“Maybe you’re right. But there’s no changing things now.”

  “You’re right. The only thing we can really do is to honor her memory and try to cobble our lives back together.”

  “That’s a lot easier said than done.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I never said it would be easy. This is actually going to be incredibly hard. She will be missed dearly.”

  “She certainly will.” He took a deep breath. “At least now you have some closure, though.”

  Just then, my gut acted up on me again. Apparently, there was no way of quieting my instincts. Despite what the autopsy report said, my gut had a different read on the situation.

  “I’m not so sure that we have closure,” I said.

  “Uh-oh. Is your gut going wild on you again?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  “I don’t know what to tell you. This autopsy report couldn’t be more conclusive. There is zero evidence of foul play.”

  “I know. I read the report.”

  “So, why is your gut messing with you?”

  “It beats me.”

  He became discouraged. “Your instincts aren’t being very helpful right now.”

  “Maybe not, but they are impossible to ignore. They are also usually correct.”

  “Perhaps this is the rare exception.”

  “I doubt it.”

  “Look. I don’t know what to tell you. In my mind, this case is closed. The sooner you admit the truth about Alicia, the better off you will be.”

  Epilogue

  Typically, the most satisfying part of finishing a case was the sense of closure that usually came with it. That was what made this situation so different. I felt like I was missing something. I couldn’t escape the feeling that the case wasn’t over yet.

  Unfortunately, it was hard to argue with a forensics report. Or a lab report from the coroner, for that matter. In fact, despite my differing feelings about Alicia’s death, I had no evidence to disprove the findings of the lab report.

  All I really had was a strange feeling in my gut. While my instincts had served me well in the past, they weren’t doing me any favors at the moment. Not unless they were suddenly able to provide me with some specifics.

  It was one thing to have a hunch. Being able to back up my claim was an entirely different story. Right then, it appeared that my luck had run out.

  After all, Scott was a very sympathetic person, but he was also a detective. From a personal standpoint, he could have sided with my opinion of the case. However, from a professional viewpoint, there was no way that he could provide me with any further help. Honestly, he had done me a pretty substantial favor by ordering the autopsy in the first place.

  Unfortunately, it was all for nothing. At least, that was how I felt. I knew that I wasn’t wired like everyone else. Other investigators might have just accepted the coroner’s report at face value. Perhaps they would have been able to move on.

  Not me.

  No matter what I did, I couldn’t shake the awful feeling in my gut. Would it ever go away? Would it just take some time to come to grips with things? Or would this always leave a bitter taste in my mouth?

  I had no clue. I did know this, though. I was on my own. What a terrible feeling, that was. Not to mention, a lonely one. I hated having my back against the wall.

  If it sounds like I’m rambling, it’s because I don’t really know what else to say. I wasn’t used to this kind of a bitter ending. I was accustomed to the way that TV shows wrapped up cases. On those programs, the detective was always right. At the conclusion of a case, things were always wrapped up neatly. If only real life worked out that way. This time, it sure didn’t.

  The End.

  Honey Cake, Heartbreak, and Hazards

  Chapter One

  Alicia Templeton didn’t commit suicide.

  I couldn’t get that thought out of my mind. No matter how much I tried to. She just didn’t seem like the suicidal type.

  Granted, the week leading up to her death had been truly awful. Her work life was insanely stressful. And she’d recently gone through a breakup. As difficult as both of those situations were to deal with, I had always known Alicia to be a strong person. The kind of woman who overcame adversity, no matter how big her problems were.

  Also, having known her for decades, I was acutely aware of the fact that she had been through much worse than this in her life. So, given all of that, it just seemed incredibly hard to believe that she’d ever consider taking her own life.

  Whatever the truth happened to be, one thing was clear. Alicia was gone forever. And whatever had caused her demise, there was no bringing her back.

  The grief that I felt over losing my old friend was intense. I sat in the church where her funeral service was being held and tried to keep myself from weeping. I probably wouldn’t be able to make it all day without shedding a tear, but I wanted to hold back as much as I could.

  It was such a surreal experience to be mourning the loss of a friend while simultaneously questioning how she died. To the police, the cause of Alicia’s death was clear. To them, this was a suicide.

  I tried to convince Detective Scott Webster otherwise. I even got him to order an autopsy. Unfortunately, the coroner ended up ruling that Alicia took her life.

  After that, it seemed like I was on my own. I hated that feeling. I did not enjoy being a lone wolf. Sometimes, things just worked out that way.

  The question became, what was I going to do next? After all, I only had a hunch. I didn’t have any evidence to prove my suspicions. Nor did I have any leads.

  Besides, I was sitting at a funeral. My focus should have been on Alicia’s service.

  As much as the circumstances surrounding my friend’s death troubled me, I became determined to just honor her memory that afternoon.

