Page 10 of Silent Neighbor

CHAPTER FOUR

Sheila watched intently as the rescue team worked carefully to lower the victim's body from its macabre perch. The process was painstakingly slow, exacerbated by the oppressive heat that intensified as the morning wore on.

Finn stood beside her, his eyes never leaving the descending form. "Whoever did this knew what they were doing," he murmured. "The rope work is intricate, professional even."

Sheila nodded, mentally working through the implications. "A fellow climber, maybe. That seems to be the most obvious possibility, at least for now."

As the body finally reached the ground, Dr. Jin Zihao stepped forward, his crisp white shirt standing out against the rusty hues of the surrounding landscape. He knelt beside the victim and began his preliminary examination.

Sheila and Finn approached, careful not to disturb any potential evidence. Up close, the reality of the situation hit Sheila anew. The victim was young, probably in his late twenties or early thirties. His body bore the telltale signs of a catastrophic fall—broken limbs, visible trauma. Yet there was something almost peaceful about his expression, as if death, terrible as it was, had come mercifully fast.

"What can you tell us, Doc?" Finn asked, his voice low.

Dr. Zihao looked up, his mismatched eyes sharpening. "As I suspected, cause of death appears to be consistent with a fall from a significant height. Multiple fractures, internal injuries—the impact would have been instantly fatal."

Sheila frowned, studying the victim's attire. He was dressed in high-quality climbing gear, the kind favored by serious enthusiasts. "He looks like he knew what he was doing. Experienced climber, from the looks of it."

"Indeed," Dr. Zihao agreed. "The musculature and callouses on his hands suggest someone who climbed regularly. This was no novice who got in over his head."

Sheila was about to respond when the sound of an approaching vehicle caught her attention. A car was speeding toward them, kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake. It screeched to a halt at the perimeter they'd established, and before anyone could react, a woman burst out.

"Jake!" she screamed, her voice raw with anguish. "Oh God, Jake!"

Two officers moved to intercept her, but she was faster than they anticipated. She ducked under the crime scene tape and sprinted toward the body. Sheila reacted instinctively, stepping into the woman's path and catching her before she could reach the victim.

"Ma'am, please," Sheila said, holding the distraught woman back. "You can't be here. This is an active crime scene."

The woman struggled against Sheila's grip, her eyes wild with grief and shock. "That's Jake! That's my Jake! Please, I need to see him!"

Sheila maintained her hold, her voice softening. "I understand you're upset, but I need you to calm down. We can't let you contaminate the scene. Please, take a deep breath and talk to me. What's your name?"

The fight seemed to drain out of the woman all at once. She sagged in Sheila's arms, her body wracked with sobs. "M-Maya," she managed between gasps. "Maya Wales. Jake... Jake Pearson is my boyfriend."

Sheila's heart clenched with sympathy. Nobody should have to see a loved one so broken.

"I'm so sorry, Maya," she said. "I know this is difficult, but I need you to come with me. We can't talk here."

Maya nodded weakly, allowing Sheila to guide her away from the body. Finn caught Sheila's eye and gave a small nod, silently communicating that he'd handle things here.

"Is there somewhere nearby we can go to talk?" Sheila asked Maya gently.

Maya wiped at her eyes, her breathing still uneven. "There's... there's a small park about ten minutes from here. Jake and I used to stop there sometimes after his climbs. It's usually pretty quiet."

***

The Desert Oasis Park was a small, hidden gem tucked away from the bustle of the city. Its winding paths were lined with drought-resistant plants and shaded by the occasional mesquite tree. At this hour, the park was nearly deserted, offering the privacy they needed.

Sheila and Maya sat on a secluded bench overlooking a small, man-made pond. The gentle sound of water from a nearby fountain provided a soothing backdrop, masking their conversation from any potential passersby.

Maya stared at the water, her eyes red-rimmed and unfocused. Her hands fidgeted in her lap, twisting a tissue into increasingly smaller pieces.

"Maya," Sheila finally began, her voice low and gentle, "I know this is incredibly difficult, but I need to ask you some questions about Jake. Can you tell me when was the last time you saw him?"

Maya blinked, seeming to come back to herself. "Two days ago," she said. "He left early yesterday morning to go climbing. It's... it was a regular thing for him. Solo climbs. I always worried, but he loved it so much."

"And you didn't hear from him after he left?"

Maya shook her head, a fresh tear sliding down her cheek. "No. I texted him a few times, called too, but... I thought maybe he was just out of cell range. It's not unusual out there. I only started to really worry when he didn't come home last night."

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