Page 8 of When You're Forgotten

“It’s at least twice the size of mine,” Finn pointed out, glancing around.Then his expression turned mildly concerned.“I don’t like that it’s so far away from my room.If you need me…”

Amelia rolled her eyes gently.“You’re being overprotective.I’ve survived falling through a floor, remember?”

Evan, hovering at the doorway, gave a sheepish grin.“Are you two married, by any chance?”

Amelia let out a brief laugh.“He wishes.”

Finn turned to Evan, though he wore a crooked smile.“She loves me, really.”

Amelia’s cheeks colored slightly, but she cleared her throat, shifting into a more businesslike tone.“Evan, could you show us where James Penrose was found?We’d like to see the room.The, uh… place of death.”

Evan’s previously bright expression dimmed.“Sure.It’s just… well, it’s a bit of a walk from here, in the older part of the house.”

“That’s fine,” Finn said.“Lead the way.”

They retraced their path down corridors that seemed increasingly antiquated—dustier paintings, older furniture, and occasional dark patches on the walls where tapestries once hung.The lighting also changed, becoming more sparse, so that they relied on overhead bulbs that flickered under old wiring.They entered a pristine study, and then Evan stopped at a thick wooden door reinforced with metal edges.

“This is the panic room entrance,” he explained softly.“Where… well, where we found Mr.Penrose.”

Finn noted how the corridor around them felt narrower and more enclosed, the floorboards creaking as if seldom trodden.He remembered the summary in the case files describing how James was found inside this panic room—never to emerge.The door, lying open like a gaping maw, revealed a small vestibule, the actual reinforced room behind it.

Amelia stepped closer.“Don’t worry, Evan,” she said.“The body’s long gone.We’re just here to check the scene.”

Evan swallowed.“It’s not that,” he mumbled.“I’m… I’m more afraid of what might linger.Y’know, people say that the spirit of anyone who dies like that—” He cut himself off, seeming to regret his words.

Finn offered a reassuring nod.“We’ll be fine.Go ahead, if you need to get back to your chores.”

“Yeah, I—I’ll leave you to it,” Evan murmured, backing away.“You can just come find me if you need anything.”With that, he turned and quickly retreated down the corridor.

Finn and Amelia stood there in silence for a moment, taking in the heavy hush.The door itself looked battered but functional.Inside the panic room, the single light fixture cast a stark glow over the steel walls.It was small, intended only for temporary refuge.The floor was empty, no visible stains or chalk outlines, but a subtle sense of dread lingered in the still air.

Opening the case file, Finn flipped through a few pages.“So, the official report says James Penrose was discovered lying on the floor, with the panic door wide open.Preliminary forensics suggested no immediate sign of external injury.”

Amelia rested a palm against the cold metal wall.“Any autopsy results yet?”

He shook his head.“Not complete.Preliminary notes say it appeared to be a massive heart attack.Which makes sense, except there were some odd details.For instance, although the body was found in the middle of the panic room, there was evidence of a struggle elsewhere down the hallway.And the paramedics described the angle of his fall as if he’d been thrown or knocked over.”

She exhaled.“So maybe a confrontation triggered a heart attack?Or there was foul play.”

Finn snorted wryly.“Or maybe a ghost jumped out at him.We are hearing about Penrose ancestors haunting the place.”

Amelia rolled her eyes.“The only thing scaring people away right is your sense of humor, Finn.”

With a grin, he closed the file partially.“But seriously—if the cause of death was a heart attack, why treat it like homicide?”

She pursed her lips.“Could be the Home Office wants to be thorough.Plus, if you read in the report, there was that figure caught skulking around outside on the estate’s very few security feeds.”

Finn nodded."The grounds have limited cameras, but enough to see someone prowling not long before James died.Then inside, evidence of a scuffle.So… maybe an attacker confronted James, forced him to run here, and that triggered a lethal heart attack.Or maybe they physically hurt him, and there are no obvious signs yet."

Amelia’s gaze swept around the compact space.“It’s possible.We should keep our minds open.The Home Office basically hands us any case where a high-profile individual dies under murky circumstances.In my opinion, they do it so they can say they’ve covered all bases.Even if it’s not murder.”

Finn tapped the file.“Best to treat it as one until proven otherwise.”

Just then, footsteps approached.They turned to see a woman entering the corridor—tall, slender, with dark hair twisted into a neat chignon.She wore a well-fitted black dress and carried herself with a calm elegance that spoke of wealth and breeding.Her eyes, however, looked tired, rimmed with worry.

“Good afternoon,” she said, voice tight.“You are with the police, aren’t you?I’m Catherine Penrose—James’s sister.”

Finn straightened, closing the file.“We’re sorry for your loss.I’m consulting detective Finn Wright, and this is Inspector Amelia Winters.We’ve been asked to investigate your brother’s death.”

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