Chapter 98

Nora POV

The apartment still smells like strangers when the last uniformed officer finally leaves. Dust from overturned cushions hangs in the air, mixing with the faint chemical scent of fingerprint powder. Vincent stands in the doorway of the master bedroom, arms crossed, watching the two detectives pack up their kits.

“This place has been turned upside down,” the officer says mildly, flipping open a notepad. “But you’re saying nothing is missing?”

“Yes,” I say for the third time. “Nothing.”

“Nothing missing,” the older one says again, like repetition will make it true. “Drawers rifled through, closets searched, but no valuables taken. Even the jewellery box was intact. No forced entry beyond the front door. Alarm was disabled cleanly, which means someone knew the code or had a bypass. We’ll run the serials on the