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I couldn’t let that happen again.

She walked out, locking the door behind her.

Me: Hey, Irene.

Irene: Hi.

Me: What r u doing?

Irene: Playing poker with Enzo. He’s terrible at it.

Me: Stay inside for now.

Irene: I’m staying inside.

I put the phone aside and closed my eyes for a second when my phone rang.

Detective Rosario.

“Detective? What is it?” My fingers froze. I knew exactly what was coming.

“The Strangler…” the detective started with a sigh.

“Did he kill again?”

15

CHERRY LUSH

YARA

“Did he kill again?”

“He tried. Doctor West, his victim, is alive. Still alive.” A deep, deep sigh.

Alive. The word rang in my head in a chant. Did I hear it right? Or was I just hallucinating from all the guilt?

I gasped, jumping up from the chair, my breath catching. “What did you say?”

“Alive,” he said again.

“Where is she right now, Detective? I’m coming.”

“In Dos Memorial.”

I turned around, sending a quick text to Ryden, but he didn’t reply. Entering the car, I sped toward the hospital, my heart pounding in my ears.

Alive. Alive. Alive.

After chasing a ghost through shadows of nothingness, after years of desperation and anger and rage…

Someone survived and now there was a witness. It was more than I ever had. This was the answer to every one of my prayers, but could I be this lucky?

I knew the Strangler, and she wasn’t someone who made mistakes like this.

Was it my luck, or was this just another trap?

The Detectives were waiting for me at the entrance when I reached the hospital.