Behind the face

2- The Hunt

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She sat at her office looking at the evidence for the umpteenth time. Something was missing and she didn't know what. What was the motive Steve Jones had in killing Aria Jordan? She checked his medical history and his psychological evaluation, he was in every way sane. She remember when she interrogated him and she was ninety nine percent sure he was innocent.

In her years of doing this job, she had picked up some signs that criminals gave unconsciously when they were interrogated. Only the best can stay away from this signs. They always avoided eye contact or were touching their hands or face. They sometimes stuttered or fondled with something. But Jones did neither.

But she couldn't be so sure. For all she knew he was a great actor.

But he wasn't. After reading his criminal record she got to know him better. Steve Jones was a short-tempered and violent person. He was the type of criminal who commits a crime on impulse or rage and not the methodical way this was committed. Except for his finger print on Aria's body and him being present there was nothing proving he killed her. The murder weapon, a knife, was missing which was the second most important piece in the puzzle. The first was his motive. Why would he kill her? Why was he stalking her?

But the biggest puzzle to Laura was that house. Why did Aria move to that house? Two months before she moved in, someone died in that house so why move in? The possibility of her not knowing was zero. It was on the news that Mrs Devina Rodrigo committed suicide there few days after paying for it. So why did Aria Jordan buy such a house when many would be scared? Was there something in that house that led to their death or was this all a coincidence?

He made a statement once during interrogation. "They framed me up." They asked him who but he insisted that they give him their word that he would leave town. She couldn't promise him that even if he was saying the truth so he kept his mouth shut.

There was a knock on my door. "Come in." Laura said without raising my head.

"Laura there is something I want you to see." It was her office manager, Chloe.

"What is it?" She pushed the document scattered on her desk to the side making space for whatever Chloe discovered.

"So I reran a search on Aria social and medical life. And after looking again I concluded what we all knew before. She was an introvert who had no time for any social life. She was married to her work and was a woman who followed the rules. But you were right before, everybody no matter how introverted has a hobby or activity to pass time."

"So where are you going with this?" Hitting her pen on the desk repeatedly, a habit she possessed showing she was irritated, annoyed or impatient. This case was the later.

Chloe smiled like Laura just told her she won the lottery. "So taking your advice I checked again and then I noticed she was once a member of a club or a society. Whatever they call theirselves."

"What club?"

"The Messengers."

That name was enough to send chill down her bone. "Christ!" Laura held her hands on her head as her elbow rested on the table, frustration and confusion was written all over her expression. But what people couldn't see was fear.

The Messengers was a name she have become well acquainted with. For the last few years, a case has always come up taking her back to them. The last one was someone very dear to her .