Threecases.Fourdead.

        Oneclosedbyforce,onewrittenoffassuicide,oneconfessedbythekillerhimself.

        Formostdetectives,suchendingswouldbedreamlike:swiftjustice,effortlessvictories,thekindofrecordonewouldboastabout.

        Buttherewasn''ttheslightesttraceofasmileonLucian''sface.

        Ononesidestoodthegirls,strippedofanychancetoseekredress.Thetwoheirs''caseshadbeensweptundertherug,theharmtheysufferedlackedthebackingofanofficialpolicecase.Noofficialcasemeantnorightfulcompensation,noaccesstogovernmentaid.Parentsarrivedatthestationclutchingpamphletstheyhadoncebeengiven,demandinganswers,demandingrestitution.

        Yettherepliestheyreceivedwereice-cold:Unlesstheybringalawsuitagainstthetwodeceased.

        Deathextinguishescriminalliability,yes—butthelawstillallowsacasetobeopened,ifonlytoestablishthefacts.Asfordamages,thatwouldhavetogothroughcivilcourt,byclaimingcompensationforemotionaldistressfromtheoffender''sestate.

        Theproblemwas—thevideotapes,thekeyevidence,weregone.Withoutthem,howcouldthetruthbepiecedtogether?Andifaninvestigationbegan,itwouldmeandraggingthevictimsbackintotheirnightmares,forcingoldwoundsopenuntiltheybledanew.

        Worsestill,thefamiliesofthoserichheirswouldsurelyinterfere.Theywouldtwistthestory,spreadrumorslikepoison,smearthegirlsaswayward:sayingtheywereimmoralatayoungage,thattheyweresellingthemselvesformoney.Whowoulddaretakethatrisk?Whatfamilywouldgamblewiththeirdaughter''sreputationandfuture?

        Andthen,therewasReya.

        Lucianknew,withapangsharperthananyknife,howlittlehehadgivenher.Hisworkmadehislifeerratic—casespulledhimawayfordaysatatime.WhenReyawaslittle,hehadoncethoughtofplacingherwithaproperfosterfamily,onewithtwosteadyparents.Butthethoughthadslippedaway,buriedbeneathhisduties,andwhenhelookedagain,theyearshadpassed.Shewasnolongerachild.

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