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CHAPTER 1

The Killer

Two hours from now….

T he Whispers of the Wicked podcast gathering fills the lounge with laughter and lies.

Such a perfect audience, a room full of true crime enthusiasts who would soon have a mystery of their own to solve—one that I’m about to hand-deliver.

The irony is almost too good to fathom.

And there he stands in the center of it all, the king of his well-curated kingdom. Holding court, sharing stories about other people’s tragedies while creating fresh ones with each breath. Every smile, every touch, every promise he has ever made has been broken—and they have all led to this delicious moment.

Bile rises in the back of my throat as I watch him work the crowd. His every smile and handshake stoke a rage inside me that has been simmering for months. Each laugh he expels feels personal, as if he’s outright mocking me. Each gesture is a stark reminder of the power he’s wielded over me without mercy. A reminder of all the dreams he’s turned to dust. Not to mention the thought of freedom that he’s dangled like bait, and then yanked away with a cruel, cruel smile.

No more.

It all ends tonight.

He ends tonight.

The party swirls around us as ice clinks in glasses, as incessant laughter floats to the ceiling, as the mindless chatter about other people’s grisly endings titillates the masses.

These true crime groupies are far too distracted to see the true crime coming their way.

A case of a lifetime is about to be gifted right to their feet.

Just a few more minutes of pretending.

A few more moments of being exactly who everyone expects of me, of wearing the mask that’s become second nature.

Then everything changes.

The king of this castle is about to star in the final episode of his own podcast.

And I’m going to make sure it’s a cold case for the ages.