Reyahadrecovered.

        Everydayshebrimmedwithenergy,likeasunflowerturningtowardthelight.Hersmilewassweeter,moreradiant.Itwasthekindthatliftedpeople''smoodsjustbyexisting.

        Lucian,however,hadnotimeforsmiles.Theteamwasbusyagain.

        Amurdercase.

        Inthiscity,withitstransientpopulations,boomingserviceindustries,andhazeofdesirefueledbymoney,murderwasnothingnew.Afteryearsinthecriminalinvestigationunit,Lucianhadseenitall.Hewasnearlynumb.

        Butthisonewasdifferent.Twovictims,bothchildrenofhigh-rankingofficials.Thepressurecamedownhardfromabove:strictordersthatHomicideUnitmustsolvethecaseimmediatelyandbringthekillertorealjustice.

        "Bringthekillertorealjustice."

        Asifeverythingthey''ddonebeforehadn''tbeenrealjustice.

        Ofcourse,ascaptain,Lucianwantedtocrackthecaseassoonaspossible.Butthevictims''sensitivebackgroundsmadeevensimpleinquiries—intotheirdailylives,theircircles—nearlyimpossible.Everyonewasevasiveanduncooperative.Therookiesontheteam,facedwitharrogantattitudesandcloseddoors,werereadytothrowinthetowelatanymoment.

        Thelandlordwho''ddiscoveredthebodieswasalreadydetainedastheprimarysuspect.Thepolicesealedoffinformationfromthemedia.Yetrumorsspreadanyway,floodingtheinternetlikeavirus.Despitefiltersanddeletions,whisperscarriedthroughmessagingapps—dark,distortedtalespassedfromonescreentoanother,grewstrangerbytheday.

        Someclaimedtheroomhadbeencoveredinachalkywhitepowder,asiftwogiantcockroacheshadbeencrushedthere.OtherssaidthevictimshadshriveledintomummiesstraightoutofEgypt.Thedescriptionsdefiedlogic,science,andbasichumandecency.

        JustthinkingaboutthemmadeLucian''sheadache.

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