The Investigation

The officer behind her nodded, jotting down notes.

She slowly ascended the stairs and walked carefully into the bedroom to get a closer look at the woman lying dead on the bed.

She took a few steps closer, mentally reconstructing the crime scene. She imagined the couple lying on the bed, enjoying themselves when the doorbell rang. The man likely went to answer it and was killed, followed by the perpetrator going upstairs to murder the woman and escape.

Shaking her head, she looked at the victim again.

"Ma'am?!" a male officer's voice called.

She looked up, "What is it?"

"The officers presented something to me," he said, revealing a pocket knife and a broken bottle that the killer used to commit the crime, neatly placed in a bag.

She took the evidence from him, dismissed him, and turned her attention to the female victim. Studying her for a moment, she considered the possibility of an intruder or robber breaking into the home and attacking the couple. The woman was killed in a rush, while the man tried to escape but was ultimately caught and murdered.

She let out a heavy sigh, rubbing her tired face. This theory didn't quite make sense either. There had to be more to the story, but she just couldn't put her finger on it.

Bending down to get a closer look at the victim, she noticed that she was fair-skinned and beautiful. But something caught her attention – a faded bruise on the nape of her neck. She quickly took out her phone and snapped a photo of it. As she leaned in for a better view, she accidentally knocked over a blanket, revealing a crumpled piece of paper.

She carefully moved to cover the paper and turned to the female officer behind her. "Can you see if the other officers have found anything?" she asked.

The officer nodded obediently and left the room. Once the coast was clear, she picked up the paper and scanned it. Her hands were shaking as she read the first few words. Quickly, she shoved it into her pocket when she heard footsteps approaching. Two officers walked in, and she stood up and walked out, heading straight to her car.

Two murders in the morning with no leads except for the crumpled paper in her possession. It was shaping up to be a long day. She couldn't help but replay the events in her mind as she drove to the station to interrogate the victims maid who had called the emergency phone.

At the station, she met with the maid who worked for the deceased. The woman was still crying and refused any attempts at comfort. She was the one who made the call when she discovered her employer's death and hadn't set foot in the house since until the police arrived to investigate.

Conducting an inquiry with the maid proved to be a daunting task, given her current devastated state. However, it was necessary to proceed despite the challenge, as everyone involved in the murder case was a potential suspect.

As she entered the interrogating room, a police officer entered the room almost immediately. "Madam," he called out.

"Yes?" The P.I responded.

The officer stepped to the side, revealing a restless girl behind him. "Please, come in," Anna gestured, motioning for the girl to take a seat and make herself comfortable.

"Miss Anna," the private investigator began.

"Call me Anna," she offered, her hands trembling slightly.

The investigator nodded. "I understand that you were not at home during the time of the murder, is that correct?"

"Y-yes, ma'am," the maid replied.

"Where were you?" the investigator probed.

"Ma'am, I work at the Thompson residence during the daytime and leave at 4 PM every evening," Anna explained.

"Continue," the investigator encouraged.

"Late Mister Alex was a good man. He and Miss Laurie were engaged and were scheduled to be married the day after tomorrow," Anna shared.

The investigator nodded knowingly. "Yes, you are right. It seems you were very close to the couple."

Anna hesitated for a moment before composing herself and continuing, "Laurie and I have known each other since childhood. My mother used to work for her mother."

The investigator walked over to the window and gazed outside, pausing for a moment before turning back to Anna. "Alright, tell me more about Miss Thompson. Who do you think could have killed her? Is there anyone who was a rival or had a motive to harm her?" she inquired.

"Mrs. Thompson," Anna corrected.

"I beg your pardon?" the investigator looked at Anna with a hint of confusion.

Anna nodded her head and clarified, "Mrs. Thompson, she was previously married to Landon Thompson."

☆☆☆☆☆

Meanwhile, Landon had locked himself in his apartment, sinking to the floor as he asked himself, "What have I done?" The weight of guilt was crushing him, as he couldn't understand what had driven him to commit such a heinous act. Alex had no connection to him and Laurie previous relationship, he wasn't the reason they got separated, and he had only started dating Laurie after she left him. He couldn't fathom how he had suddenly become a murderer overnight.

Inebriated and reckless, Landon's sole intention was to stir up a commotion and proclaim his love for Laurie repeatedly. Despite his drunken state, he hoped to persuade her into reconsidering marrying Alex. But when he knocked on her door, and the poor soul answered in a t-shirt, looking like a champion, he lost control. Emotions overtook logic, and he acted impulsively.

Truth be told, he felt a sense of fulfillment watching Alex suffer, the agony evident in his eyes as blood gushed from his head. Seeing his rival weakened and reduced to tears, crawling like a helpless creature, brought him immense joy.

Landon savored the moment, knowing he was the one who ultimately took away the man who stole the love of his life. He felt like a victorious champion, undefeated.

But now, it was Landon who resembled a pitiful animal, trembling with fear, guilt, and regret. He was on the cliff verge of insanity, unable to think straight, his body trembling on it's own, the alcohol failed to numb his mind and thoughts, memories of Alex's sickening smile even while cold dead, sends a cold shiver running down his spine.