Chapter 2

We married quickly, a quiet city hall affair.

Sarah moved into the empty shell of my parents' house with me, promising to fill it with new memories, with justice.

She was the hero, the savior. My ex-fiancée' s sister, a respected detective.

She said all the right things, held me when the nightmares came, assured me the investigation was progressing, that leads were being followed.

I clung to her, a drowning man to a raft.

The Davis parents, Sarah and Jessica' s mom and dad, were polite but distant.

They clearly preferred Michael, who was now officially part of their family through Jessica.

He was always around, charming, solicitous, especially towards Sarah.

I tried to ignore the faint prickle of unease he always caused.

Five years passed.

Five years of marriage to Sarah.

Five years of her "working tirelessly" on my parents' case.

Five years, and still no answers, no arrests, no justice.

The case grew cold, filed away, another unsolved suburban tragedy.

I trusted her. I had to. She was all I had left, or so I believed.

She was my wife, my rock, the detective who swore to find their killers.

I thought I had found a new beginning, a fragile peace.

I was a fool.