We Are Watching

By Ivan Skilling

Too little love can hurt. Too much love can kill.

Hot-blooded policeman, Thomas, is restless. Stuck handling petty crimes in his quiet hometown, he craves a real case to show his mettle. Then, his old schoolmate Sandra returns, trading the spotlight of her stalled singing career for a teaching job. Her arrival shakes up his routine, giving him something to look forward to.

But her return doesn't go unnoticed. Scandals swirl and a shadowy stalker lurks. When a shocking death shatters the peace, Thomas is thrown into a whirlwind investigation. As he digs deeper, he realizes Sandra is hiding more than she is letting on.

In a town where secrets fester behind closed doors, Thomas must decide. Will his feelings for Sandra blind him to the truth or will he uncover the mystery before more lives are lost?
 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Three Bits Books
• Release date: May 17, 2025
• ISBN: 9798231094981

Ivan Skilling

Ivan Skilling loves to stay indoors and put on his adventurer's hat when crafting new worlds and thrilling action plots. Living vicariously through his strong and complex characters, he explores different genres from the perspective of a Southeast Asian storyteller, drawing deeply from the experiences of his culture. When he's not writing or devouring a new book, you can find him at the foosball table.

Book preview

​D Day

The lake hummed with a deafening silence, its still surface concealing secrets hidden within its depths. Beautiful nature like this was one of the reasons why Will enjoyed living in a small town with his wife, Elise, far away from the hustle and bustle, nestled deep in the woods where no one could hear you holler. The air was fresh, the view was scenic, and the community was close-knit and welcoming. Such an idyllic setting seemed to only exist on a postcard but here he was, living it. What more could he ask for?

Standing on the boat, he watched the water ripple, distorting his reflection. He lowered a finger and gently skimmed the surface. Water’s going to be cold.

Beside him, Elise scoffed. Scared?

No- He yelped as Elise shoved him off the boat and into the water. Ice cold shot up his spine. Landing with a splash, his arms flailed for a few seconds before he surfaced with a gasp.

Elise, you-

Interrupted by a larger splash, he sputtered as water droplets hit his face. He pivoted around to see a laughing Elise beside him.

It is cold! she exclaimed with a giggle.

He wiped the droplets off his face and grinned. He splashed water on her face in retaliation. You little devil!

Elise yelled as the cold droplets stung her skin. Okay, okay! Let’s do this!

See who can dive the furthest?

I might beat you this time since you didn’t eat much.

Will snorted. Don’t bet on it.

He dove into the depths of the lake before she could count to three. As the cold water enveloped his body, he felt like he had entered a different world - one that was pure and untouched by mankind. One where all the pettiness, evil, and cruelty in the world melted from existence. His strong legs propelled him deeper and deeper. He snuck a glance to his right where Elise was matching his speed. The corner of his lips curled up in a grin. She had improved. But not enough to beat him.

He pushed himself further down where the blue melted into the darkness. A small school of fish swam by him, dragging his attention to the cute creatures. His movement slowed. He altered course, trailing behind the fish as if he were one of them. Elise noticed him coming and pointed a thumb towards the surface. She was running out of air. He gave a thumbs-up, watching her curl into a ball before swimming back up. Smiling to himself, he mentally patted himself on the back for beating her yet again.

He followed the school of fish for a few seconds until he felt his breath running out. Ready to push off, he tucked his legs in when something caught his eye. A large, unnatural shape lurked further down in the darkness, unmoving. It didn't look like a rock and there weren’t any big fishes in this lake. Not of that size, at least.

His curiosity was piqued. But the deficit of air would bring him more trouble if he didn’t surface. He made a mental note of the location and launched himself up. He broke the surface with a loud gasp. Delicious, fresh air filled his lungs. He gave a shake of his head, flinging off droplets of water.

You win.

He swiveled his head to see Elise bobbing towards him. Grinning, he stuck his thumb out. Of course I did.

She snorted and flicked water at him as she neared. Stop the preening.

He coughed between laughs.

So, want to go for a second round?

Yeah. He pinched his nose, clearing it of water. I thought I saw something down there.

A rock?

Nah. Can’t be.

Humming in thought, Elise frowned. Be careful, Will. I’ll go back to the boat first.

Yeah. It’s right down here, so you can bring the boat this way.

