The sun shines brightly through the eastern window. A welcoming sight after the past week of cold blizzardy days. Toni and her detective Jamal are chatting about the new cop show while waiting for the crew.

"Did you see that shoot out at the end? And what about the chase?" Jamal leans forward in his chair and continues, "I don't know who's writing that shit, but whoever it is needs replaced."

Laughing, Toni nods and adds, "they couldn't even get the Miranda warning right for gods sake."

Jamal chuckles and says, "I caught that too. I think we should give them a few tips on what police work is really like. Maybe bring them on a ride along or two, give them a taste of what we do."

"They need all the help they can get, that's for sure."

Toni graduated from the police academy ten years ago. She became a detective in four years and a sergeant five years later. She cut her teeth in narcotics then switched over to homicide after her sister's demise. She continues to work on her sister's case in her spare time.

"If we searched the house in real life, the way they did on the show we'd all be dead."

"I know." She looks over to find the captain heading towards their desks. "What's up captain?"

"We have a double homicide at the Cadwell estate. I need you two out there asap."

"We're on it, sir."

***

The two arrive to find rookies stringing crime scene tape across the iron fence. The forensic and ME vehicles are parked along the curb.

"Who was first on scene?" Toni asks the first officer she sees.

"We were, sergeant," a buff man says, stepping up beside her. "My partner and I were responding to a follow up on a domestic call. He points to a petite woman beside him before he continues, "yesterday evening, a neighbor claimed she saw the couple arguing on the lawn. The owner of the house, Steven Cadwell grabbed the lady by her arm and dragged her inside despite her begging him to let her go."

"And you're just following up today?" Toni asks, shocked by the lengthy delay.

"No, no. Another officer came out last night, but didn't find any reason to arrest. Both the homeowner, and the woman, Lisa Moore claimed they had a small disagreement but that it's settled now. The same lady called again today, saying Lisa, who is also her sitter, didn't show up for work this morning. The neighbor says she went to check on her, but she didn't answer the door, or her phone, and that Mr. Cadwell's car was still in the drive."

"What did you initially see when you first arrived?"

"The gate was standing open so we proceeded to the house to find the front door was slightly ajar. We called out and no one answered so rang the bell, and again there was no response. My partner pushed the door open and that's when we saw the homeowner Steven Cadwell lying unresponsive on the stairs. We went in to check on him but he was already gone." His face pales, shifting his weight, he nervously glances up and asks, "exigent circumstances allowed us to do that, right? Enter the premises without a warrant."

Toni remembers what it's like when she first started out, always having a superior breathing down her neck. She places a hand on his shoulder and says, "I'm not looking to jam you up. I just want to know what you saw."

"Right." he says, relaxing a bit.

"So you found the homeowner and then?"

"We decided to check the house for the woman and that's when we found Lisa Moore on the kitchen floor. She has fresh bruises on her arms, legs, and face. She also had a handprint around her neck."

"What about him? Did he have any wounds?"

"His knuckles were bloody, and his face was scratched, but that's about all."

"Did you check the security footage?"

"The system was never set."

"Check the neighbors cam's see if they have anything."

"Yes, sergeant."

She turns to find the ME stepping out of the house. Walking over, Toni asks, "What can you tell me, Bill?"

"My educated guess is that he strangled her to death. I found petechiae in her eyes, on her scalp and face. She also had bruises around the mouth and a swollen tongue."

"And him?"

"I couldn't find an apparent cause of death on my initial exam."

"What's the approximate TOD?"

"According to their body temperature, I'd say it happened yesterday evening between four and six."

"Let us know the minute you know more."

He nods. "I will."

"Here's something interesting," Jamal says, glancing up from his phone.

"What did you find?"

"Steven and his first wife Tess had their divorce hearing last Friday."

"Do you have an address for her?"

"Her last known was here, and her employment record only shows one job. A dinner she worked at five years ago."

"I think we should see if anyone at the restaurant can tell us anything."

She and Jamal are walking across the yard when Williams and his partner steps in front of them. "Sergeant, there's been a report of another homicide. A man and his wife, three blocks from here."

***
Tess sees happy children playing in the park. Their mother's have them so bundled that they can hardly move, but the kids don't seem to mind as long as they can be outside. She's watching the children when a snowball smacks her in the face. She turns to find a chubby, red faced child being dragged across the park by his infuriated mom. Her faded tan coat, scarf and gloves look like they'd seen their better days years ago.

"You apologize to this nice lady, Henry." She says, letting go.

He kicks at the snow around with the toe of his boot, looks up and stampers, "sorry ma'am."

"I'm sure you didn't mean to hit me."

"No, ma'am." He glances around the park, points to a kid around his age and says, "I was aiming for him."

Seeing the kid sticking out his tongue Tess says, "I understand."

"Can I go now, mom?"

"Go have fun."

"Hey Henry," Tess calls out. A snowball smacks him in the face as he turns. "Now we're even."

Chuckling, the kid runs for his friend.

Tess starts to walk away when the woman asks, "do you have any children?"

"No, not yet."

"Oh." Tension builds between them as the mother stands at the edge of the park trying to find more to say.

"You have just the one?"

"No, I have two boys, Jack and Henry. Jack is the one standing by the swings," she says, pointing to an older boy talking to a group of friends.

"They're both very handsome."

"They look like their dad."

The woman nervously watches the growing crowd, clearly wishing she were anywhere but here.
She glances over at a group of parents cackling, knowing they're laughing at her. Straightening her coat. With teary eyes, she turns and says, "It's sure been cold these past few weeks."

That subtle act of swallowing her emotions, and that resolute grasp on inner strength reminds Tess of her mom. The way she, similar to this woman acts so out of place, uncomfortable in her own skin. How the townspeople belittle them, making both feel unworthy of the tiniest things. It was their harsh criticism that caused mom to end her life. Tess thinks. She glares at the cackling hens, and says, "I can't wait for winter to be over."

"Me either," the woman shivers.

As worn as her clothing is Tess doubts it could be very warm. "I better get going before my employer sends a search party for me."

"Nice talking to you."

"You too." Tess starts to walk away when a thought suddenly comes to mind. If someone would've been kind to mom maybe she'd still be around. Turning she asks, "Would you like to grab a cup of coffee, sometime?"

"I would love to, but I don't know when I'd have the time with the boys home from school and all."

"Tell you what, I'll give you my number so we can meet up some other time, alright?"

The lady smiles. "I'd like that."

Tess sees the group laughing as they point to her new friend. She glares at the snobby group and thinks, you won't be laughing when I get through with you.