the secrets of ocean shores - a paranormal murder mystery

Chapter 18

Chapter 18. 

Her delicate, grey tendrils of hair had been artfully arranged to frame her visage, which, despite the inescapable ravages of time and a countenance etched with the deep furrows of age, retained an astonishingly youthful allure. Her features remained sharp and defined, as if time had chosen to be unkind to all but her. The contours of her face, though lined with a map of the years she had journeyed through, bore a surprising resemblance to the vibrant beauty of her distant past.

Her eyes, though somewhat clouded by the veil of her advanced years, gleamed with an undiminished vitality. The corners of her mouth curled into a knowing smile, hinting at a life well-lived and secrets well-kept. The pallor of her skin was accentuated by the stark contrast of her crimson lipstick, which was applied with a precision that suggested a meticulous care for her appearance that had not waned with the passage of time.

In her slender, yet deft hands, she held a cigarette, the seventh of the day, as if it were a symbol of a silent rebellion against the ticking clock. The emblem of a bygone era, the cigarette was a testament to her enduring spirit and the vices she had clung to amidst the ever-changing tides of life. Her nails, elongated and impeccably manicured, shimmered with a pearly luster as they danced over the cylindrical paper tube, their elegance belying the harsh reality of the nicotine-stained habit.

With a sense of urgency that mirrored the persistent knocking on a stubborn door, she reached into the depths of her pocket and extracted a phone that was emitting a shrill and insistent ringtone. Her hand moved with a familiar decisiveness, as though she had performed this very action countless times before in response to the relentless calls of the outside world. The phone, once freed from its fabric confines, glinted under the soft glow of the surrounding lights, revealing the sleek design that seemed almost an extension of her own hand. As she raised it to her ear, the ringing grew louder for a brief moment, echoing through the quiet space before being silenced by her touch. Her posture shifted slightly, her eyes focused and her breath steadied, as she prepared to engage in the awaiting conversation, ready to tackle whatever challenge or message was on the other end of the line. The way she handled the ringing device spoke volumes about her character - unflappable, efficient, and always prepared to respond to the calls of duty or the whispers of fate.

Emitting a skeptical sound that was a blend of doubt and resignation, she plunged her crimson-tinted talons into the call acceptance key with a force that conveyed both irritation and begrudging obedience. The line clicked, and suddenly, the unmistakable, authoritative timbre of her daughter's voice filled the airwaves. "What's the latest?" The tone was firm, unyielding, a clear echo of the maternal resolve she had inherited. Yet, beneath that veneer of steadfastness, her mother's finely-tuned ear could detect the faintest undercurrent of uncertainty, a subtle tremor of urgency that seemed almost out of place amidst the stoicism she had come to expect from her progeny.

The mature woman, her gaze firm and decisive, announced to the group, "Our initial priority will be to take out the young girl. Her curiosity is unnerving." Her words, spoken with a blend of urgency and experience, underscored the gravity of the decision.

The lady on the opposite side of the telephonic conversation emitted a derisive and audible snort of disbelief. Her reaction was marked by a clear sense of skepticism and a palpable air of incredulity that resonated through the receiver, leaving no doubt about her current state of mind. " She's too valuable. I told you. It isn't going to happen. I don't care if you've already planned it."

Her mother couldn't suppress the last vicious snarl that bubbled up from the depths of her frustration, a sound so potent it seemed to embody the very essence of pure exasperation. "Very well, if that is the route you wish to take," she said through gritted teeth, her eyes flashing with a fiery intensity that matched the tone of her voice, "I would be curious to know, pray tell, whom exactly it is you are proposing we eliminate instead? Erik?"