The buzz of my phone jolted me out of my half-asleep state. I wiped a hand over my eyes to chase away the headache radiating from my temples and reached for my phone with my other hand. As my eyes adjusted to the harsh light erupting from its screen, I looked down to see the time, it was 4:03 a.m. Who the fuck calls this early? My question gets quickly answered as a familiar voice calls out my name from the end of the line.
"Ashe?"
"Mary what the hell?!"
"Turn on the news. Now."
An edge of urgency in her voice was all that was needed to convince me. Without bothering to ask why, I immediately got up and flipped on the television.
The headline on the screen quickly snapped me out of my sleepy haze Tragic Death of The Augustus Family.
My gut sank as I read the headline, the weight of the words hitting me like a freight train. I felt a cold chill run down my spine as I watched the footage of two body bags getting transported outside the Augustus Mansion.
"What the ... What happened?"
"No one knows yet. The bodies were reported not so long ago, that's why I called. Ashe as tragic as it is it's a perfect opportunity for you to write about it and interview the case."
The words hit me like a ton of bricks. This horrific event had the potential to make for a major story, but I couldn't help but feel a slight tinge of guilt for taking advantage of such a terrible situation.
The Augustus family was well known in town, and with their wealth and power, they held a lot of influence over the community. Their status and influence meant that the case would likely have a lot of scrutiny.
The idea of taking advantage of this tragedy by writing about it seemed almost too good to be true, but the journalist in me couldn't help but be overcome with excitement at the potential.
I could already feel the pull of the story, the desire to learn more and reveal the secrets of the tragic event. I realized that there was more at stake here than just a sensational story.
This case would have consequences far beyond the newsprint of our town.
"Shit you're right" I put my phone on speaker as I urge to my room and begin to change my clothes. I knew I couldn't afford to waste any time if I wanted to break the story.
"Did the whole family die or what did exactly happen?"
"From what I've heard, only the parents have been confirmed deceased. The son is alive and well, and according to the authorities, this is now being investigated as a murder case...," Mary's voice echoed through my phone, the words jolting me from my state of deep thought.
I couldn't help but be drawn into thoughts on what this story can bring. My mind racing with the possible outcomes as I grab my keys and exit my apartment rushing to my car. I thank Mary for the info and dial Will instead.
William was my on-off boyfriend who worked as a detective, so he would be an invaluable source if I wanted to know more about this case. It was a mutual arrangement where I'm provided information on cases I report, and he's provided with... well other things.
I tried to dial Will's number again, but he didn't pick up.
"Fuck" I cursed under my breath as a sense of frustration builds up in my chest.
I pulled my car up to the location, which was already a chaotic scene as expected... Police were already setting up barricades around the Augustus mansion, their flashing lights illuminating the nearby trees and casting the area in a cold, blue hue.
I stepped out of my car, the crisp night air hitting my skin as I glanced around at the swarms of journalists gathered outside the gates trying desperately to wring some information out of the police. This wasn't going to work. My frustration grew as I saw the police denying their access to the scene. This story was too important for me to let slip through my fingers.
I wasn't going to just stand by, I knew that standing among the other journalists would only leave me empty handed. That's why I was willing to take it to an extreme level and go up to the nearest policeman, asking for Will and telling them that he was expecting me to report on the crime scene. I even gave him Will's badge number, knowing full well that he would get into trouble if it came to light that I used his status to gain access. But I didn't care. I was willing (and desperate) to take that risk I just knew that I had to get the intel I needed, no matter what it took.
The policeman eyed me suspiciously as I flashed my most innocent smile and gave him Will's badge number.
"I'll need to hear from Will if he was indeed expecting you or not," he said, slowly reaching for his talky walkie and calling out for Will.
My blood ran cold as dread filled my chest and I felt a sense of panic building up inside me. If Will found out I was actually here and trying to sneak access into the scene, he would definitely be furious.
Please... please... please...
After a couple of seconds of panic that seemed to go on for eternity, I managed to finally compose myself, just as the officer turned to me and told me to follow him.
I let out a soft sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward, my nerves still on edge but my relief at gaining access to the scene outweighed the anxiety. Following close behind the officer, I knew that this was only the beginning of the investigation and that the answers I was searching for wouldn't come easy.
As we were walking down the dimly lit driveway, I couldn't help but feel a creepy chill running down my spine. The air was still, and it felt like an unnatural stillness, as if something or someone was watching.
The scene had an eerie and thrilling atmosphere, with a dark air of mystery hanging over it. As I approached the mansion, I spotted William and he looked pissed.
"Ashley, what the fuck are you doing!" he whisper-yelled, "I told you to stop using my badge number for your advantage this is seriously wrong."
"Will, you know this is an important case. After this one I promise to never do that again but for now. Let me do my thing, please."
He sighed as he rubbed his forehead, a gesture he'd make when he's frustrated "for fuck's sake. Fine. But only this time Ashe seriously. No blow job is worth losing my job."
I exclaimed excitedly as I took my notes and pen out of my handbag.
"You're the best really, okay what do you know for now?"
He sighed then he lowered his voice as possibly he can so no one could hear us.
"Both of the parents have been found dead, the mother got bruises around her neck, we're guessing she was choked to death. And the father's been stabbed multiple times around different areas of his body."
I cringed at the thought "Jesus... Who reported the bodies?"
"We got a call from the butler."
I was in the middle of talking to Will, retrieving information as quickly as I could, when I felt a strange sensation on the back of my neck. I looked up from my notes and saw a shadowy figure leaning against a tree, the glow of a cigarette glowing in the darkness. I had this weird feeling that he was staring at me, the chill in my spine growing as I sensed his gaze penetrating through me. It was hard to make out his face in the shadows, but his gaze felt as if he could burn holes right through me. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end.
The smoke from his cigarette drifted through the air, adding to the murky, eerie atmosphere of the place.
I turned toward Will and whispered, "who's that?" I couldn't hide the effect the stranger was having on me, my eyes darting back toward the man behind the shadows of the tree, his face still hidden yet his gaze still drilling into me. I fought back the feeling of dread creeping up my chest, trying to maintain my cool despite being slightly unsettled by this mysterious figure.
"Stefan Augustus. We're considering him as a suspect, even though he wasn't there when we got to the scene," Will whispered back, his eyes also shifting back and forth between me and the man.
I took another look at Stefan, who was still lurking behind the shadows of the tree, his face still hidden and that smoldering cigarette burning on his lips. I felt my heart start to pound again, that feeling of dread crawling up my chest.
Stefan Augustus, unlike the rest of his family, had maintained a somewhat low profile, choosing to keep his private life away from the spotlight. He was involved with the family business and headed his father's companies but managed to avoid media attention. His life was private, and few knew him. But his reputation preceded him.
He was known for being a cold and distant man, a no-nonsense who only talked business. His reputation didn't lend itself well to the current situation, He may avoid the attention his family attracted all this time, but his reputation will quickly be drawing attention to him now that he was a suspect in the gruesome murders of his own parents.
As I took one final look at the mysterious man lurking in the shadows of the tree, a burning desire for the truth took hold of me.
I'm getting my answers out of him.