Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Sawyer sat in his car, the engine idling quietly as he gathered the strength to face the task ahead. The exhaustion from the long night weighed heavily on him, both physically and emotionally. His mind replayed the gruesome scene from the alley, the brutalized body of Lindsey Gill haunting his thoughts. Now, he had to do the hardest part of his job: notify Lindsey’s parents of her death.

The Gill residence was a modest, well-kept home on a quiet street. Sawyer drew in a deep breath before stepping out of the car and making his way up the walkway. The morning sun had just broken over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood that felt completely at odds with the grim news he was about to deliver.

As he walked up the path to the front door, his heart pounded. He paused for a moment, steeling himself, then knocked. The sound seemed to echo in the stillness of the morning. A few moments later, the door opened to reveal Lindsey’s mother, Mary Gill, her face etched with worry.

"Detective Reed," she greeted him, her voice trembling. "Have you found Lindsey?"

Sawyer swallowed hard, his throat tight. "Mrs. Gill, may I come in?"

Mary’s face paled and she stepped aside, allowing him to enter. The house was filled with pictures of Lindsey—smiling, vibrant, full of life. The sight of them made the task even more heart-wrenching.

Lindsey’s father, John, appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, his expression a mixture of hope and fear. "Detective, any news?"

Sawyer took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. "Mr. and Mrs. Gill, I’m very sorry to have to tell you this, but we found Lindsey last night. She... she didn’t make it."

Mary’s knees buckled, and she sank into the nearest chair, a strangled sob escaping her lips. John’s face crumpled, and he reached out to steady himself against the wall, his eyes filling with tears. “Are—are you sure?”

Sawyer gave a small nod. “I’m sorry.”

"No... No, not our Lindsey," Mary cried, her voice breaking. "She can't be gone."

Sawyer felt a lump rise in his throat as he watched their world shatter. He wished he could do more, offer some comfort, but he knew that nothing he said could ease their pain. "I'm so sorry for your loss. We are doing everything we can to find the person responsible."

John clenched his fists, his knuckles white. "She was our baby girl. How could this happen?"

Sawyer shook his head, his own eyes moist. "We're going to find out—I promise you that. Lindsey deserves justice, and we're not going to stop until we get it."

Mary sobbed uncontrollably, and John moved to her side, holding her tightly. They clung to each other, their grief palpable. Sawyer stood there, feeling utterly helpless.

"Is there anything we can do?" John asked after a long moment, his voice hoarse with sorrow.

Sawyer glanced at Mary, then tipped his head at Mr. Gill. “Could I speak with you for a moment?”

John patted Mary on the shoulder, and with a few reassuring words, moved toward Sawyer, a question in his eyes.

“Mr. Gill, we’ll need someone to identify her. If you’re not feeling up to it?—”

“No.” John’s voice was hard when he spoke. “I want to see her.”

Sawyer dipped his chin. “Of course. I can take you to the Medical Examiner's office."

John's face fell, but he nodded resolutely. "Let me get my coat."

Sawyer knew that look; there was still a small part of the man that held out hope that the police were wrong, that Lindsey was still alive and well. He understood the need to see her with his own two eyes.

The ride to the Medical Examiner's office was quiet, the silence thick and heavy with dread. John stared out the window, his hands clenched in his lap. Sawyer could feel the man's anxiety, and his stomach twisted violently. He hated this part of the job.

When they arrived, Dr. Tom Seidel met them at the entrance. He spoke gently to John, his voice soft and soothing. "Mr. Gill, I’m very sorry for your loss.”

John nodded a little distractedly. “Can I see her?”

“Of course.” The doctor gave a slow nod. “Before we go back, I should warn you—due to her injuries, Lindsey might look a bit different."

John's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Sawyer stepped in, his tone respectful but direct. "She was badly beaten, Mr. Gill. We can do a physical viewing of the body, or if it's too difficult, we can use a recording. It's your choice."

John's eyes filled with tears, but he shook his head. "No, I need to see her. I need to be sure it's her."

Sawyer and Dr. Seidel led John to the back room. The cold, clinical atmosphere seemed to amplify the tension. Dr. Seidel pulled back the sheet, revealing Lindsey's battered body. Sawyer stood close by, ready to support John if he needed it.

John sucked in a sharp breath. "Oh, God... Lindsey..."

Sawyer's heart ached as he watched John break down, his shoulders shaking with sobs. Lindsey's face was almost unrecognizable, her features distorted by the violence she had endured.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Gill," Sawyer said softly. "I wish we could have found her sooner."

John nodded, unable to speak. After a moment, he took a deep breath and turned to Sawyer. "Thank you for letting me see her."

Sawyer and Dr. Seidel gently led John out of the room and back to the car. The drive back to John's house was just as silent as the drive there, but the silence was now filled with grief.

When they reached John's house, the older man looked at Sawyer, his eyes red and filled with pain. "Promise me you'll find the person who did this, Detective. Promise me."

Sawyer met his gaze, his own eyes filled with determination. "I promise, Mr. Gill. I'll do my best to bring them to justice."

John nodded, his expression resolute despite his grief. "Thank you."

“Mr. Gill, if I may…” Sawyer passed him a card. “Dr. Nadine Turow is a grief counselor. You might want to give her a call.”

John studied the card as he extracted it from Sawyer’s fingers. With a small smile of thanks that didn’t reach his eyes, the older man slipped from the car and was gone.

Sawyer watched as John walked back into his house, the weight of the promise he had just made pressing heavily on his shoulders. The faces of Mary and John Gill, broken by grief, lingered in his mind.

He would do everything in his power to catch Lindsey's killer. She deserved that much. And so did her family.