Hank listened intently, jotting down notes as Jason exined his detective tricks.


    "So, Jason, where do we even start looking for the first victim?" Hank nced up from his notepad.


    Jason paused, thinking it over. "Let''s check with every precinct, see if there are any missing person reports. We''ll roll the timeline back about a month before we found the first body-so we''re looking for people who vanished around six months ago."


    "Why go back a whole extra month?" Hank asked, genuinely puzzled.


    Jason tapped Hank on the head with his chalk. "If you killed someone, wouldn''t you be nervous? You''dy low, wait to see if the cops caught on before pulling the same stunt again."


    Hank grinned. "Yeah, I''d definitely want to see if I''d gotten away with it before trying again."


    "Exactly. So let''s check those records," Jason said, just as his phone rang. It was Monica.


    Monica was waiting outside the station, leaning on her car. Jason came out, smiling. "Hey, Monica, what brings you here?"


    She gave him a yful wink, resting her arms on the window. "Just checking if the legendary Detective Lucas has eaten yet. Want to grab dinner tonight?"


    Jason let out a sigh. "Tonight''s no good. I have to solve this serial case-chief''s on my back, and the city''s on edge. Once it''s over, I owe you a big dinner."


    Monica pouted. "It''s always another case with you. When will it ever end?"


    Jason could tell she was disappointed. He nced around, saw no one was watching, then leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "I''ll try to get off early, swing by your ce tonight."


    He was good at sweet-talking, and Monica couldn''t help but smile. "Fine. I''ll wait at home. Don''t let me hold you up, superstar. Bye!"


    "Drive safe, and no drinking," Jason called as she started her car. Monica just waved out the window.


    Monica headed to her favorite spa, feeling bored and in need of some pampering. While getting her facial, she called Anastasia. "Ana, what are you up to? Come to my shop for a facial, then let''s go for hot pot tonight."


    "Babysitting," Anastasia said truthfully. She was out shopping with Katelyn, her mother-inw, and the twins, Emmie and Nancy. Herman was at work, and she''d gotten restless at home.


    "Bring my godkids! I''ll help you watch them," Monica teased.


    Anastasia chuckled, ncing at Katelyn, who was pushing a double stroller. "I''m with my mother-inw right now. My mom''s picking up my dad from the airport, so I can''t sneak away."


    "Alright, rain check," Monica said, dropping it.


    They chatted for a bit, then Katelyn called Anastasia over, and she hurried to catch up.


    Katelyn steered the stroller into a baby boutique, eyeing thetest baby clothes. "Mom, we have so many clothes at home, most of them still with tags. Babies grow fast—maybe let''s hold off on more shopping?" Anastasia tried.


    Anastasia had grown up with frugal habits, so Katelyn''s love for luxury always felt a bit much. Every few days, Katelyn bought new clothes for the twins-half of which they never wore.


    Katelyn waved her off. "Childhood only happens once, and our family can afford it. Why not give them the best?"


    If the twins so much as nced at a toy, Katelyn bought it. She''d even boughtnd to build a private amusement park for them. The kids had gold-ted spoons, and their outfits never repeated.


    Anastasia worried Katelyn''s spoiling would backfire as the kids got older.


    Suddenly, Feiman called. He was nearby and asked Katelyn to watch Joseph''s son, Daria, for a bit.


    Katelyn knew what was up-Feiman was nudging her to ept Joseph''s child. She still hadn''te to terms with Joseph, her husband''s son from another rtionship, and now she was supposed to look after Joseph''s son. Katelyn was frustrated, but Feiman handed off Daria and hurried away.


    "That old man—not even worried if I''ll be nice to the kid," Katelyn grumbled.


    Daria was almost two, curious and mischievous. Having never known his mother, he clung to Anastasia. Despite her history with Julie, Baria''s mom, Anastasia never took out on the child.


    "Let''s slow down, buddy," Anastasia said, holding Daria''s hand as he toddled along.


    "Carry me," Daria whined, hugging her leg.


    Katelyn, watching with a sour look,


    muttered, "He really knows how to get attention. When Emmie and Nancy get older, they''ll be jealous if someone tries to steal Mom. And if Daria grows up to be ungrateful like Julie, we''re in for trouble."


    "Mom, he''s just tired. He''s two. Let me carry him-kids copy us. How they turn out


    is up to the grownups,” Anastasia replied, hinting for Katelyn to go easy.


    Kids are nk tes. What they be depends on what we write on them.


    Daria had never met his mother. Joseph loved his son, but as a working single dad, he couldn''t give Daria a mother''s attention. Most days, Daria stayed at Salstrom Manor.


    Anastasia scooped him up, and he snuggled quietly on her shoulder.


    After a while, everyone needed a break. With the nanny along, they headed for afternoon tea by the river. The sun was out, and the city feltzy and calm.


    Both twins napped in their stroller, Daria slept in the nanny''s arms, and Anastasia finally had a moment to herself.


    Katelyn''s phone rang. It was Mrs. Walker-Autumn-inviting her for tea.


    Katelyn grinned. "Mrs. Walker, what a coincidence! We''re having tea at Riverbend Café-right near you. Join us?"


    Anastasia, settled in afy chair, overheard and sent Herman a quick text: Busy today?


    Across town in his ss-walled office at Elysian Technologies, Herman saw the message and replied at once: Not too bad.


    They messaged back and forth, just like they used to when living in Harmony Meadows. It made Anastasia smile.


    Time slipped by until a familiar voice called out, "Katelyn, you sure know how to pick a spot! It''s so nice here."


    "Mrs. Walker!" Katelyn greeted her. "Brought the kids out for air, figured we''d rest a bit."


    Anastasia looked up and smiled politely. "Mrs. Walker."


    Autumn nodded, her eyesnding on the nanny holding Daria. "Is that one yours too, Katelyn?"


    Katelyn shrugged. “You''llugh, but that''s Joseph''s boy-his son with Julie. Feiman just dropped him off."


    By now, the Salstrom family''s "secret son" wasn''t much of a secret, but hardly anyone knew Daria was Julie''s. Joseph kept it private.


    Katelyn, annoyed at Feiman, let it slip before Anastasia could stop her.


    As a mom herself, Anastasia cringed. She didn''t want Daria to be gossiped about


    or judged.


    Autumn''s face changed. Julie was her daughter-which meant Daria was her


    grandson.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!