Jake’s expression softened.“You’re doing everything you can, Jenna.On both fronts.”
She nodded, gratitude warming her despite the frustrations of the day.Jake had been her rock throughout—taking on extra work, giving her space when she needed to process her emotions about Piper’s return.She nodded, gratitude warming her despite the frustrations of the day.She was grateful that they worked so well together, but once again she caught herself imagining how easy it might be to let that partnership slip into something deeper.
Not a good time to be thinking about that, Jenna told herself.
“We should head over to Town Hall,” Jake said, glancing at his watch.“They’re expecting us at nine.What are you planning to say at the Mayor’s public briefing?”
“As little as possible,” Jenna replied, switching off her office light.“Enough to reassure people we’re on top of things, not enough to compromise the investigation or tip off our killer.”
They walked through the quiet station, nodding to the night dispatcher who looked up briefly from her computer.Outside, the September evening had turned cool, stars pricking through the darkening sky above Trentville.Jake unlocked Jenna’s cruiser and held the passenger door for her before circling to the driver’s side.
As they pulled away from the station, Jenna gazed out at her town—the storefronts with their warm interior lights, a few pedestrians hurrying home, the familiar landmarks that had defined her entire life.
She had always felt responsible for this place and its people.But tonight, that responsibility sat heavier than ever on her shoulders, weighted by uncertainty and the nagging sense that this was just the beginning of something darker to come.
City Hall windows were blazing with light, and a crowd had gathered on the front steps.Jenna spotted the news vans—three of them parked in spaces normally reserved for city officials, their satellite dishes raised against the night sky.
Jake parked as close as he could, but they still had to navigate through a gauntlet of worried faces and half-heard questions to reach the entrance.
“Sheriff Graves, is this the start of another killing spree?”
“Is it true the victim was wrapped in yarn?”
“Do you have any suspects, Sheriff?”
Jenna moved through them calmly, neither confirming nor denying, offering only a steady “No comment until the briefing” as Jake cleared a path beside her.The made their way through the doors of City Hall, but inside was worse—the meeting hall packed to capacity, every folding chair filled, people standing along the walls and at the back.Local news cameras had been set up near the front, their harsh lights creating artificial daylight that washed out the room’s usual warm tones.
Mayor Claire Simmons stood at the podium, her crimson suit a slash of authority.She was speaking with a reporter, her smile camera-ready.
“It’s worse than I expected,” Jake murmured close to Jenna’s ear.
“Murder brings out the crowds,” she replied, scanning the room.
The faces that looked back at her were familiar—shopkeepers, teachers, parents of children she’d known since childhood.But tonight they were transformed by fear, their usual small-town ease replaced by tense vigilance.
Mayor Simmons caught Jenna’s eye and beckoned her forward.As Jenna approached the podium, whispers rippled through the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the mayor began, her voice carrying effortlessly through the room.“Thank you for coming on such short notice.As you know, our community has experienced a tragedy.I’ve asked Sheriff Graves to address you directly about the ongoing investigation, but first, I want to assure you that the full resources of Trentville’s government are being deployed to ensure your safety.”
Jenna resisted the urge to roll her eyes.Claire’s “full resources” amounted to demanding frequent updates and criticizing investigative decisions she didn’t understand.
“This administration has always prioritized public safety,” Claire continued, hitting each word with perfect emphasis.“We will not rest until the person responsible is brought to justice.And we will not allow fear to define our community.”
Jenna noted that Claire had avoided mentioning Derek Sullivan by name.No personal information, nothing that might suggest the victim was more than an abstract concept.Pure politics.
“Now, I’ll turn this over to Sheriff Graves, who will share what information she can at this time.”Claire stepped back, her smile never wavering as she gestured Jenna forward.
The podium felt like a witness stand as Jenna took her position.The cameras tracked her movement, their red recording lights unwavering.
“Very early this morning,” she began, keeping her voice steady, “Derek Sullivan was found deceased in the old mill district.His death is being investigated as a homicide.I want to be clear about what we know and what we don’t know.”
She paused, making eye contact with different sections of the crowd, establishing connection before delivering difficult news.
“What we know: Mr.Sullivan was last seen leaving the Centaur’s Den around 1:30 a.m.What we don’t know: exactly when or why he was killed.We are pursuing multiple leads and conducting a thorough investigation.”
Murmurs rippled through the audience.
“What we also don’t know,” she continued, “is whether this is an isolated incident or something else.Until we have more information, I strongly advise everyone to take basic safety precautions.Don’t walk alone at night.Be aware of your surroundings.Report anything suspicious immediately.”
