The tea set made a rattling noise as Vera Meyers shuffled in from the kitchen. When Ben jumped up and took the tray from here she let out a breathy laugh.

“Thank you my dear.” She panted and lowered herself into an overstuffed armchair, smoothing down her skirt with spotted hands. With her birdlike head slightly cocked to the side she offered them some fragrant tea and homemade biscuits that reminded Kate to her own grandmother. Even the creaky chairs and the faded floral cover on the sofa was like Nan’s. She was just looking around in the room when something caught her eye. She’s seen that face not so long ago.

“Those are my grandsons, Peter and Robbie” said Vera Meyers following Kate’s gaze to the shelf packed full of photos.

“We’ve met Peter earlier this afternoon,” Kate said as she picked out a tiny square cookie with an almond on top, not showing just how surprised she was. She’s been a city girl, not used to small towns where everyone seem to be related to one another in some ways.

“Such a sweet boy.” The old lady sighed. “I’m really lucky to have him around. The boys… they are all the family I have left. Their parents… I mean my son and his wife… they died in a car crash when the boys were just ten and twelve. I took them in, and tried my best to raise them well. Robbie, he was so serious – didn’t even like being called Robbie. ‘My name is Robert’, that’s what he always says. Peter was different. Very sensitive. He was such a troubled child.”

Vera Meyers fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in her memories. The silence was only broken by the grandfather clock’s monotonous ticking, and the soft crunching as Kate popped in another biscuit.

“Troubled?” Kate asked eventually.

“Ah, well,” Vera said, and her voice quivered, “Losing their parents was hard on both them, but especially on Peter. He couldn’t really connect to his classmates, seemed like he didn’t find his place. He started making up stories, it was like he lived in his fantasy world, got himself in trouble with the teachers. Later he became acquainted with these older boys. You know, not so nice boys.”

Vera’s eyes got misty as she continued. “I didn’t know how to help… It was when…” she suddenly stopped and shook her head. “But he’s fine now. Got this job at the French place. He really seems to enjoy himself. Such a good boy!”

Kate was crunching on a gingersnap when Ben got down to business.

“About this morning –“

“Oh, yes… yes, of course,” Vera Meyers interrupted him and lifted her cup to her mouth with a trembling hand. “You are not here to listen to an old woman’s ramblings.”

“It must have been a real shock to you Mrs. Meyers,” he said, and the old lady nodded. “I know you already spoke to our colleagues this morning, but do you mind telling us again what happened?”

“Oh dear,” Vera Meyers said in a shaky voice. “Terrible business…”

“Take your time,” Ben said and patted Vera’s wrinkled hand.

Vera Meyers took a deep breath. “I was out there, taking my Pickles on our usual morning walk. When we got to the forest, near the abandoned warehouse, he suddenly became excited. Just kept jumping up and down, yanking his leash. I let go of it before he could rip my arm out and he just took off! I tried to follow him, but the snow was deep and the undergrowth too thick… I saw him sniffing at something. At first I thought he found a dead animal… Then I saw the legs.”

Her voice became shaky and her hands found their way to her neck where they curled around a golden cross, hanging from a delicate necklace. “Oh, those bare legs… I called the police, but I couldn’t bear being near her. I knew… I just simply knew that there was no hope.”

“Have you noticed anyone around?” Kate asked.

“No… Everything was just so quiet…”

The front door opened with a loud bang, and Vera Meyers startled. A young man appeared in the doorway, and Kate recognized him from the photos. Robert. “Gran, I didn’t know you have visitors.”

“These nice detectives are here to ask me some questions about… you know…”

Robert walked over to his grandmother’s chair and wrapped a protective arm around her bony shoulders. “I don’t think they should bother you with this,” he said and shot a cold look at Kate and Ben.

“This is quite impo –,” Kate said.

Robert nodded with an exasperated expression. “Just keep it short, will you? My grandmother is quite frail, and this has been quite an ordeal.”

