Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 4 - Too Close To Home

"The killer arrived and left this way. Since the gate was forced open, the branches were broken within the last twenty-four hours according to the freshness of the exposed meat of the branch." Miles pointed to the bushes that were developing into a back wall around the gate. Kyle felt the slight wetness expressed from the center of one of the broken branches as Detective Miles continued.

"Trying to get evidence, one of the officers had to open the gate to dust. It took several minutes because he had to deal with upset spiders that had nested in the brush. He wasn't happy." Miles said with a chuckle.

"A piece of black plastic was left on the gate. Look here. These marks have been photographed." Miles led him through to the alleyway and pointed down to the ground. They looked like butt prints in the sand.

"Footsteps are in a sweeping motion. It looks like he had something on his feet since there aren't any imprints in the sand. There are scuffs along the dirt of the alley but no shoe prints. However, several areas of the yard had impressions of compressed wet grass surrounded by snow as well as around the area inside of the gate. The size was consistent of a size twelve, but no print as if the bottom of the shoes were smooth. The other compressions are mostly located in the shadows of the bushes or trees." Miles told Kyle as he pointed in different areas of the back yard where two other officers were working.

"Two officers are scouting the surrounding streets for possible evidence or mysterious tracks."

"How many people use this alley that live here?"

"From the cars parked behind the houses along this path, three out of the eight use the alley. Most have done what she has and let their garden seal the gates. The front gate we came through would have been the regular entrance. That area is kept neat and the bushes groomed."

Miles escorted Kyle back through the back gate and led him to the house.

"No blood has been found outside at all yet."

Miles flipped open the pad of paper he had been carrying and stopped just before reaching the back door to the house to point out bigger impressions of smashed foliage.

"This is where he watched her in her bedroom before he entered the house." Detective Miles pointed towards the bushes under the window closest to the back door.

"So far, we think he picked the lock with a sharp tool indicated by the scratches around the keyhole." He led Kyle through the back door.

Immediately Kyle got the impression that the house which was once peaceful and full of life. Now it contained an aura of sadness that would remain long after the tenants were gone.

"Here the killer went through the laundry room, then the kitchen. We found a container of bleach under the sink which tested positive for a little bit of blood and bleach."

Kyle was writing and stopped when he noticed Cruz didn't say anything more. He led Kyle through to the next room where he saw a discarded piece of mail was photographed and left with a marker. Kyle raised an eyebrow.

"This letter on the floor was dated with the rest of the mail on the counter. There was nothing here in the living room to indicate a struggle and I can't see her leaving a piece of mail in the middle of her floor as her house and yards are immaculate. It could have gotten swept onto the floor in his haste to get to her."

"He might have picked up her mail to get her name to address her personally or be sure he had the right person if it was premeditated. We'll get Karen and Freddy on her history right away." Kyle said and Cruz nodded.

"One of the officers found a hospital identification badge lying on the corner of the dresser next to her keys. The girl's name is Jolene Parker, the same name on her mail." Miles said staring at Kyle. He felt confused and the back of the hairs on his neck started to sway.

"There weren't any clothes or items that indicated a man lives here. It looks like she lived here alone." Miles said without breaking eye contact. Kyle was starting to get uncomfortable from the intensity.

"No boyfriend?"

"Yes, a Ryan, no last name, according to the neighbor who found the body." Detective Miles moved forward.

"Next he walked to her bedroom. The neighbors didn't notice a light in the house, as most of them were sleeping. The only light left on was the bedroom light. The coroner claimed death at around two o'clock a.m. The lights were how we found it."

"And there wasn't blood anywhere so far from the back door to bedroom."

"No, the murder began and ended in the bedroom. You'll see."

That was what Kyle was dreading but said nothing. He watched Detective Miles step aside and stop at the threshold of the bedroom. Kyle's stomach sickly tightened. His shock was so strong that he couldn't speak his own name had he wanted to.

His daughter was lying on her back naked with a sheet covering her breasts down to between her legs.

"What oh my God!" Kyle exclaimed running his hands through his hair as his brain was separating all he had just learned within the last fifteen minutes. All he could see was that nothing made sense. Detective Miles had a hold of his arm saying something to him, so he focused knowing he needed to hear it.

"It's not what you think." Miles said as he finally let go.

"Look again."

Kyle did so, and he finally understood what Miles was saying.