In still waters - стр. 7
The office itself was a study in understated functionality. Roughly twenty square meters in size, its walls were painted a light, soothing color that contrasted with the dark, well-maintained floors. Three desks dominated the space: Nick's, Christian's opposite, and a third, currently unoccupied desk beside Nick's. A large, clean window dominated one wall, though today the cloudy sky beyond offered little natural light. The overhead fixtures compensated, casting a bright glow over the room. To one side, a filing cabinet stood sentinel, its drawers likely filled with the paper trails of countless cases. All the furniture was done in light colors, lending the space an air of openness despite its modest size.
"Hello, Jeffrey," Nick greeted, gesturing to a chair beside his desk. "Please, have a seat."
Jeffrey lowered himself into the chair, his movements awkward and tense. He studied Nick's expression, trying to gauge what news awaited him. The detective's face gave little away, but there was a heaviness to his demeanor that made Jeffrey's heart sink.
"I'll go grab some coffee," Christian announced, sensing the need for privacy. He slipped on his jacket and quietly exited the office. As the door clicked shut behind him, Nick took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead.
"We've received the pathologist's report and the analysis from the crime scene," Nick began, his voice carefully controlled. "I'm afraid the news isn't good, Jeffrey." He paused, lowering his eyes for a moment before meeting the sheriff's gaze once more.
"What do you mean, it isn't good?" Jeffrey's voice rose, a mix of fear and anger coloring his words. "What do you know? I want to know everything – we're talking about my daughter!"
"Rose died from asphyxiation," Nick continued, his tone gentle but firm. "The expert believes the murder weapon was a rope, though we found nothing at the crime scene." He paused, allowing Jeffrey a moment to process this information before continuing. "We found Rose's phone near her body. The last call was from Mary at 9:10 PM, which aligns with the estimated time of death. Traces at the scene indicate Rose was running, likely being chased. It appears she may have dropped her phone while trying to escape her pursuer."
Nick's expression grew grimmer as he delivered the next piece of information. "The most troubling aspect is that we found no traces of the killer. The rain that continued until morning washed away any evidence that might have been left behind. There are no surveillance cameras in the area – we've checked thoroughly. It seems the killer knew the area well and chose the location deliberately."