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 54

On an oppressively hot afternoon, Chapter 54.

On an oppressively hot afternoon, as summer neared, Alex prepared the lunch she would bring to the lake.

It was the first time the women who resided on the cul-de-sac, Alex, Emily, Willow, Mandian Brooke,

would all get together since the funerals.

It had been a difficult time for all, but Alex reserved most of her sympathy and heartache for Dylan and Riley.

She cut a tuna sandwich in half, thinking of Evan and Ken.

Each had made fateful choices that led to their tragic ends, but the children were victimized. When Riley came to mind, Alex sliced a carrot with extra force, letting some of her anger out.

She had been too young and naive to have been a consenting partner for Ken. Poor Dylan might never recover from his father's

betrayal or from the confusing grief he was enduring. Alex couldn't believe

Dylan hadn't come forward when he found incriminating evidence about his father on Riley's phone.

Perhaps he felt too much shame, didn't know how to process it all?

At least he wasn't therapy, opening up to his family more.

Despite the long road ahead, Alex felt optimistic that he'd get through this trauma.

Thankfully, the police did not release any motive, so social media was in the dark about

Ken and Riley.

And the same was true with the news.

Nobody on Alton Road who was in the know whispered a word of it either.

There were no charges of abuse to levy, no crimes to be adjudicated, so Riley and Dylan were free to live their lives outside of the glaring media spotlight.

As always, Alex was concerned for her sister.

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