Murder Amongst Shadows

By Jessica Lyn

Murder Amongst Shadows is a tragic story that projects sadness, terror, and injustice. Bison is a small town with 350 people, that was situated near the Grand River in the South Dakota Plains. The people of Bison had constant faceoffs with death and terror. Families frequently lose their loved ones. It became a norm in the town. People get killed, young girls go missing daily, and no one dares to ask questions to request justice for fear of becoming the next target.

Detective Eddie, a daring, smart, and diligent man was the people's source of hope. He was good at his job and has a criminal instinct that enabled him to spot the bad guys easily. Eddie worked on restoring peace to South Dakota and brought justice to the families whose daughters were kidnapped.

Rachael on the other hand, was the heart of the people. She brought light into the community. She is a rich, vibrant, and brave young lady who made sure everyone in Bison tapped from her blessings. Rachael and her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Lawson were good people who went all out for their community. Unfortunately, Rachael's good deeds didn't prevent them from the cold hands of death. Sadly, good things don't last; and bad things happen to good people.

Tragedy befalls the family of Mr. & Mrs. Lawson as they lost their lovely daughter, Rachael. She was caught up in an evil nest and was brutally murdered by her supposed husband, Albert. Day suddenly turned night, fear crept in, tears-soaked clothes, and confusion filled the air, …it was indeed a great loss! The perpetrators of the evil act were in no time caught and faced the law. The family of the deceased sought fortitude and strength to be able to bear the loss of their daughter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312663343

Jessica Lyn

I have grown up on the Grand River fishing and hun and I still live not far from it. There is no better place than the wide open spaces of the South Dakota Plains. I live in a too trusting community where kids ride bike and go to parks with their friends without an adult. I hope my stories bring a little enlightenment to some of the possibilities that could happen in our area but I pray never do happen. 

Book preview

MURDER AMONGST SHADOWS

Contents

Murder Amongst Shadows

Part 1

Dilemma

Part 2

Unsettled

Part 3

Unforeseen Circumstances

Part 4

Disturbed

Part 5

The Rescue

Part 6

Rachael's Plight

Part 7

Troubled Hearts

Part 8

Seeking Closure

Part 9

The Plot

Part 10

Nightmare

Part 11

The Murder

Part 12

Getting Justice

Part 13

Finding Peace

Part 1

Dilemma

I was sitting on my bed one sunny afternoon thinking about past crime incidents and going through some case file that has been resolved... I couldn't get any rest even though I had been given a day off from work. I reminisced on the terrifying murder case that happened in Bison. The whole incident kept playing in my head. It was a bloody night. Rachael was found dead in her office; she had been beheaded and wrapped in a trash bag.

We carried out a thorough investigation and found her killers. The puzzle was solved, and everyone carried on with their lives. I ought to be elated having apprehended yet another criminal. Rachael's case was a huge one and its victory landed me a promotion, I became the most feared and respected detective in Bison. None of this made me feel better. I wasn't settled, still; something isn't right!

Could Mr. Alfred have lied about his wife's murder? Did he have a hand in her death and somehow managed to cover it up? Did I miss any sign? All of these questions need answers and who was going to provide me with answers? Do I go digging up things of the past, a case that had already been closed; reopening the case file will be ridiculous.

Detective Eddie!  Detective Eddie! You have a call. It was my caregiver standing right in front of me, calling out with her hand stretched out; I had been lost in my thoughts. It was Mr. Alfred, the late Rachael's husband. He had invited me to his wife's memorial service.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawson were rich folks who lived in Lemmon, a small town with approximately 1300 people. Their lives revolved around their successful business – they owned two large department stores that catered to the community and surrounding areas. They also served as board members for several charities throughout the area. I'd always known them as good citizens.

It was an honor to attend Rachael's funeral and pay my respects to her family. There were over 1500 attendees at the ceremony, including police officials, judges, lawyers, politicians, and local celebrities. Mr. Alfred and I got close after the death of his wife. I was the officer in charge of the case. However, we lost touch with each other after Rachael's killers were found.

The next week, I got a phone call from Mr. Alfred, Detective Eddie. I answered, Hello Mr. Alfred, how are you?

Oh, I'm fine, thank you, he replied.

He then went on to tell me that he wanted to discuss a few things regarding his late wife with me. He said he had called me because he was interested in finding out if anything had been overlooked or missed by the police during the investigation. In all honesty, I didn't know what he meant. I knew he was referring to the fact that his wife had been beheaded and wrapped up in a bag in her office. It was a gruesome incident and the entire case had been solved.

Mr. Alfred must've sensed my confusion, he told me, You know, Eddie, when I first heard about the murder, I thought it was just a terrible accident. I mean, she was an executive. She could be working late into the night. But then, I saw the evidence and realized that there was no way anyone except a professional killer could have done this. The killer did a meticulous job, leaving little clues behind. That was why I hired you to investigate the matter and find those responsible for Rachael's death...

I understood him, but I wasn't sure what to say. A cold shiver ran down my spine. Had I forgotten something? Was there more to learn?

My mind was racing as I tried to make sense of the conversation. I was trying to remember everything I had learned about the case. I remembered doing a detailed search on Rachael's computer, checking her hard drive and e-mails. We found out that she had received many threatening letters and emails before her death. One of them had warned her, 'Don't mess with me!' I had never seen or read the note before.

There was something else I hadn't thought much of at the time, the victim had a lot of enemies. Why would someone kill her, especially knowing that she was wealthy? I racked my brain to think of the answer, but nothing came to mind. Maybe I should do a follow-up on the case file, just to be certain.

After the service, I had dinner with Mr. Alfred and his daughter, Kim. They wanted to give me a token of appreciation for solving the crime. My curiosity was piqued by his offer, so I accepted.

A month later, I sat at the dining room table, sipping coffee while being waited on hand and foot. Mr. Alfred had done a great job setting up the table and preparing a delicious meal. He was wearing a suit and tie and looked sharp as ever.

Kim was sitting across the table, smiling politely, waiting for me to start talking. I felt uncomfortable but held my silence.

Eddie, you haven't eaten a bite! Mr. Alfred exclaimed.

I put down my coffee cup and picked up a plate. I took a slice of meatloaf and poured gravy over it, adding a scoop of mashed potatoes and carrots. I added a piece of spinach and some brown sauce. Then I started eating, not realizing I'd made no noise until Mr. Alfred cleared his throat and turned to look at me. Are you okay?

Yes sir, I answered quickly.

Kim's face was pale. She stared at me like I was crazy but decided to keep her mouth shut.

Mr. Alfred looked at me with concern and continued, Your eyes seem red. Are you feeling well?

No, I'm not feeling too good.

I reached for my coffee cup and drank the last sip of coffee. I was hoping Mr. Alfred would change the subject, but instead, he asked, What's wrong Eddie?

Is now a bad time to talk about it? I asked.

For a moment, the three of us were silent, looking at each other. I finally broke the silence and said, "This morning, I reread the