Page 34 of Paws & Order

"Okay," I say slowly. "So someone is cosplaying as a nineteenth-century boyfriend and leaving Liza presents."

Even as I say it, I know it's not that simple.

But my mind is already lining up precautions.

Options.

Fallback plans.

Liza speaks before Enoch can.

"I mean, it's the most romantic haunting I've ever heard of. If he shows up in a top hat and quotes Byron, I'll buy him a drink."

I catch her eye a half second longer than I mean to, and the joke lands differently than she intends.

"Don't encourage him," I say, and my voice comes out rougher than usual.

She tilts her head, amused.

"You're not jealous of my spectral admirer, are you, Chief?"

Before I can muster a reply, there's a commotion in the outer office.

Paper shuffling.

A whiff of sulfur.

The unmistakable bass of Mayor Zadok Infernalis losing a battle with his own cup of espresso.

The demon himself lumbers into the conference room, eyes dark, horns perfectly polished, suit only slightly singed at the lapel.

"Morning, team! Sorry, the coffee machine attempted a mutiny. Liza, you're a vision as always. Chief, lovely to see you vertical."

Zadok pins Enoch with a look.

"You have something for us?"

The next ten minutes are a blur of evidence, timelines, and Zadok's distracted doodling on the whiteboard.

He draws a surprisingly good likeness of Liza as a Victorian ghost bride, complete with flowing veil.

By the time the meeting winds down, it's generally agreed: the apartment haunting is either a very methodical poltergeist, an obsessed ghost, or, faintly possible, a living human with more time on their hands than the town's entire population combined.

Zadok is the first to stand.

"Well, if the gifts continue, I'm expecting a full wedding invite. Good work, team. Keep me posted."

He winks at Liza, then vanishes in the direction of the break room, a sulfurous trail lingering behind him.

Enoch collects his files, then leans in, voice pitched lower.

"If you want my real read, off the record? I think it's a tethered entity. Maybe attached to the building. Maybe attached to an object inside it."

He looks at Liza, then at me.

"Protect her, Chief. Some of these cases go sideways fast."

I thank him, then escort Liza out the side door.