Lorenzo crept through the graveyard, muttering desperate prayers under his breath.
"Oh Jesus, please... please help me. I don't wanna die young—I haven't even been married yet!"
Each crunch of gravel underfoot echoed like a warning. The mist curled tighter around him, and just as he began to breathe again—his boot snagged on something.
He pitched forward with a yelp and landed hard on his elbows. Panic flared.
"VICTOR, SIR!" he shrieked. "VICTOR SIR, I THINK SOMETHING—"
Footsteps answered first. Slow, deliberate.
"At least open your eyes, you fool," came Victor's cool voice. "I'm standing right in front of you."
Lorenzo cracked one eye open, then both, as the shape of his superior loomed above him, calm and unbothered.
"S-Sir, I think my leg got caught on something—"
Victor's gaze shifted toward the ground beside him, his tone suddenly sharper.
"It's not something, Lorenzo... it's someone."
Victor crouched beside the body, his gloved fingers gently brushing the corpse's jaw.
"Assassinated," Victor murmured, eyes scanning the corpse. "The killer had time. This wasn't rushed. Look at the skin—every ounce of blood is gone. And the expression..." He trailed off
Lorenzo grimaced and instinctively gripped Victor's shoulder,"looks like he saw a ghost"
"Uff Lorenzo not again"
"But Sir how can a person do something so monstrous like this that too in a graveyard,I'm telling u this place is cursed, Sir—cursed!"
Victor didn't even glance at him. "Shut up Lorenzo, U don't know to what lengths can be people go for money.Now help me prep the scene for forensics." He stood smoothly. "And try not to trip over anything else this time."
Lorenzo nodded sheepishly. "Yes, sir"
A few minutes later, the still, pale corpse was carefully lifted onto a stretcher, the sheet drawn over its face. Lanterns flickered as the wind picked up, and the carriage doors creaked open.
Victor watched silently as the body was loaded. "Take it straight to the lab at Saint Morrow's. I want blood analysis, tissue samples, and tox reports within the hour."
Lorenzo muttered under his breath, "Bet the body's got less blood than a raisin..."
Victor shot him a glare.
"Coming, Sir!" Lorenzo hurried behind, coat flapping and nerves twitching.