The tea kettle whistled, prompting Lesley to grab a mitten. She slipped it over her hand and reached for the kettle's handle. Carefully tilting it, she poured the hot, steamy water into her favorite mug, emblazoned with her alma mater, Stony Brook University's logo.
She tore open the wrapper of a Chamomile tea pack and pulled out the teabag. Placing it into her mug, she allowed it to steep and disposed of the wrapper in the trash.
With her mug in hand, she casually strolled into Nick's office until she heard her phone ping, halting her in her tracks. She quickly turned around and went back into the kitchen, where she had left her phone sitting on the countertop.
While setting her mug on the counter, she answered in a soft tone, "Hello?"
"I'm warning you!" A male's voice career through the phone, causing Lesley's heart to jump into the pit of her stomach.
"Excuse me?" Lesley asked in a shaky voice.
"You aren't a detective! Stop trying to act like one!" The voice warned, "If you don't stop investigating the Leah Meyers' case, you and your husband are dead!"
Startled, Lesley swiftly ended the call and gripped the counter with her hands. She breathed heavily.
What was that all about? She wondered.
Her intention was not to hurt anyone; all she wanted to do was help the community of Arcaden put an end to the truth about what happened to Leah.
Why couldn't anyone understand that all I wanted to do was help? Lesley thought.
Frustrated, she plopped on the couch and crawled up. Rocking herself back in forth. Nobody was going to scare Lesley out of continuing her investigation; she didn't care who they were or what high positions they held. She refused to be intimidated.
One fact that resided within Lesley's heart was the fact that Leah was depending on her to get her the much-needed justice she deserved.
Settling into his leather swivel chair, she made herself comfortable and set her mug on the oak wood desk.
Flipping open Nick's laptop, she pressed the power button, turning it on. Lesley would occasionally use Nick's office now and again until Nick could get a contractor to come in and convert their spare upstairs bedroom into a personal workspace for Lesley.
Setting her fingers over the keyboard, she typed in Nick's password, and the timer icon loaded.
Grasping the handle of her mug, she picked it up and took a gentle sip of her tea. Laying her hand over the mouse, she veered the cursor over the browser icon and double-clicked. The webpage loaded.
She typed " Darlene and Celia Arcaden, NY" and hit the search button. The icon spun as it was gathering results. Lesley could only hope that there were any results. Without a last name to input, she had little faith.
However, a news article from seven years ago appeared. Celia's volleyball team at Arcaden High won their regional division title, making them regional volleyball champions.
Impressive. As she scrolled through the article, Lesley thought, reading Celia's remarkable volleyball stats. Nothing of importance stood out to her besides the report being dated seven years ago. If Celia was a senior seven years ago, that meant Leah was also a senior. Yet, Jackie had told Nick and Lesley that the drowning had occurred just last year. The time periods weren't adding up.
This is strange. Lesley thought, growing frustrated.
She zoomed in on the volleyball picture, and something struck a cord within her as her eyes focused on a young girl in the back of the photo. She wore an infectious smile, and her long dark hair waved down her back. The girl resembled Leah.
Suddenly, Lesley was disrupted by the chime of her phone.
She picked it up and placed it to her ear. "Hello?"
"Hey, Les!" Nick's voice boomed into the phone." I found out something quite disturbing today."
"What?" Lesley pulled the phone closer to her ear.
"I'll tell you more about it when I get back." Nick promised.
"I have to tell you something..." Lesley tried to inform him about the mysterious and threatening phone call she received earlier that day, but Nick interrupted before she could finish.
"My flight is departing now. See you soon, Les. Love you!"
Lesley heard the phone click, indicating Nick had ended the call. A piercing sting traveled through her body, and a wave of sadness washed over her.
She began to wonder what Nick needed to tell her as well. However, she tried not to worry about it because if it were urgent, Nick would've warned her about whatever it was.
***
After an evening yoga session, Lesley and Denise decided to go out for a couple of cocktails at the local bar.
As Lesley made her way inside. The bar was small but not so quaint. She'd been there a few times with Nick when the bar was a full house, but that evening was different. There were only a handful of patrons inside, mostly elderly, retired men who dedicated their evenings to a beer or two. Many of the patrons knew one another, given the fact that Arcaden was a tight-knit community where everyone knew everyone.
As she ventured further in, all eyes were on her. Some of the locals hadn't ever seen her before and were curious about who she was.
Lesley strolled up to the bar, where she was greeted by the bartender, a tall muscular man with a ponytail.
He didn't look like the typical Arcaden local, but he did look like a New York local.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" He asked while wiping down the bar with a worn burgundy-colored rag.
"Yes, I'll have a Martini, please."
Denise stepped into the bar while Lesley was waiting for the bartender to finish making her drink.
Denise found Lesley in no time, given how small the bar was.
"Hey Les!" She greeted with a wide smile.
"Hi, Denise!" Lesley reciprocated her smile.
Denise settled on the leather stool next to Lesley and ordered a Bloody Mary.
Once their drinks were finished being made, Lesley and Denise found their way to the back of the bar and sat at a small round table to gain some privacy.
Sipping their drinks, they laughed and shared many fond memories from college. Until Lesley's face appeared sullen prompting Denise to ensure she was alright.
"Is everything ok?" Denise gazed into her eyes, "You look a bit sad."
Lesley shook her head, "I don't know anymore," she replied in a low, sad tone, "I received a call today from a man threatening me to stop investigating the Leah Meyer's case or else Nick and I would end up dead."
Denise gasped in shock, "What!?" She asked, "What a sick psychopath!"
Lesley nodded.
"Do you have any idea who it could be?" Denise scotted closer to the table, "Did the voice sound familiar?"
Lesley shook her head, "No, it didn't." She replied, "I'm suspecting it's an enraged Arcaden resident."
Denise shook her head in disbelief, "Report it to Officer Todd." She informed, "They may be able to track that phone call and find it who it leads back to."
"Yeah, I'm gonna let him know."
A shroud of silence hung between them until Lesley decided that it was probably the perfect time to touch on the subject of the retired city councilman.
"So, Denise," Lesley said, her eyes fixed on her drink, "I really need your help locating this retired city councilman."
Denise's heart skipped a beat, and a wave of heat rushed over her. She leaned closer to Lesley and spoke in a hushed tone.
"Lesley, I'm sorry, but I can't get that information for you. Gary could potentially lose his job as a city councilman if that gets out."
Denise moved in closer to Lesley. "Whoever that man was, he was protected by some big-time movers and shakers. Gary doesn't even want me to talk about it anymore. He told me to bury it."
Lesley sighed heavily. "Oh, he's one of those. Just as I had suspected," she said, shaking her head.
"Yeah, I don't know who it is, Lesley," Denise said apologetically, "But I know if it gets out, whoever he is has enough influence to ruin your life."