Will do. I’ll watch out for you.

She reached a hand out to cup his cheek and planted a quick kiss on his lips. He watched her swim for the boat, half-checking to make sure she was fine and half-admiring her ass. His lips curled up in a perverted snicker. He had an inkling of what he wanted to do for the next part of the day.

But first things first. He took a deep, calming breath and slipped the snorkeling tube back into his mouth. Folding himself in, he plunged back into the depths. The sound from above was cut off. Without Elise around for company, an overwhelming sense of solitariness enveloped him. It was both calming and unnerving.

Evening out his strokes, he reached the area where he had last stopped. The dark object was a few feet away but the light from the sun couldn’t quite reach it. He slowed down. Better not to spook it. Squinting against the dark, he could see the long shape was around five to six feet and completely still.

Recalling that this new snorkeling mask came with a light, he thumbed the button on the side of his ear. A dim white cone of light came on. It caught a corner of the object, illuminating thin strands of... hair?

Will frowned. Was it a thread?

He pivoted in the water, adjusting the angle of the light. He followed the strand until it joined together into what looked like the back of a head. Cold seeped into his body. A small voice screamed at him to turn back. His heartbeat quickened, filling his ears with a loud thrumming.  He swam down, letting the light drift past the hair. His body tingled with a mix of anticipation and lack of oxygen. His gaze followed the tendrils of hair down to a dark material.

Further down.

Down.

And then... a hand.

Will let out a gasp. Bubbles of precious air left his lips. He panicked, his arms and legs flailing. Feeling light-headed from the lack of air, he almost lost his sense of direction. He twisted his head left, then right, and then up. A glimmer of light from above beckoned him. Pivoting, he kicked his legs as fast as he could. His arms thrashed with desperation.

He could see the blinding light of the sun. Daylight. Hope. Away from the morbid thing lying at the bottom of the lake. A burst of adrenaline pushed him up. The corner of his vision was blurring. His lungs were burning. His legs kicked in one last effort and suddenly, he broke surface. He gasped, breathing in a lungful of air. His arms hit the water with a splash as he moved erratically.

Will! What’s wrong? Elise’s concerned face looked down at him.

Still taking in large breaths, he lunged towards the boat and threw his arms around the edge. Elise removed his mask and cupped his cheeks in her hands. Her voice was firm and calming. What happened?

Will’s eyes focused on Elise. He sputtered the ominous words, feeling it take a life of its own.

T-There’s a-a dead bo-body.

​May 8

[1 month earlier]

01:33

@sansan4ever: yo peeps. I was scrolling through my feed and found this cute pic of Sandra from like eons ago. Can’t link it here, so check my page.

@mr-drake: *whistles* boooy that is one hot piece of ass!

01:42

@modthebod: Hey, anyone heard news about our goddess lately? I checked her Insta, her Twitter, FB, whatever... still nothing. I’m getting worried.

@mr-drake: chill man~ give the girl some timeout, dude. she’ll be back

THE ARTIFICIAL ILLUMINATION from the city’s skyscrapers combined with the twinkling stars above to bathe the night sky in a dazzling light show. Sandra always thought the city lights outshone the stars. It’s why she loved the city more than her small, quiet hometown in the middle of nowhere.

It was here in the city that she shone the brightest. Her round eyes sparkled with nostalgia as she recalled the spotlight bathing her in its brilliant light, the roar of applause, and the adulating eyes of her admirers. How she would miss all those beautiful, branded clothes that she adorned for her performances, the makeup sets, and hair stylists that cost a fortune. Yet here she was clutching the handle of her single trolley bag, wearing sunglasses, a hand-me-down tee, and baggy drawstring pants to hide her shapely body. This was what her life had come to.

She looked out the floor-to-ceiling glass pane at the blinking lights illuminating the runway below. Her gaze followed a plane speed down the long runway and take off. Within seconds, it was lost in the sky, another dot blanketing the dark canvas. Sandra tossed her long, wavy hair over her shoulders and sighed. When she was a kid, she had dreamt of flying in a plane and going somewhere magical. She was only eighteen when that dream came true. Or so she thought.

Seventeen years later, she was back at the same spot, watching her high-flying career come to a heart-wrenching stop. She shook her head. She could not think that way. This was a small downturn, another obstacle to overcome like the rest. Everything would go back to normal - she just had to lie low for the next few months.

