The Maple Murders

Chapter 4 - Puppet on a string.

Still standing in one place, Emma wondered 'Why?' Out of all the men in the world, why Daniel? The one man whose known for his disloyal actions, infidelity, and greed. Rosa is bound to end up hurt. Emma could not risk that. Not Rosa, the kindest heart on this planet could not hurt. In order to protect Rosa from Daniel's evilness, she must get rid of him. But how...?

Emma ran back into the house and slammed the front door behind her, catching Ash's attention. "I've changed my mind." she stated, her determination to stop Rosa from getting hurt, even if it meant doing something bad, was apparent. "Let's fucking get him."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Gone." Doctor Joel Anderson whispered under his breath, staring down at the deceased body of someone he once knew. "Forever gone..." He took Kat's cold, stiff hand, who was lying on the metal autopsy table. "I'm so sorry it ended for you this way, my sweet Kat." He cried, bringing the woman's hand to his chest. "Whoever did this to you will pay..."

Doctor David gently placed his hand on the grieving man's back. "I know how hard it is to lose someone special, Joel."

Completely ignoring his friend's attempt at reassurance, Anderson squeezed his hands into fists. "I'll find that bastard even if it's the last thing I do!" The older man turned to look at his friend with demanding eyes. "Tell me everything, EVERYTHING you know!"

David began explaining the redness around Kat's neck, suggesting that she was attacked and strangled, and the small wounds covering the lady's face further proved his point. "Although, usually an attack would result in more wounds..."

Anderson suggested that the murderer must have stopped attacking Kat when they realized the bloody wounds would leave a mess, to which David agreed. "That could be the case," he said. "Kat's body was discovered this morning. It was cold, suggesting that she was attacked at some point last night, possibly after the meeting."

The two men stood in silence for a moment as they thought about the night before, trying to refresh their minds on what everyone was doing. That's when David remembered seeing Kat quickly exit the staff room, chasing after a black-haired woman. The same black-haired woman that was late to the meeting. "I may have an idea..." 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What?!" Ash exclaimed, taken aback by Anderson's accusation. "How on earth could you even think that I would do something like that, especially after the loss of my own child? Do you think I would want to put someone through the same pain I'm feeling?!"

Anderson raised his eyebrows in sudden surprise as he leaned back in his chair, embarrassed with the realization that he accused Ash without any concrete evidence. "You're completely right, Ash." He admitted. "My apologies. I let my emotions get the best of me. Please accept my most sincere apologies for any pain I have caused you."

Ash nodded, finally calmed down. "It's alright." She spoke warmly. "I understand that you're upset and frustrated. After losing my own daughter, I can confidently say that death is an evil curse sent by the devil himself. It's a pain that no one should ever have to endure."

Anderson's face softened as he offered a grateful smile. "Thank you for understanding, Ash. Before you leave, could you please keep this case quiet? We don't want to risk the murderer finding out that we're investigating them. And if you could, please send Emma to my office."

With a nod, Ash turned towards the door, where a sly, evil smirk crept across her face.

Sold.

As Emma frantically waited for Ash to exit the office, she imagined the worst-case scenario. 'What if Joel found out about Kat? Would I be blamed for not saving her on time?'