The middle aged, curvy brunette gazed thoughtfully at the small hole. It had done some minor damage to the immediate area, but her focus was on its size. "So small, and yet it changed everything for this family..." mused Brianna, the newest detective in the CLPD.
"Yes ma'am. Amazing how something so thin can resist damage, isn't it?" asked one of the CSI technicians, referring to the window.
Brianna sighed. "It's not his fault. He's probably seen too much to be affected by this any more. Will I be the same way in a few years?" she thought to herself.
"It sure made a mess of the victim though." he grimaced, lifting a baggie containing a blood soaked kitchen towel, which had been carelessly tossed aside by the paramedics.
Brianna averted her eyes. "Blood has never bothered me before, even when I had to perform CPR on that drunk driving victim. So why now?" she thought, embarrassed.
As she saw the blurry reflection of the quiet suburban neighborhood, she knew. And it put an icy knot in her stomach. "It's because I saw the family. Am I becoming emotionally involved in this case already? My first one?!?!"
She shook herself out of her contemplation. "If I'm not cut out for this, it's better that I find out early. Meanwhile, I have a job to do!" declared Brianna, turning away from the window.
Soon, she was across the street, walking towards a nicely painted home, much like the one she had been called to. Brianna rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. "CLPD! I have a few questions for you!" she called, in a loud but professional voice.
After several minutes she gave up, writing her findings on a notepad. "I'll meet with them later..." she thought, knowing that many times neighbors knew more than immediate family.
As she walked down the neatly paved driveway, she noticed something out of place. "What do we have here?" The lady detective whispered, as she bent down to pick up a small box, using a baggie out of habit. The tiny black velvet box was of the type that held fine jewelry. Engraved on the lid was the word Fenno's.
"What is a box from the most expensive jewelry store on the East Coast doing here?" she thought curiously. Popping the top, she gasped, as she gazed at a magnificent ring. It glittered in the sunlight, the white stones flawless. It was a work of art! Fit for a king.
"DJ! Can you get this area roped off?" Brianna shouted to one of the team, as she stood exactly where she had found the box. "Such a small thing, about the size of the bullet hole... And perhaps equally life changing." she noted, still looking at the ring.
48 hours later, at CLPD Headquarters:
"Mrs. Cara, we traced the ring found across the street to a Miss Pordue. She works as a model at Cara's Specialty Designs." Brianna said.
"Diane? I didn't even know that she knew where we lived. Why would she be in the Ferres' driveway?" asked Mrs. Cara, confused.
"She has issues, ma'am. Serious issues... Miss Pordue is currently in a psychological ward. The ring box contains your husband's DNA, and she confirmed that she had tried to give it to him as a gift. She also confessed to the shooting. Apparently he rejected both it and her, causing her to have a mental breakdown."
"She's barely older than our daughter!" marveled the distraught woman.
"Yes, but she has lived in a different world. With her father being one of the richest men in the state, she has led a sheltered life. And has never been refused anything. By dipping her toes into modeling, she finally started to see more of the world. Mr. Cara was her first crush..." explained Brianna.
"Oh... The poor child. I knew she was a little different, but I never suspected... If only we had known." she replied, with tears in her eyes.
"It's not your fault, ma'am. Her doctors said that she most likely only exhibited the subtlest of signs, certainly nothing that you or your husband would have picked up on." Brianna soothed.
"Thank you for everything! I just received a call from the Josh's doctor a few minutes ago. Josh will be out of the hospital in a few weeks, if everything goes according to plan. You have probably saved his life. Without your help, Miss Pordue would still be on the loose."
"That's what we are here for, Mrs. Cara." replied Brianna, beaming. That icy knot had melted like ice cream on a hot summer day.
Describe what you see:
I see a window with a small hole in it, perhaps made by a bullet or small rock. The camera is looking at it from the outside. The reflection reminds me of a neighborhood.
Describe what you feel:
I feel like that hole is new, and possibly was done on purpose. It's too small and neat to have been made by a ball.
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