Everything would be normal again.

NORMAL WAS THE NEW boring, Thomas thought as he yawned. He rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand and stared at his old watch. Only fourteen minutes had passed since his short nap. He dragged a hand through his mussed-up hair, causing a few stray strands to fall back into its traditional side parting, one side almost long enough to graze his eyelids.

His sharp eyes regained focus. Cupping his clean-shaven jaw, he leaned back in his seat, forcing a loud creak out of the old, unoiled office chair. From his desk in the middle of the police station, he appraised the small, crowded room with the sullen disapproval of a veteran who has seen better days. Everything in the room screamed old, from the peeling white paint to the squeaking of the overhead fans. The faded billboard hanging on the wall was almost empty, save for a few community announcements. A single movable whiteboard was covered with scribbles of routine tasks.

He looked around at the half dozen desks or so and their owners. Most of his colleagues were middle-aged and preferred to spend time chit-chatting around the pantry at the back. He couldn’t fault them for that. After all, in their small town where everyone knew each other, big crime cases were almost non-existent. Save for the one in 1973 where some guy blew up a pinkie for stealing chickens.

The crimes they dealt with these days were typically disturbances of peace and the occasional vandalism. The most severe case they had was shoplifting. Never a sniff of drugs, or arson, or homicide. That was why he had left for better prospects in the city. Young and full of vitality, he had poured all his energy into his job, even if it was only directing traffic and writing tickets. Maybe, just maybe, he had been overzealous and given the wrong person a ticket. He had not thought he was in the wrong - still didn’t - and the price to pay for his pride had been a demotion.

Back home now, he was considered the young rookie by his colleagues despite him almost being thirty. The eager one who had lots to learn. But he knew he had the mettle to be a good cop. All he needed was the right case to prove it. Tough luck getting that here in a dead town.

The front door burst open, letting in a blast of hot air. A rotund, middle-aged woman with short-cropped hair marched in, her police cap sandwiched under her arm. She slapped her pudgy hands on Thomas’s desk.

We have a big case, she announced.

Her voice boomed in the small room and Thomas snapped up in his chair. A wide grin lit his face. His eyes danced with excitement.

What happened? Is it a bank robbery? Street mugging? Murder?

The woman’s jowls quivered uncontrollably until she burst into laughter. When her guffaws died down, she shook her head. I’m teasing you, Thomas. Nothing happened.

Thomas deflated. His lips turned down in a scowl. That’s not cool, Marsha. You had me pumped up for nothing.

I wanted to see your reaction, she chuckled.

Unable to remain mad at her, his expression melted into a mixture of resignation and disappointment. It’s just... you know how much I want to work on a big case.

I know. She flashed him a maternal smile and patted him on the shoulder.

Thomas sank back in his chair.

But on a more serious note- Marsha’s expression turned somber. It’s good there are no big cases in this town. And I hope it remains that way.

Yeah, Thomas replied half-heartedly.

Well, back to work, she chirped before walking to her desk.

Thomas’s gaze followed her before flitting back to the glass door and the monotonous view outside. Under his breath, he muttered, Dear god, I would kill for one big case.

​May 10

21:02

@sansan4ever: hey @modthebod, you heard anything about Sandra yet? Getting a little bored here trawling old pics.

@modthebod: Maybe.

@sansan4ever: ? What do you mean by that?

@modthebod: Not sure yet. Getting some info but I’ll let you guys know, don’t worry.

21:25

@mr-drake: yo man, you better not keep us in the dark @modthebod. don’t be keeping Sandra all to yourselfs.

21:27

@modthebod: You don’t like how I deal with stuff, then fuck off @mr-drake.

SANDRA’S BREATH HITCHED as she rounded the corner in her rented car. After almost twenty years, the old neighborhood still looked exactly the way she remembered it. Identical two-storey houses lined the road and her house sat at the very end of it.

It was almost dinner time, so most people were inside, but Sandra brought her car to a crawl in case any children darted out. She took her time looking around, noticing the newly-tarred road and the abundance of toys scattered in the front yards. Her quaint neighborhood had grown in size and by the looks of it, was much better maintained. As she neared the end of the street, her eyes settled on her second childhood home. The white paint was peeling in places but the house didn’t look as decrepit as she thought it would. There was grass in the front yard - that was a good change. All in all, it looked almost the same as when she had left it.

