Chapter 6 · Moonclaim - Chapter 6: Blood in the Freezer

Ivy pushed the door open and cold air slammed into her face.

Not office AC cold. Morgue cold.

Leon was already inside, hand flat against a sensor panel on the wall. Lights flickered on in rows, one after another. Not a lab. A archive freezer. Metal shelving stretched all the way to the back, every level stacked with sealed silver cases.

"Your father's code opened this," Leon said. His voice echoed off the concrete.

Ivy stepped in. Her breath came out in a cloud. She looked down. Footprints on the floor. Fresh ones. Sneakers, maybe size ten. Leon wore boots.

Someone got here first.

"There." Leon pointed to a row marked C. He moved fast, shoulders tight. Ivy followed, her hand sliding into her jacket pocket. The knife was still there. Small blade, silver edge. Hunter clan issue. She hadn't told Leon she kept it.

The shelving unit was tall. Leon stopped at a case labeled C-47. The lock was open. Hanging loose.

Ivy's stomach dropped.

But the case wasn't empty. A clear sealed bag sat inside. Data chip, old model, and a stack of photos underneath.

Leon pulled the photos out. He flipped through two, then stopped.