“Let’s focus on those who have the means to pull something like this off,” I say, highlighting a few names. “These are our top suspects.”
Ana nods, adding more notes to the board. “We should also consider if someone from the inside is helping them. Someone who knows the system.”
“Exactly,” I say, feeling a surge of determination. “I need everyone to be thorough. We can’t leave any stone unturned.”
The pile of evidence grows as we piece together the possible connections and motives one piece at a time. It’s slow, exhausting work, but we can’t afford to stop.
“Do you think this will work?” Ana asks, glancing at me.
“We have to try,” I say, my voice firm. “Alexei’s life depends on it.”
As night turns into morning, we finally take a step back and look at the board. It’s a chaotic mess of lines and notes, but it’s progress.
“We should get some rest,” Ana says, yawning. “We’ll need our strength to keep this up.”
I nod, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in. “You’re right. We’ll continue later today since it is already morning.”
We collapse onto the couch, the adrenaline finally wearing off. As I close my eyes, I can’t help but feel a flicker of hope. We’re getting closer to the truth. If we keep pushing, I know we will find all the facts.
Later that day, I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing. It’s a text from Deputy Smith asking about the case. I ignore it for now. Ana and I need to focus on our private investigation.
We start by reviewing everything we went over earlier, making sure we didn’t miss anything. Then, we start digging deeper into our top suspects, looking for any connections to the murders.
“Look at this,” Ana says, pointing to a name on the list. “This guy had a major falling out with Alexei last year. He has the motive and the resources.”
“Let’s dig into his background,” I say. “See if we can find any solid evidence.”
As we sift through records and notes, I can feel us getting closer. Every piece of information brings us one step nearer to clearing Alexei’s name.
Hours pass but we barely notice the time. We’re consumed by the investigation, driven by the need to find the truth.
“Got something,” Ana says, holding up a file. “This guy was seen with one of the victims a week before the murders.”
“That’s a strong lead,” I say, feeling a surge of excitement. “We need to follow up on this.”
We spend the rest of the day tracking down more information, connecting dots, and building our case. It’s exhausting work, but it’s paying off.
By the time evening rolls around, we have a solid list of suspects and potential motives. It’s more than we had yesterday, and it feels like we’re finally making progress.
“We need to be careful,” Ana says as we pack up for the night. “If whoever did this finds out we’re on to them, they might come after us.”
“I know,” I say, feeling a chill run down my spine. “But we can’t stop now. Alexei needs us.”
We part ways, promising to meet up again tomorrow to continue the investigation. As I head home, I can’t help but feel a mix of hope and fear. We’re getting closer, but the danger is also growing.
When I get home, I take a long shower, letting the hot water wash away the stress of the day. But my mind keeps racing, turning over everything we’ve discovered.
We’ll find the truth, I tell myself. But right now, I need to head to the combined funeral.
The sun is low in the sky with the moon rising as I arrive at the cemetery. The air is heavy with grief and tension. Today, we burysix witches. All members of the coven, all brutally murdered. I adjust my hat and take a deep breath before stepping out of the car. I can feel eyes on me, cold and accusing.
Karla, the leader of the coven, stands near the graves, her expression stony. She doesn’t greet me as I approach. I understand. I am the sheriff, and my now ex-fiancé, Alexei, is the prime suspect. Trusting me will be hard.
“Karla,” I start, my voice steady. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
She nods but says nothing more. The ceremony proceeds in somber silence; the only sounds are the whispered prayers and the rustle of leaves in the wind. As each casket is lowered into the ground, the guilt of not being anywhere close to finding the killer hits me even harder.
After the last casket is lowered, Karla approaches me. “Come with me,” she says, her tone leaving no room for argument.