Jon was not the only one feeling the pressure. Kate had taken it upon herself to do her own investigation, using every resource and connection she had to dig deeper into the shadows of Willow Creek. She visited pces that she never thought she would, talking to people she never thought she would have to talk to. But she was determined to find the truth, for Maggie and for herself.

  With no car of her own, she would have to take her bike into town. She started with Maggie's workpce, a small local bar, two blocks away from their house. Maggie had been employed there as a bartender. However, Kate noticed that more recently, Maggie had switched to working only the day shift. This change made Kate wonder if something significant had occurred to prompt the adjustment.

  Kate walked into the dimly lit bar, the familiar sounds of clinking gsses and soft chatter filling the air. After pausing by the door to take in her surroundings, she approaches the counter, where a bartender with a neatly trimmed beard and a warm smile was wiping down gsses.

  "Hi, can I get you something?" the bartender asked, looking up as she approached.

  "Actually, I'm hoping to talk to someone who worked with Maggie," Kate replied, her voice steady but ced with emotion. "She was my roommate."

  The bartender's smile faltered slightly, and he nodded. "I'm Ben. I started working with Maggie when she switched to the day shift. I'm really sorry for your loss."

  "Thanks, Ben. It's been tough," Kate admitted. "I was hoping you could tell me a bit about her time here. Did she ever mention anything unusual or anyone who might have seemed... off?"

  Ben leaned on the counter, thinking for a moment. "Maggie was always so full of life and energy. Everyone here loved her. But as far as anything unusual or anyone creepy, she never mentioned anything like that to me. She seemed pretty happy here."

  Kate frowned, “Do you know why Maggie switched to the day shift?"

  Ben looked up, a somber expression crossing his face. "Yeah, she asked to change a couple of weeks ago. Said she needed some time in the evenings for personal reasons."

  Kate furrowed her brow, concerned. "Did she say what the personal reasons were?"

  Ben shook his head. "No, she didn't go into detail. Just that she needed the change."

  Her shoulders slumped a little in disappointment, but she forced a smile. "I understand. Thanks for your time, Ben."

  "If you ever need to talk or have more questions, feel free to come by," Ben said, reaching out to squeeze Kate's hand. "Maggie was special to all of us."

  "Thanks, I appreciate it," Kate replied, feeling a mixture of gratitude and sorrow as she left the bar, still searching for answers about Maggie's st days.

  Maggie had no enemies, no conflicts, no vendettas—nothing that would justify such a brutal attack. Kate, unfortunately, had no information to offer the police department in their investigation.

  ***

  With her head spinning and her heart heavy, Kate continued her search for answers, returning home to the duplex itself, hoping to find something that the police may have missed or overlooked.

  As she entered Maggie's room, the familiar surroundings brought a sharp pang of grief. But amidst the few belongings that had been scattered in the scuffle, Kate noticed something that caught her eye—a business card, folded neatly in half, lying on the nightstand. Her hands shook slightly as she picked it up and unfolded it, revealing a hastily written note in Maggie’s handwriting.

  The note was brief but cryptic, mentioning a meeting with someone named "J.S." at a local café, Willow Bean, on the night of the attack. Kate's heart skipped a beat as she realized that this meeting could be the key to unraveling the mystery of Maggie's murder.

  She tried to recall if she knew anyone with the initials "J.S." or if Maggie had ever mentioned someone by that name. She wracked her brain, sifting through memories of conversations and encounters, but nothing came to mind. She thought about asking Maggie's other friends or coworkers if they knew anyone who fit the description, but she also didn't want to raise suspicion or alert anyone who might be involved in Maggie's death.

  Determined to find out more, Kate quickly left the duplex and hopped on her bike, heading towards Willow Bean. With each pedal, her mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle of Maggie's final moments. She hoped that someone at the café would have information about this mysterious "J.S." and shed some light on what had happened to her dear friend.

  ***

  The cafe was warm and inviting, with the rich aroma of coffee and freshly baked pastries filling the air. Small groups of people were scattered around the room, chatting and sipping their drinks. She chose a small table in the corner, where she could observe the cafe and gather her thoughts. After a few moments, a barista approached her table with a friendly smile.

