Buried Secrets

The rain hammered against the hood of Detective Jake Marlowe’s car as he pulled up to the abandoned cabin on the outskirts of town. The call had come in an hour ago—a hiker had stumbled upon something buried in the woods. Something human.

Marlowe stepped out, his boots sinking into the mud. Officer Grayson waved him over to a freshly dug grave. A hand protruded from the wet soil, fingers curled as if frozen in one final plea for help.

“Male victim,” Grayson said. “Looks like he’s been here a few weeks. No ID yet.”

Marlowe sighed, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “Anyone call in a missing person recently?”

Grayson hesitated. “Actually… yeah. Laura Chambers reported her fiancé, Evan Mitchell, missing three weeks ago. Matches the description.”

Marlowe exhaled. “Bring her in.”

---

An hour later, Laura sat across from him in the station. Her red-rimmed eyes and trembling hands told him everything before she even spoke.

“Ms. Chambers,” Marlowe said gently. “We found a body. We believe it’s Evan.”

Her breath hitched. “Oh God… I knew something was wrong. He just vanished.”

Marlowe watched her closely. “When was the last time you saw him?”

She sniffled. “Three weeks ago. We had dinner at home. He said he was going to meet a friend. But he never came back.”

Marlowe tapped his pen against his notepad. “What friend?”

She hesitated. “I… I don’t know. He didn’t say.”

Marlowe studied her. “Did Evan have enemies?”

Laura shook her head. “No. I mean, he had work stress, but nothing serious.”

Marlowe leaned forward. “Ms. Chambers, are you sure? Because Evan didn’t just disappear—he was murdered. And people don’t get buried in the woods for no reason.”

Laura’s face paled. “Murdered?”

Marlowe slid a photograph across the table. “Recognize this?”

It was a picture of a silver locket, found buried with the body. Inside, a tiny photo—Laura and Evan, smiling.

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “That… that was mine. I gave it to him last year.”

Marlowe nodded. “Then tell me the truth. What aren’t you saying?”

Laura shook her head frantically. “I don’t know anything!”

The door opened, and Grayson stepped in, handing Marlowe a report. He scanned it, then looked up at Laura.

“We pulled phone records,” he said. “Evan made one last call the night he disappeared. To your brother, Jason.”

Laura went still.

Marlowe pressed. “Where was Jason that night?”

She swallowed hard. “I… I don’t know.”

Marlowe’s voice was steady. “Where is he now?”

She hesitated, then whispered, “Gone.”

Marlowe exchanged a glance with Grayson. “Gone where?”

Laura’s lip quivered. “He packed up and left town the day after Evan disappeared.”

Marlowe exhaled. “That’s a hell of a coincidence, Ms. Chambers.”

Laura buried her face in her hands. “Oh God… Jason wouldn’t—” She choked on the words.

Marlowe stood, grabbing his coat. “We’ll see about that.”

As he walked out, he already knew—Jason Chambers wasn’t just gone. He was running. And Marlowe was going to find him.