"Misses…Young?", Mike reached inside his breast pocket and flashed his badge at the young brunette as she opened the massive oak door, "I am Lieutenant Stone from the San Francisco police department. Mind if I come in for a second?"
"This is about Glenn, isn't it?" she said with a sad smile as she quietly studied his credentials, before stepping aside, allowing for the Lieutenant to enter.
"I am afraid so. Perhaps we should sit down for a second."
Dressed in skintight jeans and a layered pink top, Sarah Young fit the cliché of a wealthy stay-at-home trophy wife in the upper-class Presidio Heights neighborhood. Mike looked at the walls adorned with family pictures and expensive paintings. Images of young children, a happy couple, and even some antique family photos were surrounded by a gallery of drawings, most of them iconic views of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The large house was distinctly quiet except for the footsteps of the petite woman echoing through the hallway, as she guided him towards the spacious living room.
"Here you go, Lieutenant.", she said and offered him a sport on the nearby couch. As Mike's trained senses took in his surroundings, he noticed that all the upholstery was lightly colored and matched perfectly, the entire seating area and ornate wooden cabinets likely amounting to far more than his monthly salary.
Huge skylights up above gave the room an almost angelic theme.
Mike took off his fedora and slowly sat down across from Sarah. Not waiting for him to start his usual spiel, she cleared her throat before running a shaky hand through her long, wavy hair.
"You're here to tell me that Glenn is dead, aren't you?"
Nodding empathetically, Mike put his hands in his lap.
"You expected this to happen after his disappearance, Mrs. Young?"
Sarah wiped the tears from her eyes and took a few deep breaths to control her emotions.
"I just knew how mad he was after his…fight with our mother. I begged him to stay and even offered for him to live with Craig and I for a while, but he refused. Said he wanted to go up north to clear his mind."
When the tears began to streak her immaculate makeup, she grabbed a tissue and wiped the mascara off her eyelashes, revealing some of the natural beauty hidden beneath.
"Do you know where up north he planned on going?"
Sarah shook her head and nervously played with her long, painted fingernails.
"No, he refused to tell me. But it seemed like he knew where he was going, if you know what I mean? I talked to him briefly after the fight but that's all I really know. Glenn has just been so secretive lately. I am sorry, Lieutenant. I wish I could help more."
Mike nodded understandingly and handed her his card.
"You helped a lot, thank you, Mrs. Young. If you can think of anything else, here is my phone number."
Gratefully accepting the card, she held her hand in front of her face when the tears welled up again.
"God, now I wish I would have tried harder, you know? Would you mind telling me how…how he killed himself?"
Mike furrowed his brows as he leaned in closer, his expression intentionally guarded.
"You assumed he killed himself, Mrs. Young?"
The lady's head snapped up, as a wave of concern washed over her features.
"You are telling me it wasn't suicide? Then how did he die?"
Mike cleared his throat before speaking up again.
"Well, we are trying to establish that, Mrs. Young. But to be perfectly clear with you, I work for Homicide."