Joe's pov

Since I was not working any deep cover cases at the moment, I was called to the scene of a crime. It was a car crash, but, as I would come to find out, there was so much more to it. When I arrived, the first officer at the scene had tearstains on his cheeks and looked about to hurl. I spoke

"What's the story?"

He replied after checking his notes

"Car crash, other vehicle is gone. DOA Jane Doe, no IDs on her. Waiting to see if any databases have anything to identify her. Brunette, mid 20's, collapsed lung, multiple lacerations throughout her body and glass shards, but whoever killed her also slashed her stomach and neck. She bled out. Her kids are fine, though. Not a scratch, just confused, scared. She has quads. 7 years old. Her car is totaled, but the plate made it out alive. Warwick plates, thought you could shed some insight, especially if we need to canvass there or talk to their PD."

Warwick girl, my age... Yikes. Way to hit close to home...And murdered in such cold blood. Adding four 7-year-olds on top of that... And I knew what it was like growing up without one of your parents... I took my first glance at the victim and felt the bile rise up from the back of my throat. Taylor Riley Anderson. No mistaking her features, mangled as they were. My high school girlfriend, who broke up with me before I headed off to college in Colby College. AFTER prom. There's no way that her kids could... Before I could even finish my thought, the little girl spoke up

"Hi. I'm Emily, these are Daniel, Will and Joe. Joe's the oldest, then Dan, then me and lastly Will. Is Mommy ok?"

I got down on their level and spoke

"I'm so sorry. I'm Joe, just like your brother. Your mommy is an angel now, but I'm gonna do my best to find out who did this to her. Is your mommy's name Taylor? Did anyone ever call her that?"

She nodded

"Yeah. That's her name. She said we were gonna visit someone here."

I felt my legs give out from under me, promptly falling over on my butt. At least that got the kids to laugh. A local coroner got in touch with his counterpart from Rhode Island and confirmed what I already knew. The victim was Taylor Riley Anderson, my ex. And, pending paternity tests, her quadruplets were actually OUR quadruplets. What was I supposed to do in the meantime? Joe had been prompt to tell me how they'd had no other family apart from their mother. At least the Reagans came in spades. Dan spoke next

"I wish we knew who she was looking for here... Something about a hill? Are there hills to climb here?"

Emily rolled her eyes

"Not that kind of Hill, she made it sound like a last name."

She turned to me, remembering the other officials at the scene talking to me

"Like your name, Detective Hill. Did you know Mama?"

Words forgetting me, all I could do was nod.