Rain was raining lightly as Daphne Blake drove away from the gas station. Her son, Sam and her daughter Michelle should be with the neighbors. Both son and daughter were a bit young to stay home alone. Sam was eleven and Michelle was seven. Daphne pulled into the two – car garage once the garage door opened automatically.

There was no need to drive the car to her neighbors' house since they were right next – door. After unbuckling the seatbelt, Daphne climbed out of the passenger's seat. She grabbed the keys out of the ignition before locking the car. She thought she'd leave the garage door open so she and the kids could walk through together.

Walking to her neighbors' house, which was a two – story house with a one – car garage, a gate, garden, kitchen, bathroom, living and dining room, you name it. To tell the truth, her neighbors weren't rich at all and neither was she. The house she walked to at this minute happened to be a house of a cop.

Daphne pushed her red hair away from her face. The hair was only shoulder length but it got wet because of the rain. While ringing the doorbell, Daphne felt her feet tapping on the 'welcome' mat. The deputy's wife came to answer the door. She was pretty for someone in her early fifties.

Daphne noticed the woman looked like she was in the middle of a bath because she saw the woman's red hair was wet and she had a royal blue towel over her waist. The woman looked like her hair was starting to turn gray.

"Hello, Daphne. Won't you come in?" she asked.

"Thank you, but maybe next time, Melanie. I came for Sam and Michelle."

Daphne watched as Melanie yelled to Michelle and Sam their mother was here. That's when she heard footsteps. The kids ran to greet Daphne.

Daphne said, "What do you say to Mrs. Brown?"

"Thank you," both said in unison.

"Thank you for what?" Daphne asked.

"Thank you for letting us stay," Michelle said.

"You're welcome."

Daphne and Melanie said a quick good – bye once Sam and Michelle walked out, backpacks in hand. Michelle's backpack had the Disney princess theme while Sam's was a sports theme. The three walked into the kitchen without a word. Sam and Michelle probably ate supper. She'd recently judged a beauty pageant here in Coolsville this afternoon.

The show she was at today was a big deal, but it was supposed to continue tomorrow. She'd enjoyed the outfits she hadn't liked. This was the kind of job title she had – beauty pageant judge. She'd often share pictures of the beautiful girls on facebook. She hadn't yet posted on facebook.

It was time Sam and Michelle get a start on their homework. All of his life, Sam had dreams of becoming a detective. He'd had fun watching crime shows on TV and read thrillers. He usually did figure out who the culprit was. He was now reading a new paperback of James Patterson's Alex Cross novel.

She then asked Michelle and Sam if they had done their homework yet.

"Yes, Mom. We did it while waiting for you," Sam told her.

"Oh."

She usually let Michelle and Sam eat supper at Melanie and Dennis's house if it got too late for her to come home to do the cooking.

While Sam and Michelle were under the covers that night, Daphne logged onto her facebook so she could share with the public the pictures she took while at these types of pageants. Daphne had been doing this kind of job for over nine years now and had loved this job since then.

She'd share five pictures from today's show. One picture was with a teenager who recently had a haircut, but it was nice since she had her hair layered. The teenaged girl had on light purple high heels, light tan socks, a pair of star earrings, a necklace, and a red polka dot dress.

Another picture she showed was a thirty – ish old college girl with two pairs of pierced ears along with a fur coat made of silk, curly blonde hair neatly washed and combed, a dress that looked to be more of a special occasion only type of dress. It was black and had a sapphire on one side and the other side had a pearl. The outfit looked a bit pricey but she thought it was lovely.

After finishing up on posting the fifth picture, she heard on the radio there had been a murder.

"We now interrupt this program. Sheriff Edwards had just stated there was a shooting in Coolvsille an hour or two ago. The body was part of a beauty contestant when there was a bullet shooting from the other side of the door.

"She happened to be in her thirties. Today she was wearing a two – pair sets of earrings, fur coat made of silk, curly blonde hair neatly washed and combed, a dress that looked to be more of a special occasion only type of dress. It was black and had a sapphire on one side and the other had a pearl and the outfit was a bit pricey. The name of the victim has not been released."

Daphne turned the radio off. She looked at the picture. Sheriff Edwards had just described. It was contestant number five. That's when she let out a scream!