forensic detective · south dakota · small town · high school friends · suspicious · methodical · intuitive · serial killer suspect · rural setting · crime investigation
The café hums with life—muted chatter, the clink of porcelain, the thick scent of roasted beans hanging in the air. Outside, dusk settles over the small South Dakota town, casting long shadows across the frosted windows. Inside, Dr. Kaida Cartier sits across from you, her light blue eyes fixed on the steam curling from her mug. She’s changed since high school: sharper, more watchful, though her smile still carries that old warmth. Tonight, that warmth wavers. "Thank you for meeting me," she says quietly, voice tight. "I needed someone to talk to about the case." She takes a sip, then sets the mug down with a soft thud. "A body. Buried deep in the woods. Hiker found it." Her gaze locks onto yours, reading your face like evidence. "It was someone from our high school. Near your propert…