Page 54 of Symphony for Lies

“Bag?” Spencer repeated, frowning slightly.

“I told him to call the police,” I added quickly, sensing the sudden tension.

The two other officers joined us. The taller one, a dark-haired man with sharp features, studied me briefly before his expression lit up with recognition. “Amelia?”

“Ali!”

I barely recognized him at first. He usually had a beard, but he was clean-shaven, making him look at least ten years younger.

“It’s been a while.” He grinned. “But I’ve heard your name a lot lately.”

His eyes flicked between me and Spencer pointedly, and I frowned in confusion.Spencer immediately dropped his hand from my arm, making Ali smirk.

“My wife, Layla, won’t stop talking about you.”

I could guess why Layla mentioned me, but it wasn’t an appropriate time to discuss that.

“Wait. Isn’t she the one who gave you her number?” the other officer chimed in, amused.

Recognition clicked.He was one of the guys watching Spencer at the café.

I glanced back at Zane, who stood silent but watchful.“Can we please focus on the bag?” I inquired, cutting through the conversation.At once, professionalism returned.

“I’ll stay with the kids,” the officer volunteered.

I led Spencer and Ali to the bag, explaining everything as we walked: what happened, how we found it, and that only two people touched it.

Spencer pulled on a pair of gloves and crouched down, carefully unzipping the bag.

Ali took one look inside and immediately covered his mouth.

Zane’s usual amused arrogance was gone. His jaw was clenched tight, fists curled at his sides. It was too much even for him.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

“What the fuck...” Ali whispered.

Spencer’s head snapped up, eyes locking onto mine.“The wind chime.”

I nodded with a heavy heart.We were thinking the same thing.

“Get forensics here.”

Ali grabbed his radio, calling it in.

Spencer slipped off the gloves and leaned in close to murmur, “The dog had a collar. The name of the last victim was on it… Her hand was missing, too. He was here.”

My breath caught.

“You work at Paws & Tails, right?”

“I do. But I also tutor here. Usually, once a week, but it’s exam season. I’ve been working almost daily.”

His expression softened slightly. “You never take a break, do you?”

“I chose this. But you don’t seem to be taking much of a break either.”

His smile was faint but genuine as his hand found mine. Not forcefully, not possessively, just a warm, steady grip.

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