Page 37 of Paws & Order

Not a coin.

Not a flower.

Not a cryptic note.

A person.

Liza traces a finger beneath the faded ink.

"Theodore," she says again.

The room feels strangely quiet.

Like we've finally found the edge of something.

Not an answer.

Just a direction.

Enoch flips through another file.

"There are scattered reports over the years. Flowers. Coins. Small gifts. Nothing violent."

"Nobody got hurt?" I ask.

"Not according to the records."

Beside me, Liza's shoulders loosen slightly.

Not much.

Just enough.

Enoch notices.

"So if you're imagining a murderous phantom, I wouldn't start there."

"Good," Liza says. "Because that would really complicate my week."

We leave with copies of the documents and more questions than answers.

The fog has rolled in by the time we step outside.

The entire town is wrapped in silver mist.

For a while, neither of us says anything.

Then—

"Theodore."

I glance over.

Liza has her hands shoved into the pockets of her coat.

"That's such a Teddy name."

The laugh slips out before I can stop it.