Lunch was over, and Erik had convinced Blizz to take a walk in a nearby garden. As they strolled together, they noticed a crowd gathering in the distance.
"Looks like something happened," Blizz said in a concerned voice.
Erik turned his gaze in the same direction. Suddenly, an ambulance arrived, and they watched as a stretcher carrying a body covered in a white cloth was loaded into it.
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When Blizz returned home, it was almost nine p.m. She freshened up and joined her mother, Rosy, in the living room. She sat beside her and watched TV while waiting for dinner to be ready.
Just as the show reached a commercial break, a news alert suddenly flashed across the screen.
"Body discovered in an apartment building near Central Avenue," the anchor announced.
The screen cut to live footage—flashing red and blue lights, yellow police tape, and curious onlookers gathered around the entrance of a tall residential building.
Rosy's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my God..." she whispered, a bad feeling creeping in.
A moment later, the anchor continued:
"The deceased has been identified as Clara Mendez, an employee of the City Museum."
Both Rosy and Blizz froze. Their eyes met in disbelief.
"N-N-No way… Clara?" Blizz stammered, her voice barely audible.
The news report continued as their stunned silence lingered.
"According to authorities, a technician from a local repair service was scheduled to conduct a mandatory maintenance inspection at the building this evening. These routine safety checks are required to prevent potential hazards, such as gas leaks or faulty wiring, and all residents are notified in advance to be prepared."
The reporter added, "When no one answered the door, the technician followed protocol and used a spare key provided by building management. Upon entering the apartment, he discovered the victim lying on the floor and immediately called emergency services. At this time, the technician is being questioned as a possible suspect, but he maintains that he had just arrived and had no involvement in the incident."
Blizz's face was covered in tears. Her mom had told her that she'd recently met Clara at the museum. Blizz, after hearing that, had wanted to visit the museum soon to meet Clara, but now, she was no longer in this world.
Her mom pulled her into a hug, holding her gently as Blizz cried silently in her arms.
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A few days later, they gathered for Clara's funeral because the investigation had delayed it. People were speaking in hushed tones. Blizz stood still, her gaze empty, while Rosy and her husband were standing nearby, both shaken. Clara's parents looked pale and fragile and were surrounded by a few others. Erik also heard the news. It wasn't like he was very close to Blizz's friends, but the little time he had spent with Clara in the past had made him feel the loss as well. Seeing Blizz lost in her thoughts, her face heavy with grief, only deepened Erik's sadness.
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The very next day, Blizz visited the police, and Erik was there with her, offering the support she needed. The investigation was still ongoing, but so far, there were no clear clues. The murder was baffling.
The police had reviewed the CCTV footage, but nothing unusual stood out. They only saw Clara returning home on Friday evening, carrying a bag that looked like she did some groceries. After that, she didn't leave her apartment again until her body was discovered on Monday evening.
One of the officers sighed. "This case isn't straightforward. And considering Miss Clara Mendez was an employee at the City Museum, the department is under a lot of pressure to solve it quickly. Any delay might damage the museum's reputation."
Just then, the door opened. A man stepped in, dressed in a neatly pressed coat.
"That's exactly why I'll be taking over the investigation," he said firmly.
The officer beside Blizz stood up. "This is Chief Inspector Rayen. He's one of our senior investigators."
Blizz and Erik both stood as well. Rayen gave them a small nod, his expression still serious.
Rayen glanced at them both. "May I ask why Blizz Everhart and...?"
"Erik Solberg," Erik filled in quietly.
Rayen nodded once. "Why are you two so involved in this case?"
Blizz stepped forward, her voice shaky but firm. "She was my friend."
Her eyes welled up with tears. "Please... take whatever amount is needed. Just find the person who did this to her," she pleaded.
Rayen reassured her that he will do whatever in his power to find the culprit. He then checked the time on his watch, and said simply, "I'll be heading there now."
With that, he turned and left the room.
Blizz and Erik stood quietly for a moment. "Let's go," Erik said gently.
Blizz nodded, and the two of them quietly made their way out of the police station.
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Erik was driving back home when he noticed a familiar figure on the side of the road—Officer Rayen, leaning against his car, a cigarette between his fingers. Curious, Erik pulled over and stepped out.
"Everything alright?" he asked, walking up to him.
Rayen exhaled a puff of smoke and gave a tired nod. "This case... It's messier than I thought. I found broken pieces of glass in the trash at Clara's apartment. There was blood on it—likely hers, but I still sent it in for testing to be sure. The post-mortem did mention glass cuts, but that's not what killed her."
He paused, taking another drag.
"What bothers me is... if someone attacked her, how the hell did they get out? No signs of forced entry or exit."
Just then, Rayen's phone buzzed. He stepped a few paces away to answer it.
On the other end, his tech team was updating him.
"Sir, we traced Clara Mendez's phone records. She was in frequent contact with a handful of people—when we looked into it, we found out that they were her friends," the voice explained.
"But here's where it gets strange. We tried reaching out to those individuals, but none of them could be found. They've all gone missing. And now, their families are coming forward, filing missing person reports too. It's like they have all vanished without a trace."
Rayen stood silent for a moment, processing the information. He muttered a brief, "Keep me posted," before ending the call.
Erik, watching from nearby, caught the shift in the detective's expression, tense. "Who was that?" Erik asked, stepping closer. "Something wrong?"
Rayen looked at him but said nothing. A hesitation lingered in his eyes before he turned back toward his car.
"Nothing you need to worry about," he replied and then got in his car and drove away.