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 3: The Ledger

The mansion seemed quieter today, its walls steeped in a stillness that felt unnatural. Ian wandered through Eleanor Montgomery's study, the faint smell of lavender mingling with the damp scent of rain that had seeped into the house overnight. A heavy oak desk dominated the center of the room, its surface cluttered with papers, books, and trinkets that spoke of Eleanor's meticulous life.

Ian pulled on his gloves, his gaze scanning for anything unusual. His hand brushed against a leather-bound notebook, its edges worn and pages filled with Eleanor's neat handwriting. He flipped it open, revealing lists of names, dates, and cryptic notes that seemed out of place for someone known as a philanthropist.

Richard Ashcroft – 12th August

Victoria Hale – 18th September – Payment received

Henry Blackwell – Pending discussion

Crimson Hour Meeting – 1st October

Ian froze. Crimson Hour. The name from the torn envelope. The same symbol etched on the mirror. He flipped through more pages, finding references to "society dues" and "silent agreements" that painted a picture far removed from Eleanor's charitable persona.

Sheriff Evelyn stepped into the room, her boots clicking against the floor. "Found anything?" she asked, peering over Ian's shoulder.

"More than I expected," Ian replied, handing her the notebook. "It looks like Eleanor was involved in something bigger than herself. These names… they're people in power—politicians, business owners, even a judge. The Crimson Hour isn't just a name. It's an operation."

Evelyn frowned, her finger tracing one of the names. "Henry Blackwell. The mayor?"

Ian nodded. "Eleanor's death isn't random. Whoever killed her didn't just want her silenced—they wanted this," he gestured to the notebook, "buried."

As Evelyn examined the notebook, Ian's thoughts shifted back to Clara. Her insistence that Eleanor had been murdered held more weight now, but her cryptic comments about Victor Caldwell still troubled him. Was Victor tied to this? Or was Clara hiding something deeper?

The study felt darker as Ian placed the notebook back on the desk. The truth was surfacing, but with it came the realization that Eleanor's death wasn't the end of the mystery—it was just the beginning.