Welcome to case closed. You're listening to the Block Party by Jamie Day, narrated by Megan Tousing and Susie Jackson.

Let's pick up where we left off last week.

Chapter 46.

Evan Thompson drove his BMW slowly down Alton Road,

while Alex and Brooke watched from the edge of the driveway.

Oh, shit, Brooke muttered under her breath.

The day had been eventful enough.

Now Evan was back on the scene?

They'd already had to call the cops once.

His timing couldn't have been worse. They'd already had to call the cops once.

His timing couldn't have been worse,

especially since everything had just returned to normal.

A tub full of squirt guns had been depleted,

and there was a war raging between the younger Alton Road residents

and a few playful parents willing to get in on the action.

Grills were going full steam, sending plumes of charcoal smoke skyward.

Balloons tied to the backs of lawn chairs provided pups of color to the green landscape.

Clusters of neighbors chatted easily together, eating and drinking, mostly drinking, as the afternoon faded away.

What should have been an idyllic scene of neighborhood fun was now tinged with foreboding

as Evan navigated his car carefully around the cul-de-sac and into the driveway of his former residence.

What's he doing here? Alex wondered aloud. The yearbook had all but vanquished any lingering effects from the booze.

Is Willow around?

...