After a lifetime of emotional solitude, Emily met Marcos at a seniors' residence. Despite the limited time they had ahead, they were committed to spending it together. When Emily suddenly passes away, her daughter Leah, suspecting foul play, launches a personal investigation into Marcos. Her search unveils that the elderly couple had unknowingly crossed paths in their youth during a brief encounter overshadowed by violent crime. Leah unravels a web of lies leading to an unexpected conclusion where crime and love entwine like the fingers of a malevolent force.
Genre: FICTION / CrimeOn sale on Amazon, not sure about rankings
On a cold midmorning in March, at the age of 73, Emanuel Cortez died in his attic. Two weeks later, his next-door neighbor, Mr. Vesmar, called 911, complaining of a foul odor coming from Emanuel’s house. He said that he knocked on the door a few times, but the “old man” did not respond. The first police officer to arrive recognized the smell immediately; it was coming from a dead body. The officer walked around the perimeter of the property and knocked several times on the front and back doors. By the time he radioed the paramedics, a handful of curious neighbors had gathered across the street.
Firefighters forced their way through the front door with a crowbar. A police officer covered his nose with a tissue as soon as the door swung open and let them lead the way. Tom Vickers, a ten-year veteran, went to the upper level while the others stayed on the main floor.
The staircase from the lower level ended at a small hallway leading to two bedrooms and the only bathroom in the house.
Vickers started with the master bedroom. A neatly made queen bed occupied the center of the room and had one single matching nightstand on the right side. Two pillows were lying against the headboard and seemed untouched. He looked under the bed and inside the closet. He carefully inspected every corner, even behind the doors. Everything was clear.
He moved to the smaller bedroom. It was empty. There was no furniture, only a few cardboard boxes on the floor filled with books. The closet was packed with winter coats and a pair of snow boots.
Nothing in the bathroom was out of the ordinary. All windows on that level were closed and undamaged. He went on to climb the narrow staircase leading to the attic. With each step, the old wood underneath his boots made a creaking sound.
| Language | Status |
|---|---|
|
Spanish
|
Translation in progress.
Translated by Priscilla Monserrat Reyes Cortes
|
