Welcome to Case Closed. You're listening to Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack, narrated by Elizabeth Evans. Let's pick up where we left off last time.

Chapter 16, Life After Death

This is it, I think, as I tumble out into space.

This is the end.

And yeah, I know, I know, my almost dead dialogue sucks.

Is this truly going to be my last thought?

Editing myself as I tumble into...

A frantic hand catches the fabric of my dress and pulls me back. I'm not on solid ground.

I'm floating in someone's arms with my heart on fire, ready to explode. I've got you,

Elle. I've got you. It's Oliver. It's always Oliver. Damn it. Can you speak?

I, I think so. He lowers me gently to the ground. My feet touch the cement, and my legs give way

underneath me. I've got you, Oliver says again,

and he doesn't let me fall because it's Oliver

and he'd never let me fall,

not even if he were the one who wanted me gone,

because my God, my God, someone wants to kill me,

someone tried to kill me.

What the fuck? Thank you, I say, trying to steady myself.

My back is to him, his arms around me like they were last night when he saved me the first time.

I press against him, hoping his solidity will seep into me and take several long, slow breaths.

I turn around slowly as the rest of the world comes back into focus. There's still a crowd around

us, the fireworks exploding above. Boom, boom, boom. Everyone's faces are turned up to the sky, lit up by the lights, blue, red, gold.

...