The quiet hum of sirens in the distance barely reached Daniel’s ears as he sat on the edge of his couch, staring blankly at the television. The breaking news banner at the bottom of the screen read:
“BODY FOUND NEAR RIVERSIDE — INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY.”
At first, he didn’t think much of it. Murders happened all the time in the city. But then came the details — the reporter mentioned the location: the old trail near Willow Creek, only a mile from his home. His heart began to pound.
Minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Two police officers stood outside, their faces grim, their voices measured. “Mr. Hale,” one of them said, “we believe we’ve found your wife.”
The world went silent.
Daniel’s wife, Marissa, had been missing for three days. She told him she was meeting a friend for coffee — but she never returned. He filed a report the next morning, though detectives had warned him that the first 48 hours were critical.
Now, those hours had passed. And as police cars crowded his driveway, Daniel’s eyes darted to the corner of the garage — where her shoes still sat neatly by the door, as if she would walk in any minute.
“Sir, we need you to come with us,” said the officer softly.
They took him to the riverbank, where crime scene tape fluttered in the cold evening air. Under a white forensic tent, Daniel saw the outline of a stretcher being lifted into a van. He didn’t need confirmation — he knew.
When they asked if he wanted to identify the body, Daniel froze. His hands trembled. “How… how did you find her?” he whispered.
One detective exchanged a glance with the other. “We found her ring near the water,” she said. “And tire tracks matching your car.”
Daniel’s breath hitched. The air grew heavy. The officers stepped closer.
“Mr. Hale,” the detective continued, “we need you to come down to the station to answer a few questions.”
For a moment, he didn’t speak. Then, slowly, he looked up at them — eyes wide, expression blank.
“Questions?” he said faintly. “You think I did this?”
But deep inside, Daniel knew — the truth had been buried for days, and now, it had just been unearthed.