"They are helping with the NBI investigation into the killing of that boy in the dumpsite."
"Alice told me about it. But I'm not sure if I should just give them access to the dental records without a warrant."
He turns to Alice with a worried face, seeking her backing.
Alice shoots him a sympathetic look instead.
"Keith, I am concerned about that too. But the Mayor says..."
The way Alice leaves the sentence hanging, the way everyone around her seems to be burdened by some grave worry, alarms Keith.
"What does he say?"
he searches each face for answers.
"What is it? What's going on?"
"It's not just that boy," Mayor Valir says.
"What do you mean? Were there others?"
he gleans the truth from their collective silence.
"How many?"
"Seventeen," Santina says.
Keith's eyes blink rapidly.
"Seventeen?"
