I unlocked the door and opened it.
Baxter stood there, wide-eyed, panting, ears up. His tail was stiff, not wagging.
And in his mouth was something yellow.
I blinked hard. My brain couldn't catch up with what my eyes were seeing.
"Baxter… is that…?" My voice trailed off.
He stepped forward, carefully set the soft, yellow fabric bundle at my feet, and looked straight up at me.
It was Lily's sweater!
The same one I hadn't seen since the police took it.
The same one she had been wearing when she died!
It was Lily's sweater!
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