"Apologies, Miss... but ownership of this unit is non-transferrable."
What.
Its previous owner is dead. You were there. Why would she have spun together all those postmortem clues, just to lead you to one of her dolls? Unless...
...Of course. Another of her jests. She always enjoyed getting the last laugh, even now.
Well, no matter. If the trail ends here, then the only option left is brute force. Thankfully you have become quite adept at reforging dolls after you break them down, ego and all.
As if in anticipation of your thoughts, the doll's neutral expression curls into a smile.
Its irises tighten and glow red, the sclera ringed black with a familiar shadow.
Her shadow.