AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Somehow, it reminded me of my room at home. Each time I got a hard case to crack, I usually brought them home to focus correctly because I could think more clearly in the comfort of my home. At least that’s how it used to be, until Tom polluted the entire place with his deceit and his secretary’s panties. All that’s left of ‘home’ is a reminder of the cheater he became.
I shook my head to clear such thoughts. I left New York to focus on this investigation and cleanse my mind, and heart, of his treachery. Idid not want the constant reminder of the divorce ruining my efforts to rebuild my life and happiness anymore.
Harmony Grove is starting to look like a little can of dark secrets whose inhabitants would do anything not to let any of it get out. Everything I’d wanted to do was either stonewalled or rejected outright. I was starting to get a creepy feeling from this investigation, but it only solidified my resolve to dig deeper. Whatever the Mayor and the rest of the police department were hiding, I would figure it out eventually. They were doing their best to frustrate me, and their plan to get me out of there and leave in anger wasn’t going to work.
I stared at the suspect board forming on one wall. The Mayor, Alexei, was in the central slot now, surrounded by pictures, newspaper clippings, and bits of information. Every detail about him seemed like a thread leading to the heart of the mystery. If I could figure out what he was hiding, maybe I could uncover the truth behind the murders. I was convinced he was connected to all of the murders, using his position to cover it up. I would find proof and have him taken away for the rest of his life.
Vexation stuck to my thoughts like a shadow. The police department, protective of its secrets, didn’t want to help much. I was an outsider, not part of their close-knit community. Still, I couldn’t let that stop me. My job was to bring justice, even if the town resisted. I would get justice for those poor people who had lost their lives. Their story wouldn’t be swept under the rug.
A feeling stayed with me as I looked at the suspect board—that essential details were slipping away. The more I learned about Alexei, the harder it became to find the truth. I needed a breakthrough, a way to uncover the mysteries in Harmony Grove. Nothing about him was adding up, and it got more confusing with each day.
My exasperation peaked as I threw a pen aside, its ink smudging my hastily written notes. I rubbed my temples, a dull headache forming. Massaging my head, I wondered when I would get something tangible to hold on to. The police notes were even worse than mine, and I doubt if any real investigation occurred before my arrival. All of their notes are vague, and the coroner just conducted a brief autopsy on the bodies. I have no idea where they are buried and the Mayor refused to exhume them.
I decided to take a break, even though I didn’t want to. Perhaps changing the scenery would help me see things from a new perspective. I needed to walk around, do something else, and step away from being an investigator tonight if I had any hopes for this to work.
My phone beeped so I retrieved it from my pocket and saw a new text. I was still uncomfortable leaving it on, knowing how often I would be disrupted from my thoughts as notifications kept rolling in all day. After the director went on a personal rant about being unable to reach me, however, I decided to carry it around. It was a text from Tom, and my blood ran cold.
“Hey Eve,
Sry if dis msg is a bit messy. I’m kinda in a zone rn, u know? Dat nite was sum kinda wild trip I can’t even xplain. I messed up bad, and I’m feelin’ this huge weight on my chest. So, yea, I guess I messed up. I’m not proud of it, and I feel like a total idiot right now. U didn’t deserve that crap, and I hate myself for it. I know words can’t fix things, but I gotta try. I can’t stand the thought of losing you. U mean everything to me. Pls think about it, Eve. I know I don’t deserve it, but maybe, just maybe, we can figure this out together.
Sry again for the mess. I’m a mess right now.”
I wanted to curse him out, scratch my nails over his face or do something drastic to him, but I couldn’t unless I was planningto jump on a plane to New York right now, find him at whatever bar he was sitting in and beat him senseless. Each time he’d been unfaithful, all the gaslighting, the lies, and the manipulation to make me feel like I was the problem flashed through my mind. I saw red, and I knew I needed to find something to help me blow off some steam if I wanted to keep my head in the game on this investigation.
I made a U-turn and walked to the bar. Liquor was something I’d always refrained from turning to in hard moments, but it would be the best thing to clear my head from the thoughts of Thomas, the Sheriff, and the arrogant Mayor tonight. It felt too early to take a break, but I’d hit so many dead ends already and needed new ideas for my next steps.
The bar’s entrance greeted me with a soft buzz of conversation and the soothing notes of music. Inside, the dim lighting promised the freedom I wanted.
Taking a seat at the bar, the bartender acknowledged me with a nod. A glass appeared before me, filled with a golden liquid that shimmered in the subdued lighting.
Sipping the drink, the warmth of the alcohol momentarily distracted me. The conversations around me blurred into a murmur, and my thoughts returned to Alexei.
His mysterious presence, the way he chose his words carefully—it all felt like a well-planned performance. But for what reason? The missing pieces taunted me, a phantom at the edges of my understanding.
As the alcohol eased into my senses, I started to bop my head in rhythm with the music being played. It was easy to forget my troubles and simply drink in the temporary relief that this bar offered me.
I traced the condensation on my glass, lost in my thoughts when a voice interrupted the ambient noise.
“Can I buy you a drink?” A face I didn’t recognize offered a friendly smile.
I hesitated, my instincts cautious.
“No, thank you,” I responded, politely but firmly declining.
“I’m just trying to make friends here,” He replied, and I shook my head. I would rather chew sand than let him buy me a drink. He was starting to look creepier by the minute. I reached for my pocket, and my pepper spray was still there. My firearm was sitting beautifully around my waist, too.
“I’m not interested in making friends. Now, if you would excuse me,” I replied with a tight-lipped smile, and he raised his hands in mock surrender before walking away from me. I watched him until he disappeared into the crowd, and I sighed. Now my break has been ruined too.
The bar, at first a haven, now felt suffocating. I pushed the stool back, excusing myself from the half-finished drink. The night air greeted me, its cool touch a welcome contrast to the warmth inside.
I decided on a stroll to clear my head and regain the mental strength to face my work.
I walked through the serene streets, a peculiar sensation tingling at the edges of my awareness. It felt like eyes on the back of my neck, like I was being watched. The quiet night seemed to amplify the unease, and I quickly glanced over my shoulder.
The feeling of being followed persisted, a shadow lingering just beyond the edge of my vision. The logical part of my mind dismissed it as paranoia, a hazard of my line of work. But instincts, honed by years of navigating the unpredictable, urged caution.
Instead of returning to my hotel room, I made an abrupt decision. The police station, with its familiar surroundings and the possibility ofallies, beckoned. As I approached the station, relief and apprehension both settled within me.
