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Leaving her apartment felt like navigating through a fog of sorrow. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders, a burden I willingly bore for the sake of our fractured community.
As I stepped back into the night, a determination ignited within me. Diego's death wouldn't be in vain. I would uncoverthe truth, expose the shadows concealing the threat, and avenge the life stolen from our midst.
The night held secrets, and I was determined to uncover them—all in the name of justice for Diego and the unborn life left behind in the wake of tragedy.
A part of me desperately hoped that my sister was safe out there and whoever was keeping her had no intention to hurt her.
CHAPTER 10 | MISSING BODY
EVELYN’S POV
In the flickering light of the police station, the worn-out couch served as my makeshift bed for the past three nights.
The cold, sterile glow of fluorescent bulbs overhead created an atmosphere far from the comfort of a peaceful night's sleep. The whole place was very uncomfortable, but I managed it because it was the safest place for me to be. I still don’t know if the person who tried to follow the other night is out there, waiting for me.
As I stirred, the weight of exhaustion clung to my body. Haunting images of crime scenes and unresolved questions lingered on the fringes of my consciousness, making for a restless night.
I still can’t get the look of the last dead body out of my mind. Hearing he had a pregnant girlfriend made me even more upset. Shedidn’t deserve to raise their child alone, nor did he deserve to die at the hands of a masochist. He deserved better, same as every other person that has been killed in this town.
Sitting up, I decided to compare the reports from all of the murders. I wasn’t permitted to exhume them, but I could look for a pattern in the reports and try to establish what details were missing. Thumbing through the files, I was abruptly struck by the realization that the coroner's reports on the other bodies were missing. It seemed like they had been taken out of the police report altogether. All that remained was inaccurate gibberish that no investigator could even make use of.
Frustration coiled in my chest. How could I piece together the puzzle if crucial information was being kept from me? How do they expect me to do my work when they keep blocking me from doing it?
In the hushed pre-dawn, I maneuvered through the station's empty corridors, the cold air tingled with a sense of urgency.
My footsteps echoed as I sought answers, my gaze fixed on the police reports. I scoured them for overlooked details that might unveil the mysteries behind the deaths in Harmony Grove.
By the time morning arrived, my frustration had reached a boiling point. Determination etched into every step, I stormed into the Sheriff's office. The room brimmed with tension as I demanded an explanation for the absence of proper autopsies on the victims. I wasn’t surprised to find the Mayor sitting there and talking with the Sheriff in hushed tones.
"Why weren't detailed autopsies conducted on the victims? Where are the bodies buried?" My voice cut through the air, contrasting sharply with the guarded expressions that met my questions. I was tired of the ongoing power play here and I needed justice to be delivered as quickly as possible.
A moment of hesitation passed between the Sheriff and the Mayor, their wary glances acknowledging the withheld information.
Anger surged within me, a wildfire fueled by the stonewalling tactics that had become all too familiar.
"I demand the body of Diego, the most recent victim. Where is it?" My insistence penetrated the veil of evasion, demanding accountability for the lives lost under their jurisdiction.
“The coroner has already checked it and he has been buried” the Mayor replied to me and it took all of my willpower not to throw something across the room at him.
“I just said the coroner didn’t give an accurate report on how he was subdued and how he was killed. Or what killed him.” I replied through gritted teeth.
They were doing their very best to send me off the edge and I would hate for them to push me like this much further.
Their inability to provide a straightforward answer intensified my anger. I sensed a cover-up, a conspiracy to shield the truth from scrutiny.
Accusations of murder, both veiled and direct, hung heavy in the air, casting a dark shadow over the Sheriff's office.
"You're covering up murders, Sheriff, and you're complicit in it, Mayor. This will be stated in my report, and I won't stand for this obstruction of justice," I declared firmly, my unwavering voice cutting through the tension in the room.
Their attempts to deflect my accusations only enhanced my resolve. No matter the cost, I was resolved to expose the corruption that festered beneath the surface of Harmony Grove.
“I will be declaring a curfew for 6pm by tomorrow. I’m the Special Agent in charge now and I have direct orders from Washington. I do not answer to any of you, and if you have a problem with how I’mhandling this, make a call directly to the director and I will be sure to chip in how all you’ve done since I got here was prevent me from doing my damned job.”
Storming out of the Sheriff's office, I could feel the weight of collective scrutiny on my back. Locked in my makeshift office, I resumed my quest for answers. The boards adorned with suspect profiles and crime scene details took on new significance in the harsh light of day.
As my fingers danced across the keys, delving into databases and cross-referencing information, the realization struck me –I still needed a connection between all of the victims and what made them victims.
The hours blurred as I worked tirelessly, accentuated by an unrelenting perseverance to unveil the mysteries that enshrouded Harmony Grove. The town's secrets would be brought to light very soon, no matter what the Mayor or the Sheriff thought.