According to the current land owner, he’d only rented it out twice over the years. The previous tenant had taken good care of it, so there wasn’t much need for maintenance. Not many people came to the small town, so he had been happy to rent the house to Sandra, especially when he found out who she was.

Or had been, she mused bitterly. At least her ex-celebrity status had earned her a discount. Who knew the landowner would turn out to be a fan? She slowed to a stop, turned off the engine, and stepped out of the car with her purse. The front gate wasn’t automated, so she reached into her designer clutch bag and fished out the keys. As she fumbled with the lock, not getting the right key the first time, a hoarse voice made her jump.

What are you doing? Are you a thief?

An elderly woman stood behind the fence, squinting at her through a pair of thick-rimmed glasses. With her frizzy white hair and baggy blouse and plants that clung to her thin frame, the woman looked like a witch out of a children’s movie.

Oh no, Sandra laughed. I’m the new tenant here. Still trying to figure out which key is which.

Met with silence, her laughter trailed off awkwardly. She cleared her throat and extended a hand. I’m Sandra by the way. Nice to meet you.

The old woman eyed her but did not take her hand. Dina, she said after a long pause.

Sandra smiled as she retracted her hand and wiped it on her short pencil skirt. Not sure how to proceed with the conversation, she pointed a finger towards the house. Well umm, I guess I’d better be going.

You know, Dina interrupted before Sandra could take a step. The previous tenants were always so noisy.

Sandra stared blankly at Dina.

The old woman jabbered on. Always yelling at the top of their voices, you know. Always quarreling with each other. That’s why they ended up in a divorce, of course.

Sandra pursed her lips. She folded her arms across her chest. What’s your point?

The old woman bristled and regarded Sandra with contempt. Well, I wanted to warn you that I don’t take kindly to any loud noises. I’m a light sleeper and it is absolutely horrible to be woken up in the middle of the night. So no late-night parties or trysts with boyfriends or-

You don’t need to worry about that. I won’t be around much. Sandra’s fingers wrapped around the right key and she jammed it into the lock. It gave way easily. As she opened the gate, she turned to Dina and gave a sarcastic smile. Oh and by the way, I’m single.

Not bothering to wait for a reply, Sandra walked back to her car, got in, and slammed the door as hard as she could. A look in her windshield showed a seething Dina, her cheeks stained red in fury. Sandra gave a smug wave before starting the engine and driving into her garage. By the time she exited her car and approached the gate to lock it, Dina was nowhere to be seen.

Good riddance, she mumbled before securing the gate and heading in.

Well, that was a warm welcome. Back inside her old home, she heaved a sigh of relief. She stood in the hallway with her luggage and took in the dreary surroundings. Dull wallpaper lined the walls and a murky carpet covered the floor. She grimaced. The previous tenants had terrible tastes.

The hallway branched off into the kitchen and living room but she would explore that later. Sandra hoisted her trolley bag and headed up the staircase that led from the hallway, the stairs creaking under her weight. She noticed the photos that used to hang on the wall beside the staircase had been replaced with paintings that purportedly increased the energy of the space.

At the top of the stairs was a small corridor that led off to two bedrooms - to her left was the master bedroom. She barely glanced at it before turning to the right. Her old bedroom looked almost like how she remembered it. The posters of singers and pop divas were taken down but the bed, dressing table, and cupboard were left untouched. She placed her luggage against the wall and plopped down on the bed. The springs squeaked but it had lost quite a bit of its bounce. Sandra looked around the room. It was drab and lacked character, except for the light pink walls that had faded since she had lived there.

At least the previous tenants had kept it neat. Everything was in good condition and there wasn’t much to clean. As she sighed, her roving gaze fell on the open door that led to the master bedroom across from her. Unlike her room which still caught the last of the evening sun, the master bedroom was shrouded in darkness. Sandra could make out the outline of the large king-sized bed and the long wall-length mirror behind it. Her lips turned dry as she recalled the unmade sheets, the tangle of bodies, and that unwelcome sound. Fingers curled into the mattress beneath her. Her throat tightened, and with it, the familiar ache in her chest.

The walls closed in on her until all she could see was the synchronized movement of shadows. Her breath rattled in sharp and shallow gasps. A familiar numbing sensation spread from the tips of her fingers down to the soles of her feet. Her vision blurred and she thought she was floating.

Through the haze of anxiety, her mind screamed at her to get out of there. Sandra grabbed her clutch bag and stumbled out of her room and down the stairs. She was out the front door in a flash. Not bothering to take her car, she headed for the gate, opening and closing it with a resounding slam. She hurried down the sidewalk with no clear destination in mind. She needed to put as much distance between her and that house - that bedroom.

Her high heels beat a frantic rhythm on the pavement as she sped-walked through the neighborhood. The smell of food and peels of laughter that drifted from the houses melted into a blur. She wrapped her arms around her chest to protect herself from the icy cold settling into her bones but the cold came from inside.

She had to get away from all this. Setting her sights on her feet, she concentrated on putting one foot ahead of the other. Soon, the pavement and gated properties were replaced by road sidewalks and empty countryside. The more she walked, the calmer she felt. The fresh night air helped soothe her burning lungs and her breathing returned to normal. Before she knew it, she had reached the small convenience store a few blocks from her home. She had not been paying attention to her surroundings but muscle memory had led her to her old haunt.

Nothing had changed in her absence. There was still a hair salon around the corner, along with an old pub. In the distance was the town center, across a large empty field. She hesitated outside the store, wondering whether to turn back and head home, now that she felt better. But a growl from her stomach reminded her that the kitchen was still empty.

She pushed the glass door open. A blast of cool air welcomed her along with the tinkling of a bell. Grabbing a basket from the entrance, she walked down the aisles in search of her dinner. With her mind pleasantly occupied by shopping, the tension in her body lessened and the unwelcome memory from before was shelved away in the recesses of her brain. She focused on mentally listing some necessary household items, grabbing items off the shelves as she walked past. She didn’t notice other customers until a tentative voice called out.

Sandra? Is that you?

Spinning around, she came face to face with a boyish-looking, young man. He had a squarish face and angular jaw that accented his sparkling, round eyes. In his hand was a very full shopping basket which, she noted, held a good variety of healthy foods. He seemed familiar but no name came to mind.

She flashed him a polite smile in response. Yes. And you are...?

It’s me, Thomas! From high school, remember?

The name rang a bell, bringing back memories of a skinny-looking kid who used to hang around her group of friends. He had grown into a handsome man, although his geeky choice of a simple tee and three-quarter cargo pants reminded her of the old Thomas.

Oh my god, it’s been so long, Sandra exclaimed. I do remember you. How have you been?

I’m doing fine. What are you doing back here?

Just taking a long break from work. In the meantime, I’ll be teaching art at our old school.

That’s awesome! So you’ll be staying here for a while then, I guess? Thomas bubbled with enthusiasm.

Yeah, a few months or so. How about you? What’s your work about?

Oh, me? Thomas rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. I’m a police officer.

She had not pegged him as the police type. Then again, she recalled he was into detective novels when he was young. Besides - she discreetly checked him out - it seemed like he was working out.

That’s cool. She winked. Hey, don’t arrest me if you catch me speeding.

Ah of course I won’t- I mean I will arrest you-

Blundering over his words, Thomas’s ears turned red when he caught Sandra holding back her laughter. I-I meant...

It’s alright. I’m just kidding, Sandra chuckled. He was so fun to tease.

Oh right, Thomas laughed sheepishly, his eyes averting her gaze.

A buzz had him fumbling to fish out his phone. He glanced at the screen, grimaced, and pushed it back into his pocket.

Sorry, I have to go. A tinge of disappointment colored his voice. But it was nice to see you again.

Nice to see you too.

Thomas turned to leave but hesitated before spinning back to face her. Oh hey, you know, if you want company or anything, just give me a ring or drop by my place. We can catch up or drink or-or...

She swallowed down a chuckle. The usual Sandra would show disgust at his bungled attempt to invite her into his bed. But Thomas was different.

Sure, she said. You do check Facebook right?

Thomas perked up and dipped his head. Yeah, you can private message me if you want.

Great, I’ll see you around then.

A shade of pink tainted Thomas’s cheeks. As Sandra watched his receding back, she felt a rush of warmth through her body. She smiled to herself. Maybe it wasn’t so bad to be back home.

YOU FORGOT TO BUY THE spring onions again? I’m starting to think you’re doing this on purpose, Thomas.

Thomas groaned and slapped his forehead. Damn, I knew I missed something.

Oh drop the pretense.

I’m serious, Tamm, Thomas fixed his sister in an earnest gaze. I was going to get it but along the way, I met someone.

Tamm rolled her eyes as she set the table for three. You know, if you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. You’re a policeman, Thomas - at least learn to lie properly.

But I’m not lying!

Tamm placed the last plate on the circular, wooden table, wiped her hand on her stained apron, and turned to look at him. With one hand on her hip, her sharp eyes bore into his. Thomas gulped under her scrutiny. His elder sister was the figure of authority ever since they were kids. A single look from her was enough to have him scuttling for safety. Now that they were older, her thick, frizzy hair and long diamond-shaped face accentuated the sharpness of her expression even more.

He held his breath as she looked at him squarely. Then Tamm lifted her hands in defeat. Fine. So who is this someone you met?

Do you remember that girl I used to hang around with when I was a teen?

Her face scrunched in thought. Then, Tamm snapped her fingers. Was it that wild, pretty girl who was older than you? The one whose mother was a mistress to some rich guy?

Yes, yes! Sandra, remember?

A smirk grew across Tamm’s lips. You still like her after all these years? I didn’t know my little brother was this loyal.

Red bloomed across his cheeks. He spun towards the kitchen, busying himself with bringing out the glasses of water. He heard Tamm chuckle in the dining room and he grimaced, wishing he hadn’t brought it up in the first place. When he re-entered the dining room, he averted his eyes from Tamm. But as he placed the glasses on the table, he felt a hand ruffle his hair.

Alright, I won’t tease you, Tamm said between muffled laughter. So how is she? Why is she back?

Thomas grumbled under his breath. He glowered at her for a moment before sighing in resignation. He could never stay angry with her for long. She’s good. She looks as radiant as before. Apparently, she’s taking a break from work. So she’ll be teaching art at our old school.

Tamm raised an eyebrow. A break huh. Interesting.

Yeah, I guess Shawn will be seeing her in school. Where is that boy by the way? Thomas looked around the house, trying to catch a glimpse of his nephew.

Tamm’s shoulders raised in a shrug as she ran a hand through her long hair. Where else? Probably stuck to the computer or his phone again.

Noting the hint of frustration in her tone, Thomas patted her shoulder. Want me to talk to him?

She shook her head and flashed a weary smile. Maybe later.

Before he could ask further, a young voice with a playful edge rang out in the room, followed by light footsteps padding down the staircase. Did someone call my name?

Dinner’s ready, Shawn, Tamm called out before heading back to the kitchen when she heard the oven ding.

Thomas watched as a mop of black hair peeped out of the stairwell. At the sight of his nephew’s impish smile, Thomas chuckled. Were you eavesdropping?

The lanky teen skipped the last few steps and landed on the floor with a loud thump. He ambled towards Thomas and dropped into the chair across from him. A wide grin still splitting his lips, he grabbed a fork and poked at the vegetables on one of the dishes. I wasn’t eavesdropping. Just happened to listen in.

Shaking his head, Thomas sighed and pulled out a chair before settling down on it. His nephew was wearing a new horrid sleeveless graphic tee that hung off his bony shoulders in an unflattering way. But baggy was the new trend and apparently, so was showing off one’s armpits. Despite the terrible outfit, he couldn’t help but gaze at his nephew with an affectionate smile. It was hard to dislike Shawn with his winning smile, small puppy eyes, and sweet words. But the teen was difficult to handle at times since he feared no one, not even his mother.

Fear was like a double-edged sword - destructive if used wrongly, but sometimes needed to guide someone back on the right path. Thomas’s stomach curled at the memory of being whipped to within an inch of his life. Pushing the thought away, he focused his attention on Shawn instead.

So you heard what your mum said about you being too addicted to your phone?

Shawn gave a careless shrug, one hand already digging into his shorts pocket for his phone. It was as if the phone was a magnet that sucked the kid’s hand to it. Thomas always wondered what young people nowadays were doing on their smart gadgets the entire time. Facebook? Games? His eyes would tire of looking at the screen after an hour. Maybe he was