of my heart.Queen of Hades, Persephone (Editor's Note: Persephone, the Queen of Hades in Greek mythology, was originally the daughter of the Goddess of Agriculture. I stayed in Hades for two seasons.) The lesson came to my mind immediately: Never accept food from strangers, as long as one mouthful, a high cursed wall will be erected around, thick fog will rise on the way home, and the wind will blow you away. passed away.Then came the stronger feeling: it was them, it was them, there was poison in the wine. God, what a way to die.Suddenly, like an electric shock, I knew they could do it.Four men were waiting for me at the door, their backs stiffened, their eyes cold and focused, and they definitely had the means to lure me all night, waiting calmly until the chosen moment. But they were all smiling and raising their glasses, leaving me with no choice.Welcome home!I leaned against the table and clinked wine glasses with them through the vine candlestick.Justin, Rui, Abby, Daniel.I took a sip and felt warm, rich and smooth, with the taste of honey and summer berries reaching my fingertips.I picked up the knife and fork and started cutting the steak. Maybe I just need food Steaks are delicious, I have a big appetite, as if trying to make up for this past absence, but unfortunately no one said that Lacey ate wolfishly, I just had to eat slowly But from that moment, they really walked in My line of sight and memories just began to fall into place, like glass beads strung together, everything that was blurry and dazzling suddenly became real and graspable.Abby has a little doll, and Xiao Rui scooped roasted yams on a plate and said: We were going to burn her as a witch, but then decided to wait for you to come back and vote, so that it would be democratic. Burned Abby?Or a doll?I asked. Both burn. She's not a doll, Abby flicked Xiao Rui's arm and said: It's a late Victorian puppet, Lacey will definitely like it, she's not a bumpkin like you. If I were you, I would only admire her from a distance, Justin said to me: I think she is possessed by the devil, and her eyes are always on me. You just let her lie down and the eyes will close. I don't want to touch that doll, what if I get bitten?I don't want to spend the rest of my life groping in the dark, looking for my soul Hey, I really miss you, Abby said to me: because you are not here, I can only talk to these cowards.Just a little puppet, Justin. Baby, Xiao Rui chewed the yams in his mouth and said: Really, it is made of sacrificed sheepskin. I said you, don't talk when you eat, Abby said to him, then turned to look at me, it's lambskin, the head is bisque, I found it in the hat box in the next room, the clothes are a bit worn, I just finished the footstool , should be able to help her make a new set of clothes, because there are a lot of old materials left And the hair, Justin shoves the vegetables in front of me and says: Don't forget the hair, it's scary. Made of dead people's hair, Xiao Rui told me: If you stick a needle in her body, you can hear screams coming from the cemetery, try it if you don't believe me. I'll just say it, Abby said to me: a bunch of cowards.The puppet's hair is real, I really don't know why he said it was dead hair Since the doll was made around 1890, I can at least subtract. What cemetery?There is no cemetery here at all. Yes, right around here, if you touch that puppet, someone will turn over in the grave. Throw away the avatar yourself first, Abby said without losing dignity: Otherwise, why would you say my puppet is creepy. That's a different story altogether, and headshots are invaluable scientific tools. I like avatars too, Daniel said looking up, looking surprised, what's the problem? Feels like something Crowley the Wizard would carry, and that's where the problem lies.Help me talk, Xiaolei. Frank and Sam forgot to tell me, maybe they didn't notice, that the most important thing about these four people is that they are very close.The video on the mobile phone cannot capture this, nor can it capture the true appearance of this room.From time to time, there is a spark of intimacy between them. They are connected to each other by crystal and slender spider silk threads, and any actions and words will be transmitted to others.Before Abby started looking for cigarettes, Xiaorui had already handed the cigarettes in front of her; Justin had just walked out of the kitchen with the steak, and Daniel's hands had already gone to pick up the plate; their conversation was like a magician snapping cards without any pause.Rob and I used to be the same way, we fit in perfectly. There was only one thought in my mind, that I was finished.They were literally the most harmonious a cappella group on the planet, and I had to join them without missing a beat.I didn't have time to be weak, take medicine and heal the pain. They were all happy that I came home from the hospital and talked about it. It didn't really matter what I said, but that was it.None of them explained to me what an avatar is.Although Frank is full of confidence, I dare say that someone in the violence room must start betting (behind Sam, and maybe also behind Frank) to see how long it will take me to catch fire, and most people must guess three days later. Inside.I don't blame them, because I also want to bet: ten pounds, twenty-four hours. I want to hear the news, I said: what happened recently?Anyone ask me?Has anyone sent me a get well soon card? You got a bunch of disgusting flowers, Xiao Rui said, from the English Department, that kind of big varietal chrysanthemum, dyed in a horrible color, but luckily all withered, thank God. Greely, the