Chapter 2

The sight of Ellie standing in the doorway, her hazel eyes wide with shock and confusion, sent a jolt through Reed's system. He hadn't seen her in years, not since they'd parted ways after high school, both pursuing different paths. And now, here she was, back in Whispering Pines, and at the center of a murder investigation.

Reed shook off the initial surprise, his professional instincts kicking in. For the second time, he stepped into the room, his keen eyes scanning the scene, taking in every detail. The body lay crumpled on the floor, a middle-aged man with a look of terror etched on his face. Reed pulled out his camera and began snapping photos, documenting the scene methodically.

As he worked, he called out to his deputy, Lucas, who was securing the perimeter outside. "Lucas, start canvassing the neighbors. See if anyone noticed anything unusual in the past few hours."

Lucas nodded, his young face serious. "On it, Sheriff." He turned and headed out, leaving Reed and Ellie alone with the body.

Reed turned to Ellie, who was leaning against the wall, her arms wrapped around herself. Knowing how tough this must be for her, he softened his voice. "Ellie, I know this is a lot to take in, but I need to get your statement. Can you tell me what happened?"

Ellie took a shaky breath, her eyes meeting his. "I... I just arrived today. I inherited this house from my grandmother. When I got here, the door was unlocked. I thought maybe the lawyer had left it open for me, but when I walked in..." She gestured helplessly at the body.

Reed jotted down notes, his brow furrowed. "Do you know the victim?"

Ellie shook her head. "No, I've never seen him before."

As Reed continued his questioning, he couldn't help but notice the changes in Ellie. She'd always been beautiful, but now, even in her distress, there was a grace and strength to her that hadn't been there before. The years had been kind to her.

He forced himself to focus, examining the body more closely. That's when he noticed something clutched in the dead man's hand. Carefully, he pried the fingers open, revealing a strange talisman. It was unlike anything he'd seen, a twisted piece of metal with unfamiliar symbols etched into its surface.

"What is that?" Ellie asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and fear.

Reed frowned, turning the talisman over in his hand. "I'm not sure. But I have a feeling it's connected to how he died."

Ellie hesitated, then spoke softly. "Reed, there's something you should know. I'm... I'm a witch. I don't know if you remember from back then..."

Reed looked up at her, surprise flickering across his face. He did remember, vaguely. Whispers about Ellie's family, about the strange things that seemed to happen around them. He'd never paid much attention to the rumors, too focused on their relationship. But now with a dead body and a mysterious talisman, those memories took on new significance.

He nodded slowly. "I think we're going to need all the help we can get on this one. I'm calling in a forensic mage from Ravenswood to take a look at this talisman and the body. See if they can find any magical traces."

While they waited for the mage to arrive, Reed suggested they step into the kitchen. He could see the toll this was taking on Ellie, the shock and grief wearing on her. In the kitchen, he started a pot of coffee, the familiar ritual grounding him.

As the coffee brewed, he turned to Ellie, his voice gentle. "I'm sorry we had to meet again under these circumstances. I... I've thought about you over the years. Wondered how you were doing."

Ellie managed a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I've thought about you too, Reed. Coming back here, it's brought up a lot of memories."

She took a deep breath, seeming to gather herself. "After my husband died, I just... I needed a change. When I learned about the house, it seemed like a sign. A chance to start over."

Reed felt a pang in his chest at the mention of her husband. He hadn't known she'd been married, that she'd suffered such a loss. Instinctively, he reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Ellie. I can't imagine what you've been through. But I promise, we'll get to the bottom of this. We'll find out what happened here."

Ellie nodded. "Thank you, Reed. That means a lot."

A knock came from the front of the house. Reed went to answer it, finding a striking woman standing on the porch. She was tall and slender with rich brown skin and dark, knowing eyes. She carried a leather satchel over her shoulder, the tools of her trade.

"Sheriff Mallory? I'm Madame Sorina, the forensic mage you requested."

Reed led her inside, explaining the situation as they walked. In the guest room, Madame Sorina set down her satchel, pulling out various crystals and herbs. She began to cast spells over the body and the talisman, her voice rising and falling in an ancient rhythm.

As she worked, the air in the room seemed to shimmer and thicken, the hairs on the back of Reed's neck standing up. Beside him, Ellie watched intently, her own magic sparking in response to the mage's power.

Finally, Madame Sorina stepped back, her face grave. "There's powerful dark magic at work here, Sheriff. This was no ordinary murder. The talisman is a conduit for some kind of necromantic spell. And the residue on the body... I've never seen anything like it. It appears this person bit off more than they could chew and it killed him."

Reed exchanged a look with Ellie, seeing his own concern mirrored in her eyes. This was bigger than either of them had anticipated.

An executive decision needed to be made right then, one that felt both risky and right. "Ellie, I know you came here looking for a fresh start, but your knowledge of magic could be invaluable in this investigation. Would you be willing to work with me on this? Help me unravel what's going on in Whispering Pines?"

Ellie was quiet for a moment, weighing his words. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Yes. If there's dark magic threatening this town, I want to help stop it. And..." She paused, her eyes locking with his. "And I trust you, Reed. I always have."

Reed felt something stir in his chest at her words, a warmth that had nothing to do with the coffee he'd been drinking. As they stood there, the dead body and the forensic mage fading into the background, he knew this was just the beginning. The beginning of the investigation, and perhaps, the beginning of something else entirely.

But for now, they had work to do. A murder to solve, and a dark magical threat to uncover. Together, the sheriff and the witch, just like old times.