Page 16 of Symphony for Lies

But the moment I touched her, a cold wave of unease washed over me.The past few days flashed through my mind. “Where’s Susan?”

The woman in question hurried toward us from across the street, waving frantically. “Amelia! Oh, my dear, thank you!”

Susan, my wonderful neighbor, was around my grandmother’s age and also her best friend. She was still lively, working at a bakery and occasionally teaching crochet classes.

Her silver hair was pulled into a neat bun, and a large pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on her nose.She was short, with a soft figure. And the woman was full of warmth.

“Oh, Ivy! How could you scare me like that?” she scolded the cat while struggling to breathe properly.“Amelia, you’re an angel!”

Ivy just meowed again, looking slightly offended.

“Ivy, listen to Susan. It’s dangerous right now,” I murmured, stroking the cat’s fur.

“Amelia, thank you for stopping her. We were just returning from our group meeting when she suddenly ran off!”

I looked Ivy over carefully, checking her mouth and fur. There were no signs of anything unusual. No signs that she had eaten anything.

“Thank God nothing happened. She probably just spotted me and wanted to say hi,” I joked.

“Maybe. But ever since you warned me about the incidents, I’ve been trying to keep her inside.”

I nodded. “It’s for the better.”

Susan’s expression shifted. “Have there been any more cases?”

I hesitated before answering. “Unfortunately… yes.”

“Oh, dear Lord. It’s not safe anymore.” She gave me a worried look. “I hope you’re staying safe, my sweet girl.”

Susan exhaled deeply and reached for Ivy, gently pulling her from my arms. The cat’s warmth disappeared from my skin instantly.

“You must be tired. I won’t keep you any longer.” Susan glanced at the man beside me. She didn’t linger on Zane for long, but I noticed it. She looked almost… uneasy.“Come by for coffee and cake soon, okay?” She kissed my cheek, wished me a good night, and disappeared into the house next door, scolding Ivy the entire way.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

“Amelia.” Zane’s deep voice pulled me back to the present.

I blinked, suddenly remembering that he was still standing there.

“What cases?”

“There have been multiple reports of animal poisonings,” I explained. “One of the pets… didn’t make it.”

My stomach twisted.The missing cat. The unanswered questions.

Zane frowned. “That hasn’t been reported anywhere.”

“I know it because I work at the vet clinic.”

His gaze lingered on me.“I was only gone for a few months… What the hell happened to this town?”

If only I knew…

“I should go inside. Thanks for the ride.”

Without another glance at him, I turned and walked inside, shutting the door behind me. But even with the barrier between us, Zane’s gaze still burned against my skin.

Chapter 6