Maura ran a few yards from the cabin before she stopped to assess her surroundings. The tall trees blocked her view of the road, but Maura was able to see a light in the distance. The office!
Maura was uncertain what she would find in the office and she was armed with nothing more than a crowbar, but she continued to make her way toward the light. She slowed her pace the closer she got for fear of someone hearing her. Maura had expected to see a somewhat well-lit area similar to the their cabin, but she noticed no porch light and no lights whatsoever save for the lamp near the front window. The silence surrounding her gave Maura an uneasy feeling. There were no cars on the road and Maura couldn't detect the slightest bit of movement within the office.
Her last memory of Jane was her saying that their most intimate moments had been recorded, but by whom? Jane had assumed it was the owner, but was it? Had Jane gone after him? Had he taken Jane? No, Maura shook her head. That puddle of blood couldn't have been hers and he didn't take her. Nobody took Jane. Jane went after him. Jane went after him and she was going to come back for me. I should go back and—she wouldn't have left the crowbar. Jane would never have gone unarmed. It was a realization that hit Maura too hard. Jane wouldn't have left the crowbar and, most importantly, Jane wouldn't have left her.
Without a second thought, Maura approached the office. The door was slightly ajar and she clutched the crowbar even tighter for her security. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, but the pain was nothing in comparison to the stinging sensation between her legs. It's because of Jane, she tried to remind herself. Jane and I had a beautiful moment together before this happened. The pain was making Maura wince, but all she could do was stand outside the office door while she worked up the nerve to walk inside.
The front office looked untouched, but Maura feared to venture further down the hall. Jane wouldn't be afraid, she thought in hopes that her fiancée's bravery would inspire her. With thoughts of Jane flooding her mind, Maura slowly walked down the hall. There was no rustling or sounds of footsteps other than her own, but Maura could have sworn she detected the sound of something dripping in the distance. When she approached the source of the noise, Maura flipped the light switch without any hesitation.
"Mr. Miller," she called out after remembering his name from the document Jane had signed. "Mr. Miller?" When she heard no response, Maura made her way toward the desk and prepared to tap him on the shoulder.
Before Maura could make contact with him, she discovered the source of the noise. Mr. Miller's blood was dripping from his body and had created a pool of blood on the floor. Maura feared to see his body, but her curiosity got the best of her. She spun his chair around and let out a blood-curdling scream when she saw him. For fear of whoever did this to Mr. Miller still being nearby, Maura tightly cupped her hands over her mouth, but it was too late. If anyone were around, they surely would have heard her. As an undergraduate, Maura had no formal training nor did she have any exposure to the deceased. Mr. Miller was the first homicide victim she had ever seen and she was torn between her own curiosity and her need to find Jane. She continued to look at his lifeless body, the blood still dripping from the deep gashes on his neck.
"You asshole," Maura sobbed when she saw the screens Mr. Miller had been looking at during his final moments on this earth. "You were watching us." Playing on a continuous loop on one of the screens was Jane making love to her, the final intimate moment that they had shared as girlfriend and girlfriend. Maura knew Jane was delicate with her, but as she watched Jane make love to her on screen, she realized just how loving all of Jane's actions were. On the neighboring screen was Jane looking at herself in the mirror while wearing the strap-on she had purchased. Maura smiled for the first time since this ordeal began when she saw Jane check out her body in the mirror and playfully flex her muscles. Maura's smile continued to widen when she saw the silly faces Jane made in the mirror followed by Jane trying to get a few stubborn strands of hair out of her face. So this is my girl when she thinks nobody is looking. Maura lovingly caressed the screen with her fingertips, wishing she could somehow pull Jane out of there and hold her close, but Maura was brought back to reality when she took another look at Mr. Miller's lifeless body.
The more she thought about the brutality of his murder, the more she feared for Jane. All throughout their relationship, Jane had been her protector, but now it was up to Maura. Whoever did this to Mr. Miller still had Jane and Maura knew time was of the essence.
