Detective Carter stepped aside to let them pass, but as Marcus walked by, he placed a subtle hand on his arm. "We need to talk," he said quietly, his voice pitched low enough that Linda couldn't hear. "Alone. There have been... developments."
Marcus nodded almost imperceptibly, understanding the gravity in Carter's tone. Whatever developments he was referring to, they likely weren't good news.
Linda led them into the familiar warmth of her living room, a space that hadn't changed much since Samantha's last visit. The same floral couch, the same family photos on the mantle—though Samantha noticed there were gaps where pictures of her used to be. Her mother had either moved them or... she didn't want to think about the alternative.
"Sit, sit," Linda said, gesturing to the couch while she settled into her favorite armchair. "Carter, could you put on some coffee? This feels like a conversation that's going to require caffeine."
