That wasn’t exactly the last time I heard from Melanie. A couple of weeks after Elliott was nabbed. I received a package from Mark Taylor at the station. In it was a framed photo of a smiling Melanie and a note that said:
Thank you for getting justice for my sister. As long as people can see her, Mel will never be forgotten.
I hung the photo on the wall of my home office, along with photos of Christie, and my son Paul and his family. One night, while I was half asleep, I could have sworn that I heard playful giggling coming from my office. The next morning, I went in to get some papers, looked at the wall, and on Melanie’s photo, in a handwriting that I didn’t recognize, was written a small note that said:
Thanks for helping! Love, Mel
These days, I’m back to normal police work, thinking that maybe I’ll put in for retirement in a couple years. I did take a week off to visit Paul and his family like I had planned, and it was very relaxing, after everything that I’d experienced.
One Saturday each month, I make a trek to the cemetery, bringing two bouquets of flowers. One I put on Christie’s grave, and the other on Melanie’s. I’d like to think that they’re watching over me, with Christie going “I love you, you big lug,” and Melanie saying “my hero.”
I’ve never been much of a religious person, but maybe if there is an afterlife, I hope that when my time comes, I’ll see them again.
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