Page 46 of Shhh…It’s A Killer Story

"No."

"Yes."

A whine.

"I know."

Another whine.

"I'll only be gone a few hours."

Max sighed. Actually sighed. Drama queen. Elias smiled to himself.

"I know. I'd rather stay home too."

There it was again. That smile. It didn't stay long. Just enough to soften the sharpness around his eyes before disappearing as though he'd remembered he wasn't supposed to smile.

People smile with their mouths. Happy people smile with their eyes. His… Had forgotten how. Without thinking, I lifted my phone.

Click.

The camera caught him exactly as Max nudged his hand for another pat. Neither of them noticed. I looked down at the screen. The photograph wasn't remarkable. Just a man. Just a dog. Morning light spilling across the porch. Yet somehow… It felt like the beginning of something.

"That's going to be a painting one day."

Lily glanced up from the roses.

"He looks lonely."

I looked back at him. He did. Not the sort of lonely that came from being alone. The heavier kind. The sort people carried around inside them. The kind that unpacked before they did.

Max barked again, dragging Elias from whatever thought had stolen him away. He laughed softly, tossed the ball across the garden, then disappeared back inside. A few minutes later, the front door opened once more. This time he emerged carrying a leather satchel over one shoulder and a ring of keys twirling around his finger.

"Come on, mate."

Max followed him to the truck. Another pat on the head.

Another quiet, "Be good."

The engine rumbled to life. Gravel crunched beneath the tyres as he backed carefully down the driveway. I watched until the truck disappeared around the bend.

Only then did I realise… I was still smiling. I tucked my phone into my pocket.

"That certainly isn't concerning."

Not at all. The sound of the engine lingered for another few seconds before the morning settled back into its familiar rhythm. Birds. Leaves. The distant hum of someone mowing a lawn far across town. I should have gone back to the roses.

Instead...

I looked down at my phone. The photograph stared back at me. Morning sunlight spilled across the porch, Max looking wonderfully pleased with himself while Elias scratched behind one enormous ear.

I pinched the screen, zooming in. Max. Definitely Max. His ears looked even bigger up close. His tongue was hanging out. My eyes wandered to the person occupying what’s left of the photo, my heart pumping. The detective accidentally wandered into it. How unfortunate I zoomed in.

Obviously, don’t judge me. I'm just a curious little thing, nothing strange about that, it’s not like you take pictures of things and zoom in. Interesting. His watch is set 5 minutes faster. He had tiny scars on his arms. Arms that would one day comfort me.

"You know..."

I said, mostly to myself.