Chapter Eighteen

Crushed by exhaustion, fear, and isolation, Harry Dresden wanders Chicago through the night, brooding over his late parents and falling into a deep despair. His steps carry him back to Linda Randall’s apartment, now a taped-off crime scene. Ignoring caution, he magically opens the door and goes inside, overwhelmed by the emptiness and bloodstains.

Spent, Harry lies on the floor beside Linda’s bed and inadvertently sleeps until bright morning sun wakes him. Disgusted by his own surrender, he argues himself into action. While scanning the room, he notices a high school yearbook, photos of a younger, happier Linda, and a framed graduation picture with her parents, underscoring what’s been lost.

In a stray beam of sunlight, Harry spots a small red plastic film canister under the bed. He retrieves it, confirms it rattles with a full, undeveloped roll, and realizes it matches the canister found at Victor Sells’s lake house. The discovery suggests a concrete link between Linda’s murder investigation and Monica Sells’s missing-husband case.

Revived by purpose, Harry readies to leave before police or others catch him trespassing and plots to find the photographer and develop the film. As he heads for the door, a quiet scrape sounds—the dead bolt turns and the door swings open, leaving Harry facing an unknown intruder.