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She studied Leo’s body with a frown. We stood in silence for a while as she assessed him, her eyes not skimming over any details.

“Do you think the wounds are an exact match?” she asked, pointing to the holes. “Could it be from the same weapon?”

“It’s the same, but it’s not.”

“What do you mean, Doctor West?” She furrowed her brows.

“Notice these sharp, cleaner cuts?” I said, pointing to the edges. “Victor’s wounds were not so precise. But this is smooth. Precise.”

Because the Strangler used the same model, but a newer knife.

“Not the same weapon, then?” Detective Hall asked.

“Yes. Victor was killed using something old, a used knife. I think the weapon was found.”

“It was,” Detective R said.

“Yes. So Victor’s wounds were more crushed tissue than Leo’s. Do you see it?”

“The cuts are sharper, cleaner. Maybe the unsub replaced the old weapon because it was used to frame Millicent?”

“Could be. But then again, why would he go all the way to frame Millicent and then do this?” I asked with a frown.

“Only God knows what’s running through the minds of these… monsters,” Detective R said, wiping his face. “Do you have the report, Doctor West?”

I handed them the report and the detectives left, leaving me staring at Leo Kesler when my phone rang.

“Ryden.”

“Are you ready for this evening? When you leave, you’ll be going directly to my house.”

“I can’t wait. Did you find anything about the gardenia?”

“I spoke with Sofia’s parents,” Ryden said, his frustration evident in his tone. “They don’t know about it. Nikki’s parents are in India right now. They’ll be back in four days.”

“Ryden?”

“Yes, Red?”

“Does it feel like we’re going nowhere, no matter how fast we run?” I frowned, pushing Leo’s body inside the locker.

“It does. Like we’re chasing something that doesn’t really exist.”

I sat down on the chair, opening my laptop.

“Every answer feels like it’s not enough, and it brings up even more questions. And people are dying.”

“I believe we are going somewhere even if it doesn’t feel like it. It’s unfair that more people are dying, but…” He trailed off, and I heard the sound of horns.

I traced the edge of the desk with my nail. “I don’t want to lose anyone else, Ryden.” I heard voices. “Are you at Enzo’s?”

“Yes.”

“Is Irene there?”

Before he could answer, I heard the sound of laughter in the background. Irene’s and…

“Someone else there?”