Rise and Fall by A.L. Kessler

Author:A.L. Kessler [Kessler, A.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2021-10-31T05:00:00+00:00

Liz and I followed the address out east to where they were starting the development of another gated community. A couple of houses had already popped up, and in front of one of them were all the emergency crews. We parked behind them and got out. Caution tape was already up, and a few officers were standing around chatting when Liz and I walked up.

“Well, at least the press isn’t here yet,” I muttered as we flashed our badges and ducked under the tape.

Liz snorted. “Come on, your favorite person in the world is Stephanie.”

“You know, someone should check that lady out. I swear she’s weaseled her way into places that she’s not supposed to.”

“Have you ever checked the database on that?” Liz asked as we started toward the house.

I shook my head. “Never actually crossed my mind.”

We stopped when we got to Mason. “Do you want to take a guess at where the body is?”

I didn’t even give him an eye roll. “Basement, it’s always the fucking basement.”

“Wrong, attic.”

Liz and I stared at him for a moment. “I’m sorry where?” I asked, making sure I heard him correctly.

“In the attic. New homeowner went up there to see about the insulation, because they thought the house was too cold. Found a body, no insulation. Like the attic had never been touched. The smell isn’t bad enough yet to come through the rafters.”

“Well, that’s a new one.” I followed him through the house.

We stopped at a pull-down ladder and Mason stepped to the side. “Up you go. Try not to step between the beams, or you might go through the ceiling.” He handed both Liz and me headlights.

I put mine on. “But there’s an adult body up there and it hasn’t fallen through?” I smelled dead body and tried not to gag.

“You’ll see why when you get up there.”

I grumbled and went up the ladder first. I had to crouch and balance on two-by-fours to make sure I didn’t accidentally shove my foot into a random room.

I saw what Mason meant. The woman’s body was hanging from the rafters by her wrists, her body in a weird arch, her back almost brushing the floor of the attic. There was no pool of blood under her, but dried blood caked her naked body. I wrinkled my nose as I moved closer. Liz came up behind me.

“Well, shit.” She duck-walked closer to me, keeping her balance on the wood.

My light bounced off the woman’s face, and I sucked in a breath. I knew this woman. So did Liz. Our only suspect in the case.

Monica Parks.

“Fuck.”

Liz nodded. “Seriously fuck.”

The sound of creaking wood surrounded us, and I looked at Liz a moment before the rafter holding the body broke and busted through the attic floor, taking us down as well.

I cried out as my limbs flailed around, trying to get into a position to break my fall. Liz turned over and landed without getting hurt. Whereas I, in all my grace, landed half turned on my side.

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