Orion continues, “Your parents were cremated so we aren’t able to exhume them so we move to the next bit of information we have. George’s death. It was the evening after his and Aubrey’s wedding, they were on their honeymoon. Somehow a ski instructor was so hungover, or potentially intoxicated that he skied directly into a tree. It was ruled as an accident and even though they did an autopsy and found hydrocyanic acid in his system that was somehow looked over and eventually ruled an accident. He was also eventually cremated.

“Then more recently we have Gabe’s murder. He also had hydrocyanic acid in his system. The working theory is that he vomited so hard that he lost his balance and tripped. When he fell forward he was too weak to catch himself and he hit his head and lost consciousness leading to his coma and then his death.

“All we have from all of these murders is a theory and the physical reports. Everyone was cremated so we can’t do additional testing to see how they were poisoned with the cyanide.”

Morgan exhales sharply, adding to Orion’s point. “We’re between a rock and a hard place if we can’t prove that they were poisoned.”

I nod, gripping my mug a little tighter. That’s the crux of it, isn’t it? Proof. Without it, everything we know—everything we suspect—is just smoke in the wind.

Bennett shifts, his expression unreadable. Then, he says, “Can we talk about the other elephant in the room? All of these deaths circle something else too. Me.”

A chill snakes up my spine. I turn back to Theo, but his expression is carefully neutral.

Orion frowns. “What do you mean?”

Bennett continues, “I did the math and George was murdered a couple of months after I was conceived.” He lets the words sink in before continuing. “I did genetic testing, and I know for a fact that he’s my father.” His voice tightens. “Which means I had to have been conceived before their honeymoon.” A pause. Then, quietly, “Do you think Aubrey was pregnant? Do you think that’s why she got married at seventeen?”

The room is silent, thick with the weight of his words. My heart pounds as I glance between them, trying to process what he’s saying.

Theo and Morgan exchange a look, unspoken words passing between them. Finally, Theo exhales and shakes his head. “I don’t think so. From what I heard George was about to leave for the military and she was planning on going with him. I’ve heard you don’t have to stay in the barracks if you’re married. Maybe he got someone else pregnant and they felt betrayed when he married Aubrey?” He pauses, his brow furrowed. “Do you think the jilted lover could’ve poisoned him at the wedding or the day he died?”