Peoplelovedaspectacle.Deaththrilledthem.Theywhisperedinhushedtones,feigneddisgust,pretendedfear—thenranhometospreadwild,exaggeratedstories.

        Luciancrouched,siftingthroughdampleaves,whenashadowfellacrosshim.Hefigureditwasoneoftheoldercops,anotherrookiehazingritual,thesametiredprankspasseddownthroughgenerations.

        Hepretendednottonotice,thensuddenlywhippedaroundwithaloudshout.

        Noseniordetectivejumped.

        Buthedid.

        Alittlegirl,maybeten,stoodthere.Skinny,tangledblackhair,naked,herskinstreakedwithdirtanddriedblood.Shelookedlesslikeachildthansomeferalthingdraggedoutofanightmare.

        Herwideeyesstaredathim,eerilyclearyetcarryingastrange,unsettlingaura,likeawitch''scrystalballglowingwithghostlylight.

        Thatwasthemomenthissurprisearrived.

        ***

        ThegirlwastemporarilyplacedinLucian''shomeasafosterchild.HenamedherReya.

        Lucianwasn''tgoodwithnames.ThewordhadslippedoutbecausethevictimatthecrimescenehadbeencalledReya.

        Aftersolong,hecouldnolongerrecallthatwoman''sfullname.Butitdidn''tmatter—nowhehadhisownReya.

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