I See You

CHAPTER 11 - Homicide for the Holidays

Both Mr. Harper and Wyatt were thrilled that Emma had agreed to actually take time off work, though for very different reasons. Not completing a couple new manuscripts over Christmas was a first for Emma, but she had no complaints. And while she certainly spent an inordinate amount of time naked, she also managed to do a bit more digging into Wyatt's case. The benefit to being a known introvert was getting to ask for alone time and not be questioned about it. She thought it would be a bit trickier to get into town on her own, but it ended up being Wyatt's suggestion. He wanted her to try to get out and meet people.

He had been dropping hints about the value of friends and putting down roots in small towns. A nagging voice in her head questioned if he was getting sick of her, but if that were the case, why didn't he leave? The man could literally go anywhere. She knew this was her own insecurity talking. His suggestions always came with a sincere wish for her overall happiness. So, she took his recommendations to heart and visited the small bookstore off the main drag, picking up a couple new novels before popping into Maggie's coffee shop and bakery. Wyatt had told her to try the apple strudel, so she ordered a slice with an americano and killed an hour before she needed to head down to the police station.

Her request for the records on Wyatt's case had been met with another request to come in person and speak with Detective Lacey. Emma was equal parts terrified and thrilled. She still wasn't completely sure what she was going to say and hoped the detective would carry most of the conversation. An entirely irrational fear bounced around her chest at the idea of getting arrested, but there was absolutely no logic behind it. This was the assurance she kept repeating as she sat in a hard plastic chair in the precinct waiting to be summoned.

"Emma Porter?" a brisk yet not unfriendly voice called.

"Um, that's me," she said, recognizing the sharp, angular features of the woman from her photographs and live interview. Detective Lacey was beautiful and scary, easily five-foot-eight or -nine, with an athletic build, sandy blonde hair in a tight chignon at her nape, and cool gray eyes that quickly scanned Emma down to her soul.

"Hi. Sorry for the wait. You can come on back to my office," she offered with a smile that was strictly business.

Emma followed silently, and when she stepped inside the sparse square box with windows only facing the interior, a shudder ran down her spine. The detective closed the door and took a seat on the other side of her practical metal desk. Emma appreciated how orderly everything was, down to the pens separated by color in a small caddy, but the space was devoid of personality. There was nothing in here to give any clue as to who Detective Lacey was as a person.

"I don't want to waste either of our time, so let me be blunt. This town doesn't need citizen sleuths or true crime junkies coming in here and digging up old news. The death of Wyatt Scott shook the citizens of Shelter Cove and hurt a lot of people. So unless you give me a damn good reason, I'm not inclined to grant your request for the report."

"I understand. I'm neither a sleuth nor interested in true crime. I bought Wyatt Scott's old house down on Mill Creek Rd."

At her admission, the detective's eyebrows shot up with curiosity, so Emma continued.

"Both Miranda Higgins and Jim Evans warned me about the house being haunted, and admittedly, there have been some strange occurrences. Then Taylor Scott came by one evening and burst inside, shouting for his brother to reveal himself. And I've found remnants of Wyatt Scott's former life down in the basement, photos, projects he had started, and random things. When I looked online, what I found only gave me more questions.

"I know this sounds ridiculous, but after being in his house, I feel like I know him. And sometimes I feel like he's right there with me. I'm not out to publicize anything or spread rumors. I just want to know a little bit more about the man whose life I seem to have moved into."