The moment I finished Thunder and Strangers I turned toward the next story, a mystery. As I sat down to determine which of my investigators, or perhaps a one shot, was going to receive the nod, Kyle Rickman rose up from the depths and demanded the stage. In fact, he seemed furious that I even idly considered introducing a new investigator. Once my protagonist secured his place, I shifted my attention toward discovering the case he’d be investigating. After letting the idea settle for a while, the simplicity of the mystery solidified in my mind.
A widow walked into Insight Investigations carrying a photograph and an impossible claim. According to Elaine Mercer, her husband returned home three months after his death. Security footage captured a familiar face inside her residence, but the alarm system never sounded. This stranger moved through the kitchen with knowledge that should not have belonged to an outsider.
Kyle Rickman has built his reputation on separating fear from fact. Strange stories rarely impress him, and dramatic claims usually collapse once the details are examined closely. Yet Elaine’s account refuses to settle into something simple. A coffee maker prepared before dawn, a familiar routine recreated in silence, and a chipped mug waiting beside it begin pulling the investigation toward something deeply personal.
Dive into one of Insight Investigations’ quieter cases, where the tension grows from grief, familiarity, and the unease when someone moves through a home like they belonged there. There are no shattered windows or violent confrontations waiting inside this mystery. Only a grieving woman, a detective searching for answers, and a routine that should have remained untouched.
Excerpt of Household Routine
Kyle lowered the folder to his desk and studied the woman across from him. He rubbed the edges of his mouth as he dropped the file onto the pile. “So you’re claiming your husband came home yesterday.”
“Yes,” she said, placing her purse on her lap.
The detective placed his hand on the piles and leaned toward her. “And what’s the issue?”
“On its own, I wouldn’t have an issue with that.” Her eyes closed as she gripped the purse’s straps. After several moments she opened them and peered past Kyle. “However, his death three months ago complicates him coming home.”
Kyle gave a curt nod as he examined the file’s contents, removing a sheet depicting the woman’s spouse. He withdrew the image as he reviewed the man’s background. “Is this an accurate depiction of your husband, Mrs. Mercer?”
“Elaine please, but that’s a recent one of him.”
He placed the photo down as he claimed the paper and leaned into his chair. “Based on what you told my secretary, did he die of a heart attack?”
The woman licked her lips as she retrieved the image. “Yes, his death was unexpected.”
Kyle peered over the sheet as he nodded. He swapped sheets and reviewed the information about the widow seated before him as he drummed his fingers against his desk. “Elaine, are you certain you saw him?”
“I’m aware of how this sounds.” The woman released her breath and shook her head as she removed her phone from her purse. After unlocking the screen, she laid the phone beside the photo. “My security system captured a picture of the man who entered my residence.”
Kyle zoomed in on the image as his gaze shifted between it and her husband’s portrait. “This maybe resembles your husband.”
“I told you he came home.”
The detective slid the phone toward her, then thumped the photograph. “Of course, this could just be someone who looks similar.”
She shot to her feet and shoved the display at Kyle. “That is my dead husband.”
Kyle took the phone and locked the device. With a sigh, he laid it down and gestured at the seat. “I believe, you said your husband has died, correct?”
Elaine nodded as she reclaimed her phone and chair. “His heart attack was three months ago.”
“You have records proving his death?”
“Several official documents,” Elaine said, rubbing her forehead.
“Given the timing of his passing, I’m assuming he’s already been buried.”
She rubbed the tears from her eyes.
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