Night had already swallowed the city by the time Cain returned, shoulders heavy, eyes dim. He slipped quietly through the hidden passage, the soft hum of the barrier fading as he stepped into the familiar warmth of the living room.
The smell of coffee and burnt wood lingered in the air.
Lyra, lounging on the couch, lifted her gaze and said with a smirk,
"Welcome back, Detective Cain."
He exhaled sharply, voice weary. "Drop it, Lyra."
The man dropped onto the couch, the weight of the day still clinging to him like smoke.
Nena tilted her head. "Rough day? How was your first case?"
Cain rubbed his temples. "Fine. They assigned me a case — a woman's ashes were found earlier today."
Nena's eyes softened. "That bad, huh…"
Across the room, Azreal leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Any details so far?"
Cain's voice was low, controlled. "The woman's name was Layla Bose. She had a daughter — Lisa Bose."
