The replacement looked newer than everything surrounding it.
The officer carefully removed a portion.
Everyone went silent.
There was something underneath.
Not a body.
Not anything as horrifying as my mind had imagined.
It was a sealed plastic container.
Inside were several items wrapped separately.
A torn piece of fabric.
A damaged wallet.
A pair of gloves.
And a small metal object that looked like part of a tool.
I stared at them.
“What are those?”
Clare didn’t answer.
The officer carefully photographed everything before placing the items into evidence bags.
Then he looked at me.
“Do you recognize any of this?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
The wallet was opened.
Inside was an identification card.
The photograph showed a man I had never seen before.
But Clare knew him.
Her face changed instantly.
“Wait.”
She stepped closer.
“I know that name.”
The officer looked at her.
“From where?”
