This takes place four years after Miseria Canta (Misery Sings). This is a companion piece, so it can be read on it's own. It's a bit of a Murder House and Hotel crossover. The first couple of chapters take place in the Murder House and the rest will be at the Hotel Cortez.

PROLOGUE

October, 2015

She had yet to hear of the accident. She had yet to hear any news of how Derek Noble, a world renowned crime novelist, had died that morning in a terrible six car collision on his way to visit her. She didn't know until the police came to the door.

The day started out innocently. The sun was shining brightly when twenty-year-old Isabel Noble had woken up. She then showered, and made herself breakfast after getting dressed. She lived in a dingy apartment in New Orleans, not too far from Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies. It honestly wasn't much, but it was home to her.

Life was decent for her. She had a steady job at the local café where she was a waitress. She loved being in New Orleans. Everything had fallen perfectly into place after what felt like years of struggling. Isabel had worked hard to not be overshadowed by her father's name. As much as she loved him, she always hated people judging her because of his name.

Isabel hummed softly to the music that played while she made herself breakfast. Soft jazz played from an old record player that she had. She swayed her hips a little as she stirred her scrambled eggs.

Halloween would be coming up soon, which meant taking a trip to Los Angeles to visit her father and avoid her mother.

Isabel had not spoken to her mother for about four years. Her mother, Constance Langdon, aggravated her so much for so many reasons, surprisingly none of those reasons being the fact that Constance gave her up for adoption. That was the one thing she was grateful for. Her mother was overbearing, a liar, and had nearly gotten her killed.

Other than Constance, Isabel loved being home. That was what the Murder House was to her: home. Her friends were there. Her family was there. She just never expected to go back for longer than her Halloween visits.

Suddenly, as Isabel was plating her food, there was a knock on her apartment door. Isabel frowned faintly and turned off the stove. She answered the door and was surprised to find two police officers. The both were holding their hats in their hands.

"Mornin' ma'am," said the female officer solemnly, a grim expression upon her countenance. It wasn't hard to see that this really was Isabel Noble. She was almost as famous as her adoptive father. And even if they didn't know her face, they had the correct address. "Sorry to disturb you. But uh… we've got some bad news for you."

Isabel tried reading the officers' expressions. She felt worry bubble up inside of her. "What's wrong?" She was afraid to ask, yet the words slipped past her lips, almost involuntarily.

There was a pause that felt like it lasted an eternity, and Isabel felt grateful for that pause. It allowed her to mentally prepare herself for what was about to be said. "It's your father." The male officer spoke this time. "There's been an accident. I'm sorry Miss Noble…. He didn't make it."