Julian''scasewasswiftlyclassifiedasasuicide.

        Nosurprise,giventheevidence.

        Thesurveillancefootageclearlyshowedhimenteringthehauntedhousealone.Thespotwherehe''dfallenheldonlyhisfootprintsandthoseofafewmaintenanceworkers,allwithairtightalibis.

        Noonemournedtheodd,quietmanthey''dnicknamedQuasimodobehindhisback.Thefilewasclosedwithoutceremony.

        YetonedetailgnawedatLucianlikeasplinterlodgeddeepbeneathhisskin:the"intimateencounter"betweenJulianandReyarightbeforehisdeath.

        Hecouldn''t—wouldn''t—believethegirlhe''draisedwithsuchcarewouldeverlowerherselfto...that.Thethoughtalonemadehisstomachknot.

        AndReya?Gone,withoutatrace.

        AsforLinisan,thecleanerwhohadstumbledonthem—herlaterstatementsunraveledintowild,incoherentramblingsabout"drainedbodies"and"monstersinbearsuits."Thepolicedismissedherasunstable,escortingherhomewithareferraltosocialservices.Afterall,apregnantwomaninherconditionneededsupport,notsuspicion.

        Caseclosed.

        ButforLucian,thequestionsfestered.

        SpecialAgentMa''amLeehadsealedawayeverything—everyframeofsurveillancefootage,everyscrapofdataontheSilverRingandCoolEarringcases—boxed,stamped,andcartedoff.

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