  It turned out to be a beautiful service. So many of Alicia’s friends and family members had such glowing things to say about her. She had left an indelible mark on so many people. Which made it even sadder that she was gone.

  My sorrow made it tougher to sit through the service than I even thought it would be. That was saying a lot. Funerals were already unpleasant enough. This one, in particular, was especially challenging. Due to the sudden nature of Alicia’s death, everyone was just so shocked that she was gone. There had been zero buildup. No way to prepare. Or to brace ourselves. She was just alive one day and dead the next.

  If that wasn’t bad enough, Alicia was young. In fact, she was my age. We were still in our thirties. To me, that seemed like it was way too young to die. After all, she appeared to have so much ahead of her. So much to live for. Apparently, I was wrong.

  Finally, even though it had been a few days since her death, my shock had not worn off.

  At all.

  I was still reeling. Frankly, I probably wouldn’t get over this for a long time.

  If ever.

  As dramatic as it was to think about, there was a chance that the rest of my life would never be the same.

  Despite how bad I felt, I knew that Alicia’s mom was in an even tougher spot. My heart definitely went out to her.

  I had personal experience with losing a loved one. It was an unspeakable agony. The type of thing that could break a person.

  That was why I wanted to speak with Veronica Templeton after the service was over. She had to know that she wasn’t alone. She had a lot of support during this trying time.

  As I approached Ms. Templeton, it was hard not to burst into tears. But I had to find a way to hold myself together. I needed to stay strong. If I broke, it might cause Veronica to do the same.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss,” I said.

  “Thank you for your sympathy, but it’s not just my loss. We’re all suffering right now,” Veronica replied.

  “I can’t argue with that. It’s an awful time. But it’s still much worse for you.”

  “It’s not about who is hurting more. It’s about trying to make sense of what happened.”

  “I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had any luck with that.”

  “That’s saying a lot, considering how you’re a private investigator.”

  “What can I tell you? I didn’t see this coming.”

  “That makes two of us. To me, this came completely out of nowhere. And no matter how much I try, I can’t figure out how this happened.”

  “I wish I had answers.”

  “Honestly, I don’t think anyone knows what to make of this.”

  “You might be right.”

  “I certainly had no idea that my daughter was depressed. At least, not enough to kill herself.”

  “Neither did I.”

  “How did I miss the warning signs?”

  “I don’t think you missed anything.”

  “Clearly I did something wrong. Otherwise, Alicia would still be here right now.”

  “Ms. Templeton, you can’t blame yourself for what happened.”

  “Sure I can. A mother’s job is to protect her child. To take care of her.”

  “Alicia wasn’t a kid anymore. She was an adult.”

  “I know that, but I still failed her.”

  “Please don’t talk like that.”

  “Why not? It’s how I feel.”

  “You were a great mother to her.”

  “Thanks for saying that.”

  “I’m not just saying that. It’s the truth.”

  She wiped her eyes. “I just miss her so much.”

  “I understand. I miss her too.”

  “I want her back.”

  “Don’t we all?”

  “What am I supposed to do now?”

  “Right now, you just need to take time to grieve. To mourn.”

  “I wasn’t talking about right now. I meant, how am I supposed to carry on with my life?”

  “That’s something I’ve been asking myself a lot.”

  “Do you have an answer?”

  I shook my head. “Unfortunately not.”

  “What a shame.”

  “It is, but I will say this. If there’s anything I can do to help you, please let me know.”

  “I will,” she replied.

  Chapter Two

  Two days later

  Over the course of the next forty-eight hours, I did my best to keep up a normal schedule. I went into work. I kept in touch with friends. I felt like it was really important to keep busy.

  If I just sat around at home, my grief could get the best of me. I didn’t want to become more overwhelmed than I already was.

  Unfortunately, my efforts produced mixed results. Even though I attempted to keep myself busy, Alicia remained in the back of my mind the entire time.

  Then again, why wouldn’t she? The grieving process took time. There was no rushing things.

  As I sat at my desk on Monday morning doing some paperwork, a surprise visitor entered the doorway.

  It was Veronica Templeton.

  I immediately got up from my chair and greeted her.

  “Ms. Templeton, what are you doing here?” I asked.

  “I need to talk to you,” Veronica replied.

  “Okay. About what?”

  “My daughter.”

  “Again, I’m so sorry about what happened to Alicia. I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”

  Veronica grimaced. “It has been an awful few days.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  I took a deep breath and then replied, “I wish there was something I could do for you.”

  “It’s funny that you should mention that.”

  My eyes widened. “Why?”

  “I believe there is something you can do.”

  “What?”

  “Conduct an investigation.”

  I squinted. “I’m confused. What do you want me to investigate exactly?”

  “I want you to look into my daughter’s death.”

