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Fionashook her head. "I don't know."
She noticedthat it was a common beetle, one that could be found on any tree in Portland,not a unique species from the museum. Was it just a coincidence that it haddied and fallen on this dead man's forehead? That seemed unlikely, but Fionacouldn't quite grasp the meaning.
Fionareturned her focus to the body, taking note of the precise angle of the stabwound and the blood pooling around it. Her mind raced, trying to piece togetherwhat had happened. Was the killer still among them, lurking in the shadows? Thethought sent chills down her spine.
"Policeare on their way," Jake informed her, his expression grim. "They'llwant answers."
"Let'ssee if we can find some first," she replied. Fiona snapped on a glove andreached into the man's pocket. She carefully unfolded the man's wallet,searching for any clue to his identity.
"DanielBoone," she read aloud, her voice tinged with sadness. His ID photo showeda much more lively face than the one she was seeing, and he was so young, onlyin his twenties.
Someonehad murdered him here today. Fiona didn't know why, but what she did know wasthat the killer was still here--possibly hidden among them.
***
Thescent of formaldehyde clung to Fiona's nostrils, mingling with the faint,metallic tang of blood. She stood at the edge of the roped-off area in theentomology exhibit, her gaze fixed on the lifeless form sprawled on the floor.Daniel Boone, a real person whose life had been cut short. The brilliant colorsof mounted butterflies and beetles stared back at her from behind the glasscases, oblivious to the scene unfolding before them.
Jakejoined her side, his face set in a determined expression. "The place islocked up. No one's getting in or out."
Fionanodded. "Good. We need to gather evidence and find out who did this."She glanced at the body, taking a closer look at the beetle on his forehead."This beetle didn't just fall here by chance," she said, pointing atit. "It was placed here intentionally."
Jakecrouched down beside her, his expression curious. "Why would someone dothat?"
"I'mnot sure," Fiona said, her mind racing with possibilities. "But itcould be a message. Maybe the killer wants us to know something."
Jakenodded thoughtfully. "It's possible. We'll have to wait for forensics toconfirm. Strange place to kill someone," he murmured, glancing around theroom.
"Strangeindeed," she agreed, her mind racing through the possible motives for sucha bizarre choice of location. Was it truly a random attack? The bug placed onthe forehead felt too deliberate. "Something else is bothering me,"Fiona said.
"Whatis it?" Jake asked,
"Despitebeing surrounded by an exhibit full of rare and exotic insects," Fionasaid, gesturing at the glass cases filled with strange insects, "this oneis a simple ground beetle. It's common to this area; I've seen hundreds ofthem."
"Soit could be a coincidence," Jake suggested, but his tone indicated hedidn't believe it any more than she did.
"Perhaps,"Fiona mused, her mind racing. "But it seems too… deliberate. As if someonewanted us to find it." She straightened up, her eyes meeting Jake's as theweight of their discovery settled on them. "This isn't just a random actof violence, Jake. There's something more going on here."
Henodded grimly. "We need to find out what that is—before anyone else getshurt."
Fionacouldn't agree more, but the question now was where to start. The museum was inlockdown, and the tension was palpable in the guests, who huddled together andtalked. Fiona could feel it in the tightness of her chest as she struggled totake in a deep breath. She glanced over at Jake, who looked equally tense. Theyhad to act now if they were going to find any answers.
"Let'sstart with the people Daniel was with," Fiona suggested, her voice low andcontrolled. "I heard an officer say he was with friends, and they're stillhere. They might know something."
"Agreed,"Jake replied, his eyes scanning the crowd. "I think those are them overthere."
Fionafollowed his gaze, spotting a small group of people huddled together near oneof the exhibit's glass cases, their faces etched with grief and shock. As theyapproached, a young woman with red-rimmed eyes looked up at them.
"Areyou here to help?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Please, tell uswhat happened to Daniel."
"First,we need to ask you some questions," Fiona said gently, trying to soundsoothing, despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Can you tellus about the last time you saw Daniel?"
Thewoman sniffled, wiping away a tear that threatened to escape the corner of hereye. "He said he needed to use the restroom. That's the last thing Iremember before… before…"
"Didyou notice anything unusual about him before he left?" Jake probed,crossing his arms over his chest.
"No,not really," another friend chimed in, a young man with a scruffy beard."He seemed to be having fun at the exhibit, like all of us."
"Didanyone else leave the group or follow him?" Fiona asked, her mind racingwith possible scenarios.
