The House of Ash and Guilt
"What did you say?"
"Oh, that case got solved ages ago," the clerk said, oblivious to my father's reaction. "Turned out to be some butcher's son from the west side. Ran off with a maid he was sweet on, and the maid's old master killed him for the money they'd stolen. Dumped him in a well. Had nothing to do with your family. You were so torn up at the time, we didn't want to bother you with the details."
I watched my father's body sway violently, like he'd been struck by an invisible thunderbolt. He stood frozen, papers slipping from his hands and scattering across the floor.