Both Cars Were Still There

Officer Reed arrived first.

A dark blue SUV sat in the driveway.

Beside it was a silver sedan.

Both were registered to the homeowners:

Thomas and Rebecca Morgan.

Reed knocked on the front door.

No answer.

He rang the bell.

Nothing.

A second officer arrived several minutes later.

They walked around the exterior.

The backyard gate was closed.

The back door wasn’t standing open.

It was slightly ajar.

Reed announced:

“Police department.”

Silence.

He pushed the door open.

And immediately noticed something strange.

The house smelled like dinner.

The Kitchen Looked Like Someone Had Just Walked Away

Four plates sