Winter's Shadow |Winter Series #1

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Dedicated to my readers
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"Can't believe we have to be out in this weather," Officer James grumbled, stepping down from the truck, the snow crunching beneath his feet. He joined Beckett, who was studying the house.

"Is this the house, James?" Beckett asked, turning to examine the surrounding houses, all bearing similar worn-down walls, broken window panes, and small red doors. 

Officer James nodded, consulting a piece of paper. "Yes it is. My informant said it's No. 14." He pointed to the sign on the white wooden fence.

Beckett nodded. "Let's go." They entered the snow-covered yard and climbed the steps to the front door.

"She should be bothered  there's no path," James said, shaking snow off his boots.

"Her husband's in jail; it's the least of her worries," Beckett replied, knocking on the door. When no one answered, he checked the side window, finding it tightly shut.

"Could she have gone out?"
James asked.

"In this snow?" Beckett shook his head.

Officer James scoffed, "we came out in the snow."

Just then, a voice called out, "Hey!" An elderly man in a starry robe and holding a wine glass approached from the neighbouring house. "Who're you folks looking for?" he asked.

"Sam's wife," Beckett replied.

The man snorted, his eyes darting between James and Beckett, he took a sip. "And you are?"

Beckett showed his ID. "Detective Beckett," he jerked his head towards James, "Officer James, Crymont Police."

The man nodded and took another sip of his drink. "Aargh, I see. You didn't know then. I thought you officers evacuated Sam's wife."

"Evacuated?" Beckett stepped closer.

"Yes. Angela and her daughter packed up and left in a black van with a Crymont logo. They seemed to be in a rush," the man explained. Gulping the rest of his drink, he continued, "so I thought since the husband turned out to be a murderer, you guys evacuated his family for safety or something."

Beckett rushed to the truck, James following, and slammed the truck door shut.

"You should stop for a glass of coffee detective. You'd need it in this chilly weather," the man shouted as Beckett started his truck and zoomed off.

"If what that man said is true, do you think Chief Rowan is involved?" James asked, buckling his seat belt.

Beckett's jaw clenched. " We're about to find out."

The rest of the drive was silent and soon enough they were at the station.

The moment the truck was parked, Beckett jumped down from it and marched into the station. Officer James grimaced and strolled in, hanging by the reception.

He didn't slow his pace till he got to Chief Rowan's office, he knocked twice and entered.

The chief turned at his entry, a file in hand. He closed the file and dropped it back in the shelf, Beckett's eyes followed the movement. "Can I help you?" he asked.