big breasted girl, wants to comfort Xiaorui, but Abby curls her lips and smiles, as long as Xiaorui needs her, she is always there for her. God!Xiao Rui was so frightened that she put down her knife and fork and covered her face with her hands.Justin started snickering.Yes, she was talking to me in the copy room with a pair of big boobs, asking how I was feeling. They must be talking about the Greeley, I really can't imagine Xiao Rui would like her.I laughed too, they were trying so hard to stir up the atmosphere, and in their mouths, Greeley was almost a nympho.I think Xiao Rui must be very happy in his heart. Justin said seriously: When he came out, he smelled of cheap perfume. I almost choked, she put me on the copier Did you hear that bang bang bang?I asked.Intuition is weak, but I do my best, and I see Abby smile and Justin relax.What are you looking at in the hospital?Daniel asked me. Keep breathing on me, Xiao Rui said: It's wet, it feels like being harassed by a walrus soaked in an air purifier. The world in your head is terrifying.Justin said to him. She wants to buy me a drink, says we can talk, says I have to open up, what the hell is she talking about? It seems that she wants to open her heart, Abby said: It's just that this is not the other.Xiao Rui pretended to be choking. You are also disgusting.Justin said. Thank goodness, I said, feeling like I'm still walking on eggshells, at least I'm more civilized. Well, Justin gave me a soft smile: It's not much better, but we still love you.Have some more steak, why do you eat like a bird, isn't it delicious? Hallelujah!It seems that besides looking like me, Lacey also has a big appetite like me.Don't be silly, it's delicious, I said: It's just that my appetite hasn't come back yet. okay.Justin leaned against the dining table and scooped the steak onto my plate, you need to get your strength up. Justin, I said: I love you the most. Justin's face flushed, right down to his hairline.Before he covered it with the cup, I saw a flicker of pain in his face, but why I didn't know.Don't be silly, he said: We all miss you. I miss you too, I made a face at Justin, smiled and said: who taught hospital food to be so bad. Absolutely.Xiao Rui said. I'm pretty sure Justin has something to say, and it's on his lips, but Daniel comes over to pour him a drink, and he blinks, the blush fades, and he picks up his knife and fork again.There was a silence in the room, which was the satiety brought by the delicious food.There was a mood around the table, relaxed and stable, like a long, soft sigh, barely audible.Angels fly by, my French grandfather always tells me in French.I heard a faint chime of bells upstairs, like a dream. Daniel almost escapes my notice by glancing at Abby.All night long, he was the most silent man.He was also very quiet in the video on the phone, but now it feels different, much stronger, I don't know if it's because the video is not good, or it's a new emotion.So, Abby said: How are you, Leo? They stopped their knives and forks.Not bad, I said: just not being able to lift heavy things for a few weeks. Where do you feel pain now?Daniel asked. I shrugged: They gave me super painkillers, but most of the time I didn't need them.I don't get any scars either, although the inside is a mess of stitches, the outside doesn't show any marks. Let's take a look.Xiao Rui said. God, Justin said, putting down his knife and fork, as if he was about to leave the table.You are such a demon, I don't want to see it at all, thank you. I don't want to watch it at mealtime either, Abby said: sorry. I won't show it to anyone, I squinted at Xiao Rui and said, but I was prepared, I was poked and stabbed this week, anyone who dares to get close to my wound, I will definitely bite off his finger. Daniel was still looking at me thoughtfully.You guys!Abby said. Are you sure it won't hurt?Justin wrinkled his mouth and nose slightly, and looked a little pale, as if thinking of me being stabbed made him feel the same way, it must have hurt at first, was it a serious injury? Xiao Lei is fine, Abby said: She just said it. I'm just asking, the cops keep saying Stop mentioning it. What?I asked: What did the police keep saying? Finally, I think, Daniel spoke, calmly, turning his chair to Justin and saying: We better stop talking. There was another silence, but this time it was a little less comfortable.Xiao Rui's knife scraped across the plate and made a sharp sound. Justin's body trembled, and Abby reached for the pepper pot, slammed it hard on the table, and shook it a few times. When the policeman asked, Daniel looked up at me through his glasses, and suddenly said: Do you have a diary or a notepad? We said no, I think this is better. journal? That's right, I said: I don't want them looking at my stuff. They've looked and Abby said: Sorry, but they searched your room. Dry!I said angrily: Why don't you stop them? I don't think we have a choice.Xiao Rui said dryly. What if I have love letters, or nude pictures, or even something personal? That's what they're supposed to be looking for. To be honest, they are really fresh, Daniel said: When I say the police, I feel that they are not positive at all, and they look businesslike.I'd love to see how they search the room, but I think it's best not to ask. They couldn't find it anyway, and I said contentedly: So where is it, Daniel? No idea, Daniel was a little surprised, seeing where you kept it, it should be there, I think.After finishing speaking, he continued to eat his steak. The boy cleared away the dishes, and Abby and I sat at the table smoking a cigarette, and we didn't speak, feeling reconnected.I