Claws in the Dark | ✔

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Friday

Miles Trenton was the best detective in police business. He could look at any clue and examine it like a jigsaw puzzle. Just the littlest details could set him in the right direction, helping him to put the pieces together to solve mysteries and close cases.

He resided in Ashin Bay with his family before he was stationed in Peskin - a large urban city that was known for many crimes and mysteries you could possibly think of. Miles had closed at least forty cases within three years, and because he was so good, Peskin PD asked for him to become a permanent member of staff. After discussing it with his wife, he had his family move there a few months after so that he could be with his her and their children while he worked.

Gina Trenton, his wife, was a well-known (but not-so-famous) fashion designer, who made men's, women's, and children's clothing. His daughter, Rebecca, was only fifteen years old, and had to switch schools when they moved to Peskin; she hated having to leave her friends back in Ashin Bay. His son, George, was 8 years old, who stays out of trouble but seems to annoy his sister with the slightest things. He too switched schools, but he didn't mind it because he made more friends.

Sitting in the living room of their house, Miles was reading a newspaper article about a murder in Grandville, a town not more than twenty miles West of Peskin.

"Mm...what a shame," he mumbled to himself.

"What's that?" Gina asked from his right.

He lifted his head and met her gaze. "Oh, it's this article about a murder. It says that a couple had been killed, both of their chests slashed and their heads missing."

Gina felt bile rising in her throat; she swallowed it back and asked her husband, "How can people be so cruel?"

"Actually," he started, "the people of the town are saying that they believe it's some kind of monster that killed the couple."

"Really?" she asked sarcastically. She examined Miles' expression as he studied the article again. "Miles, you don't truly believe..."

"What else could've caused those slashes, Gina?"

"Well, for one, you have knives," she said, trying to prove that his belief in the town's theory is absurd. "And there are also other sharp weapons, like axes and saws."

"Those can't make long scratch marks like these." He showed her the pictures of the beheaded couple, the slashes across their chests. Gina covered her mouth as she tore her eyes away from the newspaper, and ran upstairs to their bathroom.

Miles laughed. The front door opened and George ran into the house and up the stairs before Rebecca even walked in. "Slow down there, champ!" he shouted after his son. He made eye contact with Rebecca as she was approaching the stairs, and she scoffed at him. "Well, good afternoon to you, too," he said after he realized she still was upset with him about the move.

Three years and Rebecca still held a grudge against her father for tearing her away from her friends, and a boy she secretly liked. As she passed her mother on the stairs, she stuck in her earbuds and blasted the rock music.

Gina just brushed her hand on her daughter's shoulder as she passed, and went back to her husband in the living room. He was staring at the newspaper, but it didn't look as though he was reading it. Something was bothering him.

"What's on your mind, dummy?" she chuckled, and he laughed.

"I don't know," he sighed. "I was thinking...why is Becky still upset with me? I mean, it's been three years already."

"Miles, just give her some time; she'll come around," she tried to reassure him.

George came running downstairs and zoomed into the living room, throwing himself on the sofa next to his father. "Hey, Dad, what are you reading?" he pointed to the article with the dead couple.

Miles closed the papers and threw it on the table. "It was just something about a young couple and their house."

"I'll go start dinner," Gina said, heading for the kitchen.

Miles and George remained seated and looked at cartoons. His cell phone rang from on the table, next to the newspaper, and he quickly picked it up and looked at the ID. It was his boss, Police Chief Patrick Hernandez.

He left his son to continue watching the silly animated series, Spongebob Squarepants and went outside to the porch, where he answered the call.

"Good afternoon, Sir," he said firmly.

"Miles, I have a case for you to investigate," Patrick said. "I'm gonna need you to come in and collect the files."

"Sir, couldn't this wait until Monday? It's Friday, and I'm about to have dinner with my family."

"This job is what helps you make money to even provide the dinner for your family. You don't want to lose it after you've worked so hard to get it, now do you?" Patrick knew how to get Miles to change his mind on many occasions, and that was by pressuring him into doing what he isn't comfortable with.

"Okay, Sir, I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Ten. And tell the wife and kids I said hi," he said before disconnecting the call.

Miles sighed and turned around to look at the front door before pushing it open, and headed back inside. He sat back down next to George, who was fast asleep. He'll have to miss dinner, Miles thought as he lifted him up and took him up to his bedroom.

Gina called from downstairs, alerting everyone that dinner was ready. She had already set the table and stood near her seat, awaiting everyone's rushing feet. But only one person came - Miles.

Rebecca was locked in her room, music blasting loudly in her ears, as she still didn't want to talk to anyone; her stomach growled, and she knew it was dinnertime, so she got up and went downstairs into the dining room as her parents were speaking.

"Where's George," Gina asked.

"He's asleep," Miles answered. "I just took him upstairs." He fiddled with his fingers. "Uh...honey, I have to go to the office tonight."

"Why? It's Friday night," she said.

"I know, but the Chief called and said it was something important, so there's no avoiding it." He sighed as he walked over to her, giving her a kiss.

"I guess I'll be dining alone tonight, then."

"Don't worry, Mom," Rebecca said. "I'll eat with you. I'll always be here for you...unlike certain people." She glanced at Miles.

He just sighed and walked out of the dining room. He picked up his keys from on the small table by the door and left for the car, which he then drove to his office.

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◀ MARDAIS ▶