Page 33 of Silent Trail

As they crossed the threshold, it suddenly occurred to Sheila that there was no ramp for the wheelchair. They would have to lift her up. She turned around, surprised to see that Finn had already realized this.

"Ready?" he asked, his hand resting lightly on the armrest of Natalie's wheelchair.

"On three," Sheila said, positioning herself on the other side of the chair. "One...two...three!"

With a grunt of effort, Sheila and Finn lifted Natalie's wheelchair, carefully maneuvering it up the few steps leading into the house. As they set the chair down gently, Natalie gave them a grateful smile. "Thanks, guys," she murmured, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and appreciation.

"Of course, sheriff," Finn said, tipping his cap.

The moment they stepped inside the house, Sheila was struck by the stark contrast between the dark exterior and the warm, lived-in atmosphere of the Benedict home. The walls were adorned with family photos, each capturing a different memory in time. A faint scent of lavender air freshener mingled with the unmistakable aroma of home-cooked meals that still lingered from dinner.

Suddenly, a large dog – the same one Sheila had seen at the window – came barreling down the hallway toward them, snarling and baring its teeth. Sheila's heart raced as she instinctively positioned herself between the dog and Natalie. But before the dog could reach them, Mrs. Benedict grabbed a broom from a nearby closet and swung it at the animal with surprising force. The dog yelped and retreated into an open bathroom, where Mrs. Benedict promptly shut the door, trapping the beast inside.

"Sorry about that," she said, her voice trembling slightly as she leaned the broom against the wall. "That's Brutus, Kyle's dog. He's usually not so aggressive."

Sheila offered a tight-lipped smile, her pulse still pounding in her ears. She glanced over at Finn, noticing how his hand hovered near his holstered gun despite the apparent resolution of the situation.

"Is everything alright down there?" a groggy male voice called from upstairs.

"Go back to sleep, dear," Mrs. Benedict replied without looking up. "It's got nothing to do with you." She turned her attention to her guests. "Please, follow me."

Mrs. Benedict said led the three of them to the basement stairs, then paused, glancing uncomfortably at Natalie.

"It's okay," Natalie said, smiling thinly. "I'll wait up here." Despite the smile, Sheila could hear the disappointment in her sister's voice. It had to frustrate her to be left behind like this. There was nothing to be done, however. Besides, Natalie was more than capable of handling herself.

"Kyle?" Mrs. Benedict called as she descended the stairs. "The police are here to talk to you."

Silence greeted them, and Sheila felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Kyle?" Mrs. Benedict's voice wavered as she called again, her desperation growing with each unanswered plea.

Sheila exchanged a concerned glance with Finn as they descended. Was Kyle still here, or had he heard them coming and taken off? Could he be on his way right now to attack his next victim?

The basement was a stark contrast to the rest of the house. The walls were plastered with posters of obscure bands and shelves filled with a mix of sci-fi novels, comic books, and figurines. There was a large computer desk cluttered with gadgets, cables, and half-built electronics projects. A gaming chair sat in front of the multiple monitors, where the glow of the paused game cast an eerie light on the room.

Sheila's eyes were immediately drawn to a corner where a collection of violent video games and graphic novels stood out like a sore thumb. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Kyle than his nerdy exterior suggested.

"Kyle?" Mrs. Benedict called again, sounding less certain of a response every time she said his name. After a few more moments of searching, it became clear Kyle wasn't around.

"I'm sorry," she said, looking puzzled. "I could have sworn he was down here."

"Do you mind if we look around, Mrs. Benedict?" Finn asked.

"Please, do what you need to do."

As Sheila and Finn searched the room, Sheila noticed a corkboard covered in newspaper articles, photos, and strings connecting them all together—a bizarre conspiracy web. Her heart rate increased as she realized the articles were about the two murdered girls. At the center of the web, a disturbingly detailed drawing of one of the victims stared back at her, fear etched into the sketched face.

"Mrs. Benedict, have you seen this?" Sheila asked.

The woman approached, confusion apparent on her face. "I...I didn't know he had this. He never let me come down here."

"Mrs. Benedict," Finn said, "do you have any idea where Kyle might be?"

"No, I don't," she stammered, looking around the room in disbelief. "He's pretty much always down here. Doesn't really have friends, and since that incident, it's like he's afraid to show himself in public."

Examining the computer desk, Sheila spotted a scrap of paper partially hidden under a keyboard. She unfolded it, revealing a hastily scrawled message: "I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TERRIBLE. I KNOW YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT I HOPE MAYBE SOME DAY YOU WILL FORGIVE ME."

"Mrs. Benedict," Sheila said urgently, showing her the note. "Do you have any idea what this means?"

---