The Last Snowfall, Rebeka P. [best ereader for academics .txt] 📗

The end was nearing. He was going to kill me. The man I fell in love with not but a few moments ago…How can I escape?

It was nearing December 1st. Snow was lightly falling from the cloudy, grey sky. Sondra was enjoying the hospitalities of the little café she was eating at. A blueberry muffin and hot chocolate lay in front of her. She couldn’t stop reliving through those last few moments with John. John, who was blue-eyed, brown hair, tall, strong, and 5’6, was Sondra’s latest boyfriend.
Sondra smiled a happy smile. Their departure from each other was not a very nice one:

I was sitting on the bus station bench, waiting for John to arrive. It was past 2:30, almost hitting 3:20. I glanced around me, unsure if I should delay any longer. I was almost late for my appointment with a client. I worked for a detective named Lue. My appointment was at 5:30. I really didn’t want to risk being late, seeing as how this case was an important one. I flipped my cell open and dialed John’s number. It rang…and rang…and rang…I let it ring a few more times before hanging up. Annoyed, I wiped black hair out of my face. I couldn’t stand sitting. I got up and started pacing the length of the little bus station. Every time someone entered the station I stared at them in hope. And every time I was disappointed. I tried calling John again. It rang twice then he finally answered. “John! Where are you? I’ve been here since 2:27. You were supposed to meet me at 2:30 remember?” I demanded, fighting the annoyance in my voice. “I’m sorry,” John replied, not sounding sorry at all. “I completely forgot about it. I’ll be right down.” Click. He hung up on me. He hung up on me. Annoyed I sat back down. No since in standing, I thought aggravated. A few more minutes passed then John finally came sailing through the door. He grinned at me for a fleeting second before reading the outrage in my eyes. “You forgot.” I stated flatly. “Sorry.” He replied. Keeping his voice light…why? “I got caught up in work.” Immediately I got suspicious. “You didn’t have work today. It’s Saturday.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Doesn’t mean I can’t have work today.” “You missed three busses and a taxi while you were ‘working’. I have an appointment I have to get ready for. I’ll wait with you until the next bus comes.” John shot me an annoyed glace. “Sorry Sondra. I meant to tell you this sooner but…it’s over. I can’t leave town for a month and not find someone to occupy my time with. I don’t want you anymore.” Surprisingly, I didn’t care but at the same time…I did. “Fine. I’ll leave you to it then.” I snapped then gathered up my bag and purse and left the station. I fought tears until I reached town. I decided a café would be a nice place to rest before my meeting.