heard movement in the living room, and the smell of wood smoke seeped in from the sliding door.Simpler tonight?Abby smoked a cigarette and asked: Do you want to study quietly? After dinner is their free time, playing cards, listening to music, reading, chatting, warming up the atmosphere in the house.I guess reading is the easiest option.Great, I say: I have a ton of work to do. Take it easy, said Abby, with another smile on her lips: You've just been released from the hospital, so there's plenty of time.She stubbed out her cigarette and pushed open the sliding door. The living room was large and surprisingly good.The photos only capture the shabbyness of the room, not the atmosphere at all.The ceilings were high and paneled, and the wide strip floors were undulated and unwaxed.The ugly floral wallpaper was peeling away here and there, revealing the rose and gold stripes of the walls that had been there before, with the dull sheen of creamy white silk. The furniture was old and out of place, the rosewood inlaid card table was scratched, the brocade armchairs had lost their luster, the couch was uncomfortable to sit on, and the bookshelves were piled with old tattered cowhide books and new paperbacks.There was no chandelier in the room, only a few standing lamps and a large cast-iron fireplace. The crackling firewood lit the cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling, leaving riotous shadows.The living room was cluttered, but I fell in love with it before I set foot in the door. The armchair felt very comfortable and I was about to walk towards it when a mental yell of the brakes brought me to a sudden stop.I heard my heart beating wildly, my mind went blank, and I didn't know where to sit.The food, the light teasing with each other, and the quiet ease with Abby let me relax and forget to be alert. be right back.As I said that, I hid in the toilet, let others sit first, and stopped my legs from shaking.I waited for my breathing to return to normal and my head to work before I remembered where I was supposed to sit: the low Victorian nursery chair by the fireplace.Frank showed me the photo before, I should have known. It's so easy to get out, just sit on the wrong chair, and it takes almost less than four hours. I walked back into the living room, and Justin looked up at me, frowning slightly, worried, but no one spoke.My books are placed on the thick wool felt card table next to the nursing chair, there is a thick stack of references, a shattered "Jane Eyre" is opened and pressed on a horizontal notebook, and there is a yellowed The author of the popular novel "Leng Yan Jiao Baby" is Ke Ruili, and I don't think it has anything to do with the thesis, but who knows.The cover of the novel depicts a blow-up doll in a slit skirt and a pistol in a garter belt (men fly around her like flies but she always shoots ruthless!).Also on the table is my blue Pilot ballpoint pen, toothed at the end, where I left it on Wednesday night. I looked across the book for signs of nervousness, but the four of them were absorbed in reading immediately, with a disciplined concentration that was almost terrifying.Abby sat in an armchair with her feet on the embroidery stool (which she probably fixed), flipping through a book and circling her hair with her fingers.Xiao Rui sat in another armchair by the fireplace, across from me, putting down her books from time to time, stooping to poke the fire or add firewood.Justin lay on the couch, scribbling in his notebook on his chest, occasionally muttering, cursing under his breath, or clicking his tongue angrily.On the wall behind him is a stripped patchwork hunting picture, which should be out of place with him in corduroy pants and rimless glasses, but it is not obtrusive at all.Daniel sat at the card table, lowered his head slightly under the high lamp, his hair was dark black, and his body seemed to be frozen, except for slowly turning the pages.The thick green velvet curtains were not drawn, and I could imagine a stranger standing in the dark back garden, seeing us surrounded by fire, safe and bright.He will see us engrossed, lucid and peaceful, like a dream.My head was spinning, and I was suddenly jealous of dead Lacey. Daniel caught me looking at him and smiled at me from across the table.This was the first time I saw him smile, and it instantly gave me a strong sweet feeling, and then he buried his head in the book again. I went to bed early, around ten o'clock, because that's Lacey's habit, and because Frank was right, my head felt like I'd run a triathlon and I was exhausted.I went into Lacey's bedroom and closed the door (little swirls of lily-of-the-valley flowers on my shoulders and T-shirt neck, watching curiously) with my back against the door.I felt like I couldn't get to the bed, I was about to slip, and I was falling asleep before I even touched the rug.I don't remember being undercover so hard, and I don't think it's because of my age or declining skills, let alone the reasons O'Kelly would say.I was the one who dominated the situation last time undercover, and it was me who decided who to associate with, how long to associate with, and how close.This time the decision was Lacey's, and I had no choice but to play by her rules.It was as if I was listening to her orders through noisy headphones, and I had to listen to her faint instructions, and let her manipulate my every move. I've felt the same way with cases before, being led by the nose, and the cases that I dislike the most usually don't turn out well.But this man must be the murderer, a bastard three steps ahead of us, I've never been led by the dead