Crosswords, jigsaws, ciphers, they all fed my insatiable need for a challenge. Stimulation. Something to brighten up the ennui of a world that was always five steps behind. The harder the puzzle, the more I craved and dreaded its solution. There was only one puzzle I hadn’t solved. Yet. I ran my thumb over the small turquoise ring nestled in my pocket. Once I did, I could put my disturbing obsession with Stella Alonso behind me once and for all.
