Dead?

I

was too stunned to speak. What does he mean it is not Hannah? I was so surprised that I even stopped bouncing my leg. “What do you mean she is dead?” Sensing my speechlessness, Nathan asked Detective Ocon for me. "We do not know the exact date, but she died sometime around last month in her apartment." "Well, how did she die?" Detective Ocon shook his head before speaking, "Natural causes. I am sorry, Victoria, but it was never Hannah.

Her last known address is not even anywhere near here." Is it not Hannah? Then who is it? Who did all of this? Who has been tormenting me for so long? “If it is not Hannah, then who is it?” Detective Ocon stared at the ground as he said, “We do not know yet. The fingerprints did not match with anyone in our database.” I slumped to my seat.

We were back to square one. After months and months, when I finally thought we had made some progress, I found out that we had only been running in a circle. We were stuck in a loop with no way out. How were we ever going to find this person? “Victoria, I know you are going through a hard time, but please think carefully. My gut is telling me this is the work of someone you know, someone very close to you.

Put some pressure on your brain and try to figure out who it can be. Any suggestion is valid.” I knew he was right. This was not the time for self-pity or crying. Whoever this is not perfect either. They have to make mistakes. They are bound to slip up. I just need to think back carefully about every interaction I have had with her.

There has to be something common in all of them or a sound I heard or just something, anything. “Another thing.” I looked up at Detective Ocon to see him still looking at me. “If you can, try to get me fingerprints of people you will be in contact with within the next week.” “How do I do that?” “You can preserve anything they touch and then bring it all back to me. Hopefully, we will find a match.” I nodded my head. Good, that was a good plan.

Nathan came with Max and me back to the apartment. I told him we would be fine, but he insisted on staying for the day. “Nathan, you really should go. I have Max with me. It will be alright.” He just shook his head. “No. We could have been followed or something right from your house.

I will feel better if I stay here today. Otherwise, I will just be restless in my house worrying about you.” Throughout all of this, Max had remained silent.

I am not just talking about our conversation; even back when Detective Ocon said that it was not Hannah, she did not look surprised. The entire ride home, she remained deep in thought. I glanced over at her multiple times, but she did not even notice. Does she know something she is not telling us? I decided I would ask her later. We first needed to do something about lunch.

“Hey, Anthony, how are you? How is Mrs. Waltham? How are you holding up?” After lunch, I called Anthony to check up on him and make sure they were all okay. I felt guilty because they were in danger, all because of me.

“Hey, Victoria, we are both fine.” He called me Victoria, not Vic. The dread pooled in my stomach was becoming larger and larger. "Did you tell Mrs. Waltham?" "No, I decided not to tell her. I realized there was no benefit in scaring her like that. I am sure nothing will happen." Then, I asked the question I had been dreading. “Did you notice any suspicious activity?” I was afraid to hear his answer.

What if something happens to them? "No, Vic, everything is fine on our end. The officers are really nice too. They are always watching the house, and one of them periodically checks up on us by calling me." I breathed a sigh of relief. They were okay. He called me Vic. "Someone did call for you, though." I sat up straighter upon hearing that.

What does he mean someone called for me? And why would they call there? "Who was it, Anthony?" "I think it was a feminine voice, but I cannot be sure. The call came this morning, around 8 a.m. She asked me about you and said that she was a college friend of yours. She said you both lost contact, but she was in the city and looking for you. Then she asked me if I had your address." "You did not give it to her, did you?"

I held my breath as I anticipated his answer. "Of course not, Vic. I am not an idiot. I also thought it was suspicious that she asked me directly for your address instead of your phone number. Also, considering how freaked out you seemed last night, I did not think I should be disclosing your personal information to strangers over the phone.

I thought it might put you in danger." "Thank you, thank you so much, Anthony! It was the right decision not to tell her. I will talk to you later." After saying our goodbyes, I hung up on him and immediately rushed to call Detective Ocon. This was it. She had made a mistake.

“Detective Ocon? I think I may have found something.” I could hear him urging someone to get his notepad and pencil. "Give me a minute....... okay, Victoria, what happened?" "Sir, I called Mrs. Waltham's son. He said someone called him to inquire about me, and she directly asked for my address.

He said the call came this morning around 8 a.m. I may be wrong, but it could have been our killer. Why else would someone does that? My address is the only thing not known to her. I am assuming she would do anything to get it and strike me for good before leaving." "Okay, that is great. I will get Anthony's call record from the company and then trace the caller's location. There is a possibility that the caller did not use their own phone.

But, even if they used someone else's, it opens up the possibility that they showed their face in public and exposed themselves. We just have to be very thorough; I am sure we will find something from this."  I smiled to myself at Detective Ocon's enthusiasm. Finally, something good is happening. Nathan walked in at this moment and, upon seeing me smiling, asked, “Why are you smiling so creepily?” “Because we just found a lead!!!”