  “Hi there! Can I get you something to drink or eat?” the barista asked.

  "Hi," Kate responded, trying to keep her nerves in check. "I'll have a cappuccino, please."

  "Sure thing! My name's Lily, by the way. I'll be right back with your cappuccino," Lily said before heading to the counter to prepare the drink.

  Kate took the opportunity to look around the café, noting the various patrons engrossed in their conversations or working on ptops. A few minutes ter, Lily returned with the cappuccino and set it down in front of Kate.

  "Here you go, one cappuccino. Is there anything else I can get for you?" Lily asked.

  "Actually, I was hoping to ask you a few questions," Kate began, hesitating slightly. "I found this business card in my roommate Maggie's room. She mentioned this cafe, and I was wondering if you might remember her. She passed away recently."

  Lily's expression softened with sympathy. "I'm really sorry to hear about Maggie. I do remember her. She came in a few times. Is there something specific you're trying to find out?"

  "Yes," Kate said, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Do you remember if she was meeting someone here?"

  Lily shook her head. "I only saw her with another person once, and it was a coworker of hers. They sat at a corner table and talked about working at the bar mostly, just chatting. Nothing particurly serious stood out.”

  "Did you catch the coworker's name or anything about them?" Kate pressed, trying to grasp any potential leads.

  "Sorry, I didn't catch the name," Lily said apologetically.

  "Thank you, Lily. This still helps," Kate said, feeling a mix of gratitude and lingering uncertainty.

  "If you need anything else or have more questions, just let me know," Lily offered with a kind smile.

  "I will. Thanks again," Kate replied, sipping her cappuccino as she pondered the new information. Her phone rings, startling her. It was Jon.

  "Kate, I need to see you right away," Jon's voice was urgent.

  "Is everything okay?" Kate asked, a knot of anxiety forming in her stomach.

  "I'll expin when you get here. Just meet me at the station as soon as you can," Jon replied before hanging up.

  Kate’s heart pounded as she rushed to the police station, her mind swirling with questions. What had Jon discovered? Could it be a breakthrough in Maggie's case?

  Thankfully, the police station was a short bike ride from the cafe. When she arrived, Jon was waiting for her, his expression grave. "Kate, we've had a break in the case," he said, leading her to a conference room.

  As they sat down, Jon expined that they had received a tip from a witness who cimed to have seen someone suspicious lurking near the duplex.

  He hesitated for a moment, "We've had reports of someone lurking near your duplex for several nights now, not just the night of Maggie’s murder. I'm worried that you might not be safe.”

  Fear gripped Kate as she realized the gravity of the situation. She stared at Jon begging him with her eyes to keep her safe.

  "Kate, I think it's best if you leave the duplex for a while," Jon said gently. "Stay with family or friends, somewhere safe. We can't take any chances with your safety."

  Kate’s heart sank at Jon's words. She thought back to the shadowy figures she had seen lurking near her duplex since Maggie's passing, and a shiver ran down her spine. She knew Jon was right; she couldn't stay there alone.

  But as she opened her mouth to respond, the truth spilled out in a rush. "Jon, I don't have any family," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I left them when I moved to Willow Creek. Maggie was the only true friend I had here."

  Tears welled up in Kate's eyes as the weight of her loneliness and grief crashed down on her. She had left everything behind for a fresh start in Willow Creek, never imagining that she would end up alone and vulnerable in the face of such tragedy.

  Jon’s expression softened, his empathy evident. "I'm so sorry, Kate. I had no idea," he said, pcing a comforting hand on her hand. “We'll increase our surveilnce, but if anything strange happens, I need you to leave immediately. Your safety is my top priority."

  Kate nodded, grateful for Jon's understanding. She knew she was taking a risk by staying, but she also knew she had nowhere else to go. "Thank you, Jon," she said softly. "I'll be careful, I promise."

  Jon gave her a reassuring smile. "I know you will. Just be vigint, and if anything feels off, don't hesitate to call me."

  With that, Jon and Kate settled into a pn. Jon would increase surveilnce around the duplex, and Kate would stay alert for any signs of danger. It wasn't a perfect solution, but for now, it was the best they could do.