Within the Shadows by J.D MCG (knowledgeable books to read .txt) 📕

'I know. It goes well with the D.I.D theory,' replied Jacob.

'And I'm starting to believe it even more after seeing that footage. I don't think he meant to kill his wife.'

'Sometimes killers can put on the best performances, worthy of an Oscar.'

They caught up with Barnes who was informing Brian on the footage when Sarah returned clutching an evidence bag in her hand. Inside the clear bag sat a bloodied hammer.

'Guess what I've found,' she smiled with a cheesy grin.

'The missing piece of the puzzle,' Barnes said. 'Brian, I need you to see if this van has been reported missing. Sarah, can you look into our victim and her past? We need to find out if she knew Jack Roberts and if this is connected or just some random killing. Jacob and Ally, I need you both to re-interview Jack and see if he can elaborate on who this woman is to him. I'll inform her parents of what's happened here.'

All of them dispersed and went their own ways with their current tasks, leaving Barnes staring into the van, taking one last look at Natalie Dixon, laying inside unrecognisable.

Belle arrived home to a dark, empty apartment. Where is everyone? she wondered as she made her way through to the kitchen. She worried about Kate after seeing her storm out of the cafe to meet the guy who claimed to be her real father. What if he’s taken her? I'm sure she's fine. Horrible thoughts kept drifting through her mind.

Belle switched the kitchen light on and placed her dinner in the oven. After her shift, she’d gone for a few drinks with Ben, trying to take her mind off Kate and their argument, before arriving home. Her ears could hear keys jingling from the door. Kate made an appearance as she arrived home and Belle stormed over to her, angry and upset from worrying.

'I've been worried about you!' she shouted. 'Where have you been?'

'With my dad. My real dad,' she replied with a cocky tone.

'You can't trust this man, not yet anyway. There must be a reason why your mum never told you about him,' Belle tried to explain, but Kate just walked past her, not giving her the time of day. 'You can ignore me all you like, but I'm worried for you, Kate, and so are your brother's.'

Kate turned back to face Belle. 'I've told you, they're not my brother's. And you're not even family, so why do you care?'

She slammed her bedroom door shut, leaving Belle alone once again. She released a tear from her eye, thinking about what Kate had said. "You're not even family." Them words hit Belle hard. She thought she'd finally found a family, but she must have thought wrong. Feeling the need to move on, Belle searched through websites on her phone, looking for a place to rent. It's going to be a long night, she thought.

She sat down on the sofa, flicking through her phone, when she decided she needed some background noise. So she turned the TV on, and her eyes witnessed the horror of a news story. The reporter was telling the story of a body found inside a van. The news crew had snippets of the car park and the detectives coming out. Belle caught a glimpse of Jacob and his team. She knew he wouldn't be home anytime soon and that she'd be all alone with her thoughts.

She decided to call Ben, asking him to meet as she didn't want to stay in the apartment a minute longer. He agreed to see her and go for dinner, so she turned the oven off, grabbed her coat and headed for the door. She paused momentarily, wondering if she should talk to Kate, but the anger rose up inside of her by her comment earlier. She shut the door behind her, not giving Kate a second thought.

Barnes arrived at Natalie Dixon's parents home, not wanting to break the news to them. As he stepped up towards the front door, Barnes noticed it was slightly ajar. Pushing the door open slightly he poked his head through, unsure of what he'd find. Making his way through the hallway, something caught his eyes below him. A few dark spots on the carpet, he wondered if it was what he thought it was. Could it be blood?

Barnes entered the living room, still too dark for him to get a clear image of his surroundings. His fingers found the light switch and once the light reached the room, all he could see was a man and a woman tied to chairs, decomposed.

'I think I've found Mr and Mrs Dixon,' he said, pulling the phone from his pocket. 'Jacob, I've found her parents and they're dead. They appear to have been tortured. I need you and Ally to press pause on that interview for the moment and get down here.'

'Yes, boss,' Jacob replied before Barnes hung up.

Barnes called it in and arranged for another forensic team to canvas the house. A thought crossed Barnes' mind. Did he grab Natalie from her home? But why kill her parents? It's defiantly starting to look as if this was a targeted murder.

Ally and Jacob arrived moments later, seeing Barnes sat outside of the house.

'What happened?' Ally asked.

'I came up to the house and saw the door was open. I entered and found them in there like that,' Barnes explained.

'Okay, boss. Forensics should be here shortly,' Jacob informed him.

'I don't get it. Why would Jack Roberts want them dead? Plus there are no signs of blood or lacerations on either of them. This doesn't fit Jack's M.O,' Barnes continued.

'Maybe it wasn't,' Jacob spoke up his theory.

'What do you mean?'

'Don't forget, we still have a fourth suspect out there.'

'Esther!' Ally yelled.

Forensics and