The Unseen Killer Next Door

a mess of official vehicles, the curious neighbors replaced by a grim-faced forensics team. They walked me,

fetti. They positioned Caleb near the doorway, with Jennifer, Andy, and Clark standing ar

our time. We just want you to tell us exactly what happened. Start f

oward me for a split second. "I was... out

fer prompted, her psychologist

e momentum. "My dad... and him." He pointed a

. "I haven't spoken to your father in six mo

quiet," C

?" I shot back. "Let him talk. Le

My dad fell back, onto the floor, right... right there." He point

f the blade under the lamp light, the sound of the impact, the way his fat

fer asked softly. "When di

of his pocket. A little wooden box. He opened it... and

y word, every gesture. He was getting lost in the lie, embellishing

r. "You can't even lie convincingly. What

don't know. It was j

it all, but you can't remember the tune? The same tune that was playing when Jennifer's parent

is face flushing. "I wasn't

rowl. "You were paying attention to every single detail, weren't you? You had

x on his chest, just like how it was put on Jennifer's mother. You even made sure to t

ic. His mouth opened and cl

that Jennifer's father's head was turned to the wall? That detail was never released t

nifer, Andy, Clark-they all fr

ntinued, taking a slow step forward, "were t

the spare cuffs from his belt. Before anyone could react, I spun around and snapp

ic

hoed in the

wrist, then at me, his face a ma

y let out a breath he seemed to have been holding for an hour.

voice ringing with clarity. "It's just a music box. The refle

crushing weight of their betrayal lifted, repla

to break," I said to