Vera beamed at his grandson. “I’m all right, dear. Don’t you worry about me.”

Robert Meyers looked doubtful, but left the room nevertheless.

“He’s been having a hard time too,” said the old lady. “Broke up with that girlfriend of his recently and moved back home. We all thought they are getting married soon… But what am I talking about again? You wanted to know about this morning. I’m afraid there’s nothing else I can tell you.”

Vera Meyers looked apologetic as her gaze shifted over the detectives’ head. “Unless…”

Kate swallowed hard, just when Ben leaned forward and rested his elbow on his knee. “Unless?”

The old lady shifted uncomfortably in hear seat. “I’m sure it’s nothing…” She seemed to be in a debate with herself.

“You’ve seen something, haven’t you?” Kate asked and fought against the sofa cushion to sit up straight.

Vera Meyers sighed. “It’s not that,” she said and sounded like she already regretted mentioning anything. “More like what I felt.”

“What you felt?” Kate repeated. “You mean, like a smell?”

The old lady clearly looked tortured by now. “No, not a smell,” she said firmly. “A presence!”

“Somebody was there?” Kate asked and looked at Ben who was leafing through his notepad.

Ben held up a hand briefly, so she let him continue. “You didn’t mention this to the officer who questioned you this morning. Officer Sanchez, if I’m correct?”

Vera Meyers nodded, then shook her head. “No. I mean yes… I mean…” she looked suddenly lost.

When Ben spoke, he was very quiet. “Take a big breath, Mrs. Meyers. You are safe here. Is there something that worries you about the officer?”

The old lady’s mouth twitched. “Oh, God no! Fine young lad he is. But still… You know how it is. For him I’m just a crazy old lady. He wouldn’t have listened. I was hoping Sadie will be there. She’s such a sweetheart, don’t you think? She doesn’t think I’m crazy…”

“Mrs. Meyers,” Kate said quietly, trying to get the other woman back on track. “You said there was –”

The old lady’s head was bobbing up and down like apples in a tub at the Halloween festival. “Yes! I felt clearly the presence of evil!” She drew a cross in the air, then hugged herself tight. “I think the person who did this left his aura there. Maybe I would feel it again if I ran into him in town!”

Kate made a humming sound and ran a hand through her hair. Ben closed his notebook and carefully placed his pen back in his pocket. “Thank you for your time, Mrs. Meyers. Your grandson is right. You should try and relax, take your mind off the events of this morning.”

“I hope you catch soon whoever did this,” Vera said, and shook her head. “It’s not how it is on TV… I used to love detective films, I was actually watching one with Peter last night, but I’m not sure I will be able to look at them the same way after this.”

Ben looked sympathetic as he spoke again. “Those are just stories, Mrs. Meyers. You have nothing to worry about. Brilliant tea, by the way.”

A smile lit up the old lady’s face. “Why, thank you, my dear.”

They were already outside when a familiar voice called them out. “Found anything, detectives?”

Kate scrunched up her eyes and pressed her fingers to her brow before turning to the source of the voice. “Good bye, Pierre-Peter!” she said and waved at the waiter running up from the end of the lane.

*

No amount of coffee was helping anymore. Her limbs felt like they were made of lead as Kate plopped down next to Ben on the sofa at the station’s break room and covered her eyes with her arm.

“When will we receive Aruna’s report?” she asked, peeking out under the crook of her elbow.

“Should be ready on Monday,” Sadie Briggs replied, hovering at the door.

“Thank you, Sadie. You should go home now. It’s been a long day,” said Ben as he rose to his feet.

Officer Briggs took a tentative step toward him, then stopped and ran a hand through her honey coloured hair. “Well, good night, detectives,” she said and left the room.

“She’s great, isn’t she?” Kate said, nodding to the spot where Sadie Briggs stood just moments ago.

Ben gathered his jacket and bag from the chair he dumped them when they got back from Vera’s. “Are you ok to drive?”

Kate shook her head and smiled under her nose. “You are unbelievable. You know that, right?”