CHAPT 16: Buried Realities

The morning sun barely cut through the thick clouds as Lynda made her way to work, sipping on a lukewarm cup of coffee. The past few weeks had been oddly quiet—no strange occurrences, no unsettling noises, just the mundane rhythm of daily life.

Maybe things were finally settling down.

She arrived at the newsroom, dropping her bag onto her desk when her editor, Mr. Grayson, approached with a serious expression. “Lynda, I’ve got an assignment for you.”

She straightened. “What is it?”

“There’s been a murder not far from here. I want you to cover it.”

Lynda’s stomach dropped. “A murder?”

He nodded, handing her a file. “Happened late last night. The victim was found early this morning. We need details. Witness statements, background checks, the usual.”

Lynda hesitated but took the file. The weight of it felt heavier than it should. “Where?”

“About three blocks away.”

A chill ran down her spine. That was close.

She gathered her things and set out toward the crime scene. The closer she got, the more she felt the tension in the air. Police officers were scattered around, blocking off the alleyway. A crowd of curious onlookers had already gathered, whispering among themselves.

Lynda pushed through, flashing her press badge at the officer securing the perimeter. “Lynda Stetson, Daily Journal. Can I get a look?”

The officer shook his head. “No unauthorized personnel inside.”

Before she could argue, a familiar voice called out. “Let her through.”

Lynda turned to see Isaac standing nearby, his usual smirk absent. His expression was grim, and for the first time, he looked genuinely troubled.

“Come on,” he said, leading her past the barricade.

She followed, her pulse quickening as they approached the covered body. The scent of iron hung thick in the air. Lynda swallowed hard, bracing herself as Isaac lifted the sheet just enough for her to see the victim’s face.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Mrs. Patterson.

The woman who had rented her the house. The woman who had welcomed her with a kind, reassuring smile.

Dead.

Lynda’s fingers tightened around her notepad. “No,” she whispered. “That’s not—”

Isaac lowered the sheet. “I take it you knew her.”

Lynda barely nodded, her mind spinning. “She—she was my landlord.”

Isaac studied her, then exhaled sharply. “Lynda, listen to me. You need to be careful.”

She met his gaze, panic creeping in. “What do you mean?”

He glanced around before lowering his voice. “This wasn’t random.”

Lynda’s heart pounded. “What?”

Isaac’s jaw tightened. “Mrs. Patterson was targeted.”

She took a shaky step back. The quiet weeks, the false sense of security—it had all been an illusion. Something was still very wrong.

And now, someone was dead.

And if Mrs. Patterson had been targeted…

Was Lynda next?

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Lynda barely had time to process what she had just seen when Isaac turned to her with a serious expression. “Lynda, I need to ask for your cooperation.”

She blinked. “Cooperation?”

Isaac nodded. “We need you to answer a few questions about Mrs. Patterson. Anything you know about her, her habits, her past—anything that might help us.”

Lynda frowned. “Wait… why are you the one asking me this?”

He hesitated for a moment before sighing. “Because I’m not just some guy who lives next door.”

Lynda’s breath hitched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a badge. The silver emblem gleamed under the dull morning light.

Detective Isaac Caleb.

Her mind reeled. “You’re a cop?”

“A detective,” he corrected. “I was assigned to investigate a series of crimes in this area, including what’s been happening around your house.”

Lynda took a step back, trying to process everything. “So, you knew something was off about my house all this time?”

Isaac’s expression darkened. “I had my suspicions. That’s why I told you to be careful. But I didn’t expect things to escalate this quickly.”

Lynda felt a surge of emotions—shock, frustration, and a deep sense of betrayal. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

Isaac ran a hand through his hair. “I wanted to, but I needed proof first. I didn’t want to scare you without reason.”

She clenched her fists. “Well, consider me scared now.”

Isaac sighed. “Look, I get that this is a lot to take in, but right now, we need to focus. Can you help us? Anything you remember about Mrs. Patterson, no matter how small, could be important.”

Lynda hesitated, but then she nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll help.”

Isaac gave her a reassuring nod. “Good. Let’s start from the beginning.”

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