The Silent Witness
March 2, 2025
The moon cast a pale glow over the deserted alley where the body lay, blood pooling beneath the man’s temple. Detective Julia Carter crouched beside the victim—Mark Ellison, defense attorney. Shot once in the head. Execution style.
Officer Reed cleared his throat. “No witnesses, no security cameras. Just this.” He handed Julia a small object in an evidence bag.
A gold cufflink, monogrammed with the initials R.H.
Julia exhaled. “That belongs to Richard Hale.”
Reed frowned. “The mayor’s son?”
She nodded. “And Mark was defending him in a hit-and-run case.”
Reed whistled. “Think he got rid of his lawyer the easy way?”
Julia stood. “Let’s find out.”
Interrogation Room – Richard Hale
Richard sat with his arms crossed, his face unreadable.
“You were Mark Ellison’s client,” Julia said. “And your cufflink was found at the crime scene.”
Richard scoffed. “That’s impossible.”
Julia tossed the bag onto the table. “Then explain this.”
His eyes darkened. “Someone planted it.”
Julia leaned in. “You were losing your case, Richard. Mark was about to make a deal with the DA—one that would put you behind bars.”
Richard’s jaw clenched. “I didn’t kill him.”
Reed knocked on the door and stepped in, holding a folder. “Forensics found something else.”
He handed Julia a printed text log.
Mark Ellison’s phone. The last message, sent an hour before his death:
“I know what you did. Meet me at the alley. Alone.”
Sent to Richard Hale.
Richard’s face paled.
Julia folded her arms. “Ready to talk?”
Silence.
Then, Richard exhaled. “I was there,” he admitted. “But Mark was alive when I left.”
Julia arched a brow. “Who else was there?”
Richard hesitated. Then:
“My father.”
City Hall – Mayor Robert Hale’s Office
The mayor barely looked up from his desk as Julia entered.
“This is ridiculous,” he said. “My son is innocent.”
Julia dropped the text log onto his desk. “Your son was there when Mark was killed. But I don’t think he pulled the trigger.”
The mayor sighed. “This is a waste of time, Detective.”
Julia slid a second evidence bag toward him. Inside—a single leather glove.
“Found near the body,” she said. “Your size.”
For the first time, the mayor’s mask slipped.
“You covered for him before,” Julia said. “The hit-and-run. But this time, it wasn’t an accident.”
The mayor’s hands curled into fists. “Do you have proof?”
Julia smirked. “The security cameras at City Hall say you weren’t here like you claimed. And the gun?” She leaned in. “We found it. With your fingerprints.”
Silence.
Then, the mayor let out a slow breath.
“So what now?” he asked.
Julia stood. “Now? You answer for what you did.”
As officers escorted him away, Julia turned to Reed.
“No more cover-ups,” she said.
Reed nodded. “No more.”
But as she watched the mayor disappear into a squad car, Julia knew one thing—the rich always had ways of slipping through the cracks.
And she wasn’t about to let that happen.