Chapter 1
Present Day, April, 2012
Detective Lilly Rush walked into work to find Scotty Valens waiting for her with a stranger. "Hey Lilly, this is Detective Joseph Hammerson, detective from the homicide deparment in Vancouver, Canada."
"Nice to meet you." Lilly stepped forward and shook his hand. She studied Det. Hammerson. He was a tall and broad shouldered man, somewhere in his early thirties. His brown hair was swept up in a clean-cut hairstyle and he bore a friendly expression on his face, which also showed signs of weariness, probably after many years on the job. "So, what brings to you Philadelphia?"
"Your reputation has preceded you." Scotty said as a way of explanation. "The homicide department up North has heard of your name, as well as all the work that you've done."
"I just believe that no person deserves to be forgotten." Lilly answered politely and truthfully.
"That is why I have come, to ask for your assistance." Det. Hammerson had a deep and charming voice. "A cold case has re-surfaced in the region of Greater Vancovuer, and we were wondering if you would be willing to help solve it."
Lilly cast a sideways glance at Scotty.
"There will always be work for you when you return." Scotty assured her.
A couple days later Lilly left Philadelphia accompanied by Det. Hammerson. She had never been to Canada, much less Vancouver. It was a beautiful city, and the two found ample conversation topics on the plane.
They were greeted at the airport by one of Det. Hammerson's colleagues, a shorter and almost kid-like Det. Harold Jeromes.
"So, this is the legendary Det. Rush." Det. Jeromes shook Lilly's hand. "Welcome to Vancouver."
By the time Lilly had retrieved her suitcases and Det. Jeromes had located the car, the sun was beginning to set. It gave way for a breathless scene as they travelled from the airport, the sun setting slowly below the horizon, contrasted with the emergence of glowing streetlights.
"This is a beautiful city." Lilly commented out loud for the first time.
"Yes it IS a beautiful city." Det. Jeromes agreed. Lilly swore she saw him give her a little wink in the mirror. "It rains for about three quarters of the year. But we're all used to it."
"And it's Sunday, so the traffic is good." Det. Hammerson added.
Half an hour later Det. Jeromes pulled up to the hotel.
"We'll let you get settled in, and we'll pick you up bright and early tomorrow morning. How does 8:30 sound?" Det. Hammerson helped ILlly take her suitcase out of the trunk.
"What is the case about?"
"A grandmother was found dead in her house eight years ago."
"That's it? Then why is this case resurfacing now?"
"I'll let you try and figure out why tonight." Det. Hammerson gave a smile to Lilly, but somehow that smile seemed to contain some uneasiness. "Tomorrow, all shall be revealed. Sleep tight, Det. Rush."
Lilly almost stuck her tongue out at the two men was they drove away. They were almost like little boys, and for some reason Lilly already felt totally at ease conversing with them. She wished they didn't have to go, she was dying to hear more details about the case.
Obviously that would have to wait. Tomorrow was another day.