Page 1 of Symphony for Lies

Chapter 1

Time of death: 11:05:32

Name: Rica

Species: Egyptian Mau, cat

Storage Unit: Number 3

Owner: Edward Franklyn

One last glance at the locked cabinet, and then I ended my shift for the night.

“Amelia, don’t forget to come in early tomorrow so you can speak with the police!” Linda, my boss, called after me. It was the third time she reminded me. As if I were someone who would easily forget something like that.

I let out a quiet sigh, walking out of the glass doors of the veterinary clinic and taking one last look at the building. The sign above the entrance,Paws & Tails Veterinary Clinic,gleamed under the streetlights, but to me, it no longer felt like a safe haven.

A few months prior, I loved my job. But after… after everything, it felt different.

The cool night air wrapped around my body, and the streetlights cast long shadows on the cobblestone pavement. The quiet stillness of the city seemed to mask all unspoken worries lingering in my mind.

I crossed the street and turned into a side alley. My gaze drifted toward the bridge. It looked peaceful and inviting… like a place to escape from all worries… or the edge of something much darker.

I walked closer to rest my arms on the railing as my eyes traced the dark waters below. The scent of damp earth lingered in the air, and the gentle rush of the river offered a fleeting sense of calm.

For a moment.At least.

A few people passed by—joggers, late-night walkers, and couples. Their mere presence made me feel safer, so I rested my head on my folded arms, letting my thoughts take over.

It had happened again.

Several pets had been brought to the clinic with signs of poisoning... and we had our first fatality. A poor cat that was locked in the storage unit, waiting to be examined by the police before being returned to her family for burial.

For the hundredth time, I asked myself:How could someone be so cruel?To strike from the shadows, leaving only suffering in their wake?

The question weighed heavily on me, as if I were being pulled into something bigger than I could yet understand.

As a veterinary assistant, I did everything possible to support the vet. And still, it never felt enough. The pet owners had unleashed their fear and grief on me. Yelling, grabbing my arms, and blaming me for what had happened. Their desperate stares, filled with anger and despair, haunted me.

Each day was growing harder.

I once loved this job because I loved animals. But when did it start exhausting me so much?

I had a stable job and even worked as a tutor on the side. But… was this really all my life had to offer?

I ran a hand down my face.

Work, eat, work, sleep, repeat.

A deep restlessness had taken root inside me, shaking me to my core.

I shivered slightly as a cool breeze curled around me. Summer in Rosewood was fading, giving way to fall. The city’s grand, historic mansions were covered in climbing rose vines that were beginning to shed their petals. And the trees started to shift into vibrant hues of gold and crimson.

From the bridge, I had a perfect view of the fading beauty of nature and the distant glow of the city lights. It gave me a slight sense of strength—

“I knew I’d find you here.”

A deep, low voice cut through the silence, making me flinch and instinctively step aside.