Shadow of the Mind

Chapter 10: Winters Unrest

The sky above Chicago was a deep, foreboding grey, as if the very heavens themselves were conspiring to unleash a torrent of chaos upon the city. The air was heavy with the promise of snow, the wind whispers secrets of the impending storm to the city's skyscrapers.

It was Christmas Eve, and the city was bustling with activity, but the storm that was brewing had other plans. The temperature had plummeted 15 degrees, and the winds howled like a pack of wolves, sending gusts of icy air down the crowed streets, of shoppers, and people trying to get home for the holiday.

As the evening wore on, the snow began to fall in thick, wet flakes that stung the skin and blurred the vision. The city's traffic crawled to a standstill, cars inching along the roads as if they were trying to navigate a treacherous obstacle course. The snowplows struggled to keep up, their blades scraping against the pavement as they fought to clear the roads. But it was a losing battle – the snow fell faster than they could remove it, and soon the streets were impassable. The winds grew stronger, whipping through the streets like a madman's tantrum. Cars slid and spun out of control, their tires screeching in protest as they struggled to maintain traction.

Mia, stood starring down out the window as she watched another car slide into the mass of wrecked cars below. She knew it was going to be along night ahead, but with Brian gone, she felt she was alone once more in the world. She had always disliked this time of the year. The coldness reminded her how alone she really was. Taking another sip of her coffee, wrapping her arms her sides, feeling the cold air, pressing against the glass.  Brian has been gone for a month now, and no word of him, other than the text saying he was resigning his position, to work on his marriage. No word from Emily either, both stopped responding to her texts after Thanksgiving.  The door to her office opens behind her. The musty smell of Alex her superior who was set to retire next month stepped into the door way. The his smell, filled the room, with his old spice after shave over powering her Pumpkin Spiced latte in her hand. 

"Mia, for god sakes turn on some lights in here." As he flipped on the lights to her office. "Guessing your not going to be leaving tonight?" Alex standing in the door way. 

"How can I? The storm outside looks like it has worsen, we have a killer still on the lose, with only a clue of the finger that was mailed to us a few weeks back. Still waiting for forensics to tell us anything from the prints. " She spoke as she turned to walk back to her desk.  

"My God, woman. Look at this office. No wonder the cleaning ladies complained about your office. You have nothing but photographs of the crime scenes and case files everywhere." As Alex walks into her office closing the door behind him. Picking up a few files off of the table by the door glancing over the files. "All this still part of  Project: Nightshade? Do you have any new leads, or are you just burring yourself in busy work?"

Mia sitting down in her chair, looks up at Alex who was screening the case files she just had finished organizing. "Please sir, I just finished those. Don't mix them up again." Frankly grabbing them from Alex. Setting them on the table behind her. 

"Well, I brought you something, that help you. But before I give this to you: Two things are going to happen. Either one, your going to remove yourself from the case as a lead inspector. Or your going to give me your word of honor, that you will not allow your emotions to be involved. For I have to tell you Mia, as your boss my judgement says to pull you off right now, and send you on vacation. But I also know that you are one of the few who might be able to handle this case to the end." Alex sits down in the chair of Mia desk.  Tapping the folder on the desk, very so lightly. 

Mia pushes her chair  back from the desk, her eyes fixed on the folder in Alex hands. "I never allowed emotion get in the way before, Alex. Why should this case be any different/" Puzzled by Alex's statement. "Further more, I'm the only one that worked this case to find a clue who might be the killer, or at least know who the killer is. You saw what happened to Brian. He chased a clue he found, and never came back to office. Resigned by text if I recall your words." Growing more eager to see what's in the file, "You have my word, Alex. Give me the file."  Her hand reaching out grabbing the file.