Sondra blinked a few times, coming back to reality. “Are you done, miss?” a waiter asked as he passed by. “Yes, thank you.” Sondra replied while paying. She left a three dollar tip then gathered her things and left. She caught a taxi and headed toward her office. It was 5:00 already. Wiping away a tear that had escaped her she told herself that she would not mourn over her breakup. It wasn’t real.
She paid the fare then walked into her office building, preparing for her meeting. Lue walked into her office a few minutes after she arrived. Lue was 27, two years older than Sondra. He noticed the red around her eyes. “Boy trouble?” He asked lightly. Sondra nodded. “He broke up with me. I waited a good hour for him too.” She stifled a sigh. “Well, what else have you found for our case?” “Sara was found leaving the scene moments before Linda’s death. The reporter of this accusation is unknown and the reported is not liable. We need solid evidence of more than one person. Proof.”
Sondra nodded. “Yes, proof is always good. Have you heard more from Linda’s family? Friends?” “No. Not from what they’ve told me…look…I understand if you don’t want to meet with Sara tonight. I could take over from here and you can go home and rest.” Sondra shook her head. “No. I’m fit for this meeting. Besides, I’m not going to let this whole breakup thing get to me. It’s his loss the way I see it.” Lue grinned, “Indeed it is. Well, here’s the file you’ll need. I told her to come in a few minutes earlier than expected. She should be here any minute.” He winked at her then left.
Another few minutes passed by as Sondra flipped through the files Lue gave her. “Cause of Death: Suffocation, bruising, beaten, poisoned, stabbed. Attacker: Unknown. Victim: Linda Jines. Date of Murder/Death: 11/25/10. Suspects: Sara Johnson, Dale Greenworth, Emily Walkman. Current/Previous Meetings: Previous-Dale Greenworth 11/27/10. Previous-Emily Walkman 11/29/10. Current-Sara Johnson 12/01/10. Authorities: Detective Lue, Detective Sondra. Witness of Death: None.”
She flipped the file closed when she heard the office door opening. A few moments later Sara walked in. Sondra stood to greet her then offered her some water and a seat facing the desk. “Hello, Sara. I’ll skip the petty introductions and be very blunt with you. I’m a detective. You’re here to tell me everything you know about Linda Jines’s death.” As Sondra said that, Sara stirred a little.
“Come now,” Sondra stated calmly. “You must know something about her death. We were informed that you were seen fleeing the scene moments before the body of Linda was found. Is this true…?” Sondra left the question floating in the air. She was a rare detective. One of the many reasons Lue hired her. Sondra solved nearly all of her detective cases and got straight to the point. Hinting at things others overlooked. Answering conclusions and thoughts that weren’t spoken aloud.
The atmosphere in the office got very tense. Well, tenser for Sara. Sondra was used to this kind of atmosphere. She lived it everyday. Sara opened her mouth to speak then closed it. Clearly thinking her answer through. “I never knew Linda…what time did she die?” “Where were you at on November 27th, 2010?” Sondra cut in. “I was at my sister’s helping her wrap presents.” “Really?” Sondra put in. “I just recently met with your sister the other day. We were out shopping and happened to run into each other.
“Out of curiosity I asked what she did the 27th of November. She asked me why so I told her. She was appalled. I told her she didn’t have to answer since I wasn’t on duty. She said no worries and told me what she did that day. She baked cookies at her grandmother’s house. Now, I’ll ask nicely one more time. Where were you at on November 27th, 2010?” Sara moved uneasily in her chair. “I was at…I was at…” “It’s okay if you feel ashamed for being there but I need to know why you where there in the first place. Please don’t lie to me.”
Sara looked away from Sondra quickly and then back again. “Alright, fine. I didn’t know her but my mother wanted to drop off a package at her house. It was filled with books and a few sweets that Linda had a favor for. When I got there her boyfriend, John, yelled at me and told me to leave or he would hurt me. I quickly gave Linda the box and left. I freaked. I called the cops not but five minutes later. I just don’t want him to hurt me!” Sara was close to tears when she finished. Sondra was used to this though.
“What was John’s last name?” Sondra used a gentler tone than earlier. “Spree. John Spree.” Sondra felt shock flitter across her face before she concealed it. She pulled out a photo of Linda. She had curly brown hair that reached her shoulders. Bright green eyes and pale. She was very pretty. John stood me up that day too, Sondra speculated. “Is this the girl you gave the package to?” She asked Sara, holding the picture out to her. Sara gasped, nodded, then started crying, sobbing.
Sondra picked up the phone and dialed Lue’s office number. He immediately picked up. “What’s the matter?” He asked urgently, hearing Sara’s sobs in the background. “Meet me in the front room. It’s urgent.” Lue agreed then hung up.
“I’ll be right back.” Sondra said gently to Sara. Sara looked up, her eyes puffy and red from crying. “I won’t be long.” Sondra promised. “I just need a quick work with Detective Lue.” Sara nodded. With that matter dealt with, Sondra left her office, closed her door, and headed toward the front room. It was two doors down from her own office.
Lue was already there, waiting. He cast Sondra a worried glance then looked away. “Lue, Sara says that John Spree was Linda’s boyfriend. That he was there when she delivered a package to her. He threatened to hurt her and she left, calling the police a few minutes later. Lue, it’s the same day when John stood me up. I waited and waited for him to show up at my house but he never came. Then you called and informed me of Linda’s death. Today he was leaving town for a month. Lue! He’s fleeing!”
“Slow down!” Lue replied. “Why do you believe this girl’s story over the other two’s?” “Because, Lue, it makes sense! Come here. We’ll go back to my office and you’ll see the girl for yourself. She’s in pieces over it.” Lue nodded and followed Sondra back to her office. Sara was still crying when they entered.
“What did John look like?” Sondra asked as she sat down behind her desk again, taking out a piece of paper and pen. “He had blue eyes, brown hair, kind of tall, and looked very strong. That’s all I was able to make out before I left…please!” she pleaded. “Don’t let him find me! I can’t bear to think of what he’d do to me if he found out that I turned him in!” “Don’t worry Sara; we won’t give away your identity. We’ll escort you home and—“NO! Not to my empty house!” “Okay, then your sisters. We’ll call you to let you know if we find him.” Sondra finished.
She gave Lue a look and he smiled. “You were right.” He replied quietly. “We’ll take my car. It’s unmarked and faster than yours.” Sondra nodded. She offered Sara’s hand. “Come on, we’ll take you to your sister’s now.”

About thirty minutes later they were driving north, toward the town John was headed to. Lue was driving. Sondra looked out her window then down at the touch screen in her hand. It was like a laptop but with out the keys attached. She fiddled around on the screen until she got to John’s files.
“Here it says that he’s just purchased a ticket to Wales. I’m not sure what town he plans on going to but it’s somewhere near I’m sure. We’ll find out when he uses his card again if he does.” Lue nodded.
“Look Sondra. Are you sure you want to do this? I mean…is it going to be hard for you to decide what’s what with John being the accused murderer?” “No. I’ll be fine. How can I like a murderer?” Lue laughed and reached over to entwine his hand in