Red Roses dark Secrets

Chapter 5: Echoes of the Past

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Detective Alex Miller sat at his desk, staring blankly at the files spread before him. The atmosphere in the precinct felt charged, almost electric, as he processed the implications of Derek Lyle's testimony. The mention of the screams echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder that they were getting closer to uncovering the truth—but with that came an unsettling realization that something much darker was at play.

"Got the footage from The Blue Lantern," Hayes said, breaking him from his thoughts as she dropped a flash drive on his desk. "I figured we'd better look through it before we talk to Lyle again."

"Good call," Miller replied, reaching for the drive and plugging it into his computer. As the screen flickered to life, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were mere pawns in a much larger game, one that had been set in motion long before Sarah's murder.

The video feed opened, showing a dimly lit bar with patrons laughing and dancing. He scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of Lyle or Sarah, his heart racing with every second that passed. Time felt like it stretched endlessly as he watched the familiar faces of Maplewood.

"There!" Hayes pointed at the screen. "That's Lyle. He's sitting at the bar, and... wait, is that Sarah?"

Miller leaned closer, squinting at the screen. There she was, laughing with friends, her eyes sparkling in the low light. But what struck him most was the man leaning against the bar beside Lyle. He had a distinct look, a slight smirk, and something about his demeanor seemed off.

"Zoom in on that guy," Miller instructed, feeling a sudden urgency.

Hayes adjusted the feed, enhancing the image of the man. He had a tattoo peeking out from under his sleeve, a rose winding its way up his arm. The same type of rose that had been left at the crime scenes.

"What do we know about him?" Miller asked, his pulse quickening.

"Not sure yet," Hayes replied, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "I'll pull the bar's guest list and see if anyone remembers him."

As they watched the footage, Miller felt a knot in his stomach. They were close—too close. "Rewind it to the part where they leave," he said, his voice low.

The video flickered back, and there it was: Sarah and the man standing near Lyle, their conversation animated. He couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and sadness. Why hadn't she noticed the danger lurking just beyond her laughter?

"There!" Hayes exclaimed suddenly. "They're leaving together! It looks like he's pulling her away from the bar."

Miller's heart sank. The final moments of Sarah's life were slipping away, and he couldn't change anything about it. "We need to identify that guy," he said, the determination surging back within him. "He might be our best lead yet."

"Let me make some calls," Hayes said, already pulling out her phone. "I'll see if any of the bartenders can remember him."

Miller nodded, his mind racing with the possibilities. He needed to focus on the task at hand, but the deeper he delved into this case, the more he felt the shadows closing in.

As Hayes left to gather information, Miller returned to his desk, running a hand through his hair. He needed to sift through Sarah's past and find any connections to this mysterious man. His gut told him that the pieces were coming together, but there was still a vital thread missing.

He opened Sarah's file and started going through it, scanning for anything that might connect her to the man from the bar. As he read, memories of his own past began to resurface—the ache of love lost, the fear of opening up again. He couldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment, especially not now.