before. However, there is one thing that is relatively simple.Last time at University College Dublin, every word that came out of my mouth smelt like rotten bread, rotten and wrong.As I said before, I don't like lying very much, but every word I say this time feels as real as pure cotton.As for why, I can only come up with two possibilities, either that I deceived myself (rationalizing things is the main talent of an undercover agent), or that doing so (even if the reasoning is profound and complicated) is not deception.The more I acted like Lacey, the closer I was to what I said, which was her truth, not mine.I decided I'd better get out of the door and go to bed before I thought I'd gone crazy. Lacey's room is on the top floor in the back half of the house, facing Daniel's bedroom and Justin's upstairs. It is medium in size, with a rather low ceiling, plain white curtains, and a rickety cast iron single bed. Like an old wringer squealing.If Lacey gets pregnant in this bed, I'll have to give in.The sheets are blue and have just been ironed, and the quilt has also been changed.She doesn't have much furniture, only one bookshelf, a small wooden wardrobe nailed with tin strips, indicating the type of clothing (hats, socks) in the collection, a broken plastic lamp on the tattered bedside plant, and the thread cloth of the wooden dressing table It was full of dust, and the angle of me in the three-way mirror was so strange that I wanted to cover it with a sheet or something.But in this way, not only do I have to explain it to other people, but even if I cover it, I still feel that the mirror is looking at me, which means it has no effect. I opened the purse, cocked my ears to see if there was any movement in the stairwell, and at the same time took out the new sidearm and the surgical tape for the bandages.Even at home, I have to sleep with a gun in my hand. This is a habit, and I don't think there is any need to change it now.I taped the gun to a hidden spot behind the bedside table, within easy reach.There is no cobweb behind the bedside table, not even a speck of dust. The forensic personnel are obviously one step ahead of me. Before I put on Lacey's blue pajamas, I tore off the fake bandages, removed the microphone, and stuffed everything in the bottom of the tote bag.I knew Frank would be furious if he found out, but I didn't care.I do it for a reason. Your first night as an undercover agent is one you will never forget.During the day you are preoccupied and self-controlled, keeping a close and relentless watch over everything and everything, as well as yourself.But at night, when you're lying alone in a room that smells different, with your back against a strange mattress, you have no choice but to let go and fall asleep, into another person's life, like a person in a cold pool. Stone.Even if you are a novice, you will understand at that second that things cannot go backwards, and everything will be different when you wake up the next day.I had to go forward naked, without a trace of who I was, like the woodcutter child in the story who throws off his protection to enter the enchanted castle, or like the young follower of an ancient religion who goes naked to his bar mitzvah. I found an old edition of Grimm's Fairy Tales on the bookshelf and read them in bed.The book is beautifully bound and illustrated, but unfortunately quite fragile. It was a birthday present for Lacey from other housemates last year.There is a line of slanted and smooth pen writing on the title page. I am sure it was written by Justin: 〇March 1st, four years, happy birthday, little girl (when will you grow up?), love you.Then came the signatures of the four.I sat on the bed with Grimm's Fairy Tales in my lap, but I couldn't concentrate.From time to time, vague and hasty conversations can be heard from the living room downstairs, and the garden outside the window is also full of life. The evening wind blows the leaves, foxes howl, owls hunt and hunt, and there are rustling, shouting and running sounds everywhere.I sat and looked around the unfamiliar Lacey's room, listening quietly. Near midnight, the stairs creaked, and someone knocked quietly on my door.I almost jumped to the ceiling, and immediately grabbed the bag to make sure the zipper was all the way down, and then said: Come in. It was me, maybe Daniel or Ray or Justin, and the speaker was too close to the door, and his voice was so soft that it was hard to tell who it was.Just saying goodnight to you, we're going to bed. My heart is beating wildly.Good night, I said: sleep well. The words floated up and down the long and narrow stairs, unable to catch where they came from, mixed with the chirping of crickets outside the window, as soft as fingers touching my hair.Good night, they say, good night, sleep well.Welcome back, Lacey.That's right, welcome back.Good night, I wish you sweet dreams. I slept very lightly, with my ears stretched out, and suddenly woke up fully after an unknown period of time.Across the corridor, there were whispers in Daniel's room. I held my breath, but the door was too thick, and all I could hear were brief hisses coming from the darkness, neither words nor human voices.I carefully extended an arm from under the covers and picked up Lacey's phone from the bedside table.Seventeen past three. I tried for a long time to pick out the two tiny whispers between the twitter of the bats and the sound of the wind.At 3:58, I heard the doorknob turn slowly, followed by the soft closing of Daniel's door.The barely audible sound of breathing came from the stairwell, like a shadow moving in the darkness, followed by complete silence.