Flirting With Murder

Chapter 3

Blending in always came naturally to Sonya. Most of her high school career consisted of keeping a low profile. Although at times it proved to be difficult to hold her tongue, with all the stupidity of the teenage population. Regardless, Sonya tried to fit in with the masses, whether it be joining the debate team or chess club, she integrated herself to whatever environment. She had been practicing all her life, especially learning the ways of the elite. Her father, trained in the fine art of class and sophistication, taught Sonya everything he knew. Fascinated by the lives of socialites, Sonya saw herself swaying in a ballroom, drinking champagne by a fire, and having conversations filled with lies, secrets and scandals. She let out a dreamy sigh as she stood outside the Cottage Valley development. As she made her way past the iron gate, Sonya admired the architecture of the mansions she passed. They varied in style: a Tudor home, mid-century modern, and quite a few of victorian style mansions. Each one had a separate gate to enter their homes and hammered in was a sign with their last names. The driveway of the development circled and curved, leading to each house. The pavement was flawless and last night's rain just made it look even more dreamy. There was no sun to make it glisten, yet it looked like there were tiny crystals embedded in the concrete. Sonya walked by. The pathway lead her up to the very top of the hill. There was second empire mansion, which had a column on each side and at its center two sets of stairs leading to its door. It had a beautiful column archway before entering the door. Its gated sign read "STEVENS" in cursive font. It spoke much of the Stevens' style; very french. After her husband's affair, Mrs. Stevens ventured off to a french villa and "found herself." She became obsessed. Sonya once a spent a night discovering the truth behind a bribery at a Stevens bash. It was there, where she learned of the scandal.

These houses were completely different from the shabby two bedroom apartment Sonya and her mother lived in, and even more glamorous than the one bedroom apartment she currently lived in. The Stevens' house was surrounded with police. Sonya reached the door where yellow tape was placed across from each column. She entered underneath. The stench of death filled the air. The inside of the home was just as glamorous and wealthy as the outside. An officer led Sonya to the living room where Detective Chung and Walden were standing. Walden looked up from his conversation with Chung and made his way to Sonya.

"The body is over here." They moved around the sofa, and lying there on a Parisian rug was Heather Stevens as good as dead. Her lifeless body was wearing a mint colored dress. Her pin straight hair was tied in a bun on the side of her head. Just as Sara and Chloe nothing expensive was stolen. Heather's neck was slit too. Sonya examined her body. Like Sara, Heather was engaged. Her skin was flawlessly pale. Heather's nails were perfectly trimmed and painted. She struggled with attacker. There was a bruise forming on the side of her cheek where the assailant most likely knocked her out. Sonya looked over to the side. A duval french crystal candlestick was laying by Heather's body. The bulbs shattered all over the floor.

"We checked for blood, but it's completely dry." Walden was kneeling by Sonya looking intently over her shoulders. He scoffed. "Whoever did this left no trace."

Sonya turned to face Walden. "Everyone leaves a trace. You just have to look where you most expect." In Sonya's experience the answer was always right in front of her, the place where everyone was looking, just not looking intently. They both stood up and Chung walked up to them. "Did you go through her stuff yet?"

"No we're still processing everything and no one," Chung looked Sonya so straight in eye, she could have sworn she saw her soul, "get's to look until it's processed. Just because I let you on this case doesn't mean you can infiltrate police investigation like usual. You follow my lead. Understood?"

There was always a catch. Sonya should have suspected she was going to have to play by Chung's rules. She was going to have to be more careful than usual.