  “In what way?”

  “You need to find out how she really died.”

  “Wait a minute. Do you not believe that she killed herself?”

  She shook her head. “Not a chance.”

  “Really?” I replied.

  “In my mind, there’s no way that Alicia committed suicide.”

  “What do you think happened then?”

  “Like I said before, that’s what I want you to find out.”

  “Do you happen to have any theories?”

  Veronica became quiet.

  I waited a few seconds for her to reply. When she didn’t, I spoke up.

  “Ms. Templeton—” I started to say.

  “This might sound crazy, but I want you to bear with me.”

  “I’m with you. Just tell me what’s on your mind.”

  “I believe that someone murdered her.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “There’s no way that my daughter killed herself. She just wasn’t the type of person who would ever do something like that.”

  “Say you’re right. Making the jump to murder is a pretty big leap.”

  “I realize that. I wish I could prove it. That’s where you come in.”

  “Wow. This conversation has definitely gone differently than I thought it would.”

  “I’m sure it has. And I apologize for that. But I need your help. I can’t do this by myself.”

  “Ms. Templeton, I hate being negative, but you realize that the police have already conducted an investigation. And they have officially ruled her death as a suicide.”

  “I’m aware.”

  “Now, the police have all the best forensic technology at their disposal. They also performed a number of lab tests.”

  “Why are you bringing all of this up?”

  “Because I don’t have access to any of that. I’m just one person.”

  “You’re underselling yourself. I know you’re a great investigator.”

  “Thanks for saying that. Even so, I do have my limitations. If I conduct an investigation, I need you be prepared for every possible outcome.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “There’s a very serious chance that I’m not able to dig up any dirt. That we end up right back where we started.”

  “Do you honestly believe that will happen?”

  “It’s too early to know for sure. I just want you to be aware of that possibility.”

  “Let me ask you something.”

  “Fire away.”

  “You were friends with my daughter for years. Do you honestly believe that she would take her own life?”

  “No,” I said.

  “Exactly,” Veronica replied. “Neither do I. So, in my mind, someone else must have been responsible for her death. And I’m desperately hoping that you can find them.”

  “I understand.”

  “So, will you help me?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “Great.”

  “Don’t get excited yet. There’s no telling if I’ll be able to dig up any dirt.”

  “I’m confident that you will.”

  Chapter Three

  If I was going to make any headway with this case, the first step would be to head over to Alicia’s apartment. I wanted a chance to go through her belongings. I also wanted to take one more look at her place.

  On the day that I discovered her body, I was too distraught to think clearly. I was focused on my grief. Even though I was still in rough shape emotionally, some time had passed now. I had some distance from the tragedy.

  That would allow me to try to approach things from an investigative standpoint. That was where searching Alicia’s apartment came into play. No suicide note had been left behind. That meant the reason behind her death was a complete mystery. Perhaps there was a clue in her apartment.

  Or, if she truly was murdered, maybe the killer had inadvertently left some evidence behind. If I completely struck out at Alicia’s apartment, I would move on to phase two. That would involve talking to some of the people who were closest to her. If that also yielded no results, I would have to reexamine where to take the case next.

  I was getting ahead of myself, however. I had an apartment to search. Thankfully, Veronica was kind enough to let me into Alicia’s apartment without any hassle.

  As I made my way through Alicia’s place, I was conscious of the fact that the odds were stacked against me. After all, the police had already done a thorough sweep of the place. A forensics team had gone over every inch of this apartment. During that time, they had not found anything noteworthy. If there was any evidence to be found of foul play, it was a safe assumption that they would have discovered it.

  Then again, the police sometimes made mistakes. Or overlooked things. It was rare, but it did happen.

  In my mind, it wouldn’t hurt to give the place another once over.

  I started by looking at all of the doors and windows in her apartment.

  Veronica seemed perplexed by my actions.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Looking for clues,” I said.

  “I figured that. What I meant was, why are you focusing on the doors and windows?”

  “Because if someone did kill your daughter, they either picked the lock or came in through the window.”

  “Oh. Do you see any sign of either of those things being true?”

  I shook my head. “No. Everything looks normal here.”

  She grimaced. “That’s a shame.”

  “It doesn’t mean that Alicia wasn’t murdered. If the killer was really smart, they would have covered their tracks.”

  “If that’s the truth then how will you be able to find them?”

  “There’s no such thing as a perfect crime. Because humans are imperfect. The key is to find whatever the killer overlooked.”

  She bit the corner of her lip. “I’m glad I hired you. I wouldn’t have thought of any of this.”

  “I’m going to take a look in the living room. Maybe something will stand out.”

  ***

  Alicia had died on her couch with a pill container and a bottle of liquor beside her. Both of those items were long gone. The police had possession of them.