crucifyheaven

Detective Ian Wren thought he had escaped the ghosts of his past, but the murder of Eleanor Montgomery pulls him into a web of deceit that threatens to unravel Hollow’s Edge. Eleanor was more than a philanthropist—she was the keystone of the town’s power dynamics. Her death exposes dark secrets tied to the elusive Crimson Hour Society, a shadowy group with ties to corruption and betrayal.

As Ian investigates, he uncovers layers of lies, each piece revealing deeper connections between Hollow’s Edge’s elite and Eleanor’s tragic demise. But the closer Ian gets to the truth, the more dangerous the game becomes. With each passing hour, Ian faces threats, red herrings, and the ghosts of his unsolved case—forcing him to confront his own failure and unravel the darkness hiding in plain sight.

In a town where trust is fleeting and redemption comes at a price, Ian must uncover the truth before the Crimson Hour strikes again.

The Crimson Hour

Chapter 2: Shadows of Suspicion

The storm had lessened by morning, but the thick, gray fog clung to Hollow's Edge like a shroud. Detective Ian Wren stood at the edge of Eleanor Montgomery's estate, staring out at the quiet town below. The estate was perched atop a hill, an imposing figure of wealth and power that seemed to cast judgment over the people who lived in its shadow.

The scene from last night replayed in his mind: Eleanor's lifeless body sprawled on the crimson rug, Clara's trembling voice insisting her mother had been pushed, and that strange spiral etched faintly on the parlor mirror. None of it added up. The mansion held answers, Ian was sure of it, but the truth would take time to unravel.

The soft creak of a door brought Ian back to the present. Sheriff Evelyn Cross approached, her expression as grim as the weather. "The coroner's preliminary report came in," she said, handing Ian a file. "Blunt force trauma to the head, consistent with a fall. But there are signs of a struggle—bruising on her wrists, shallow scratches on her palms."

Ian flipped through the report, his brow furrowing. "It doesn't scream accidental, does it?"

"No, it doesn't," Evelyn agreed. "Clara's insisting someone killed her mother, but she hasn't been forthcoming with details. You'll get more out of her than I will."

Ian nodded. Clara Montgomery was next on his list, but he needed to approach her carefully. Her grief was raw, her emotions volatile. He needed her to trust him, to confide in him.

Inside the mansion, Clara was seated in the grand dining room, a steaming cup of tea cradled in her hands. The morning light streaming through the large windows did little to soften her pale complexion. Her eyes, bloodshot from a sleepless night, fixed on Ian as he entered.

"Miss Montgomery," Ian began, his tone gentle but probing. "Thank you for speaking with me again. I know this is a difficult time, but I need to ask you a few more questions."

Clara's grip on the cup tightened. "You already know what happened," she said, her voice low. "Someone killed her. I don't know why you're wasting time asking me."

"I understand how you feel," Ian said, taking a seat across from her. "But I need your help to prove it. You were here last night, in the house. Did you hear or see anything unusual before your mother's… fall?"

Clara hesitated, her gaze dropping to the table. "There was an argument," she admitted. "I wasn't in the room, but I heard voices—my mother and someone else. A man."

"Do you recognize the voice?" Ian pressed.

She shook her head. "No, but they were yelling. I thought it was just another one of her fights with Victor."

Ian's interest piqued. "Victor Caldwell, your father?"

"He's not my father," Clara snapped, her voice sharp. "He's my mother's ex-husband. And yes, they had a habit of screaming at each other. But he wasn't supposed to be here last night."

Clara's lips pressed into a thin line. "Because she told me. She said she wasn't going to let him back into her life, not after what he did."

Ian studied her carefully. "And what did he do?"

Clara's expression darkened. "You'll have to ask him yourself."