《关闭小说畅读模式体验更好》

        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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