The Crucivire

Chapter Three: Echoes of the Past

As forensics began the arduous task of going over the crime scene, the homicide detectives questioned Maggie's sister, Lily. The poor, middle aged woman seemed to age a few years just talking to them. One could tell she was holding back a lot of grief. Alice waited as the other detectives asked pointed questions about who might have done this, but Lily didn't have the slightest idea. She insisted that everyone had loved Frederick and Maggie. The couple hadn't reported any suspicious people nearby, no strangers around the house, or anything. Frederick and Maggie had just stopped getting in touch.

When the homicide detectives finished, they left to start looking for any potential suspects or leads as Alice and Gary began their own interview. The two of them stood with Lily in front of the Benjamins' house. They asked for the usual information about Maggie, which could be summed up as a detailed description. While Gary spoke with compassion, Alice had an intense look in her eyes as she hung onto Lily's every word.

"Are there any other places your sister might have gone in case of an emergency?" asked Gary.

"Of course," said Lily, holding back tears. "There's me, family, and friends, but I made a few calls before the police arrived, and no one's seen her."

"Alright," said Gary. "Just give us a list of anywhere she might have gone, and we'll keep an eye on things."

Alice frowned. Such steps were lucky at best and a formality at worst. The only way they were going to find Maggie Benjamin was to find whoever did this.

"Are you sure your sister never mentioned anything suspicious?" asked Alice.

"No," said Lily. "Nothing."

"The homicide detectives already went over this, Detective Hayes," said Gary.

"Think," said Alice, ignoring Gary. "Anything at all, even the slightest thing that seemed odd or out of place."

Lily struggled to think for a moment, but then something occurred to her.

"Well," said Lily. "I suppose...Maggie did mention seeing...a shadow."

"A shadow?" asked Gary.

Alice gave Lily her full attention.

"Yes," said Lily. "In the light of the kitchen window. Maggie said she saw something cast a shadow as it ran from the house. It didn't seem important enough to mention before, but maybe..."

Lily swallowed nervously, staring off into space as she thought about it.

"Whatever it was," Lily went on. "It was fast, and when Maggie mentioned how it moved, I could hear a shiver in her voice."

Gary felt a shiver of his own, while Alice narrowed her eyes.

"But it was probably just an animal or something," Lily added, though she looked uncertain.

"That's it?" asked Alice incredulously. "Just an animal?"

Gary looked at Alice, surprised, while Lily looked up in shock.

"You...you said anything," Lily protested.

"I need something I can work with," said Alice. "Come on, there must be something else."

"I...I don't' know," Lily stammered.

"Detective Hayes," Gary warned.

"A suspicious person," said Alice. "Windowless vans driving near her house, someone Frederick owed money to. Anything."

"I...uh..."

"Can't you remember anything?!" Alice snapped. "Do you want to find your sister or not?!"