Page 250 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“I’m giving you the choice.”

Ronan looked toward the door. Vance knocked again. Then back at Elliot. Five dead. One hidden mask. One second killer or stalker or whatever the fuck was happening. A choice. Ronan exhaled.

“Close the storage room.”

Elliot froze.

“What?”

“Close it.”

Hope hit too quickly. Elliot hated himself for it. He moved. Closed the container. Moved the boxes back. Turned off the light. Shut the door. When he returned, Ronan was unlocking the front door. Vance entered. Her eyes moved between them immediately.

“You both look terrible.”

Ronan laughed.

“Thanks.”

Vance held up an evidence bag. Inside was a small fragment of white material. Porcelain. Elliot’s heartbeat changed.

“The North Ridge mask is synthetic resin,” she said. “Not porcelain.”

Ronan looked at Elliot. There. Confirmation. Copy. Vance continued.

“Whoever made it copied the appearance closely, but not the material.”

Elliot stared.

“How closely?”

“Very.”

“Cracks?”

“Painted.”

“Mouth?”

“Replicated.”

“Cheek fracture?”

Vance stopped. Her eyes sharpened.

“What?”

Ronan looked at Elliot. Elliot realized his mistake. The Mason crack had happened during the murder. Only someone present would know exactly where it was. Security footage showed some of it. Maybe enough. Maybe not. Vance asked again.

“Why specifically the cheek fracture?”

Elliot forced himself to shrug.

“Pictures online.”

She watched him. Ronan stepped in.

“What else did you find?”