Fromadistance,LuciancouldseethatthegiantFerriswheelattheamusementparkstoodmotionless.Otherridesalsofrozemid-operation.
Theplace,oncefilledwiththeroarofmachineryandtheshrieksandlaughterofvisitors,haddissolvedintoaneeriesilence,brokenonlybythelowmurmurofonlookers''whispering,likecountlessinsectsvibratingtheirwings.
Staffstruggledtopushthecrowdback,butgawkersstillpressedagainstthenewlystrungpolicetape,craningtheirneckslikeducksonaspit,desperateforaglimpseinside.
Beyondthebarrierloomedthehauntedhouse,itsentranceboardedupforseasonalmaintenance.Everyyeararoundthistime,itshutdownforafewweeksforupdatesaheadofHalloween.Now,withabodyfoundinside,thenamehadbecomealittletooliteral.
PatrolofficerswavedLucian''steamthroughthebarricade.Forensicsmovedinfirst,layingdownsteppingplatesandbeginningpreliminaryevidencecollection.MoxiandChrisfollowed,readytoexaminethebody.
Afterconfirmingwithpatrolofficersandparkstaffthattheamusementparkhadbeenclosedaftertheincident,andthatnoonehadenteredorexitedsince,Lucianorderedauxiliaryofficerstostartrecordingvisitors''information.Detainingeveryonewouldbeimpracticalanddisrupttheinvestigation.
Oneyoungofficerhesitated."Whatiftheyrefusetogivetheirinformation?"
"Playstaff,"Luciansaid."Offercompensationfortheruinedvisit.They''llcomply."
Lucianthenquestionedtheconstructionworkerwhohadfirstdiscoveredthebody,alongwiththeparamedics.
"...Hefellfromthesecond-floorscaffolding.Landedjustafewstepsawayfromme.Madealoudthud—wham!Itscaredthehelloutofme,"theworkershuddered."Atfirst,Ithoughtitwasoneofmycoworkers.Imean,we''djustpaintedthatsectionthismorning.Itneedstodrybeforeanyonecancontinuework.Whatwashedoingupthere?"
"Iwentoverandtookalook."theworkercontinued."Itwasastranger.Hisfacewaspale,likeaghost.Icouldn''tevenbeartostare.Hisleglookedtwistedatastrangeangle—definitelybroken.Icalledforanambulancerightaway."
Aparamedicconfirmed."...Bythetimewearrived,heshowednosignsoflife.Weavoidedmovinghim.Initialexaminationshowedafracturedfemur,likelylandedfeet-first.Thereweresomeabrasionsonhisbody,butnothingfatal.Thescaffoldingonthesecondfloorisn''tthathigh.Normally,afalllikethatshouldn''tbedeadly."
DeterminingtheactualcauseofdeathwasMoxi''sresponsibility,soLuciandidn''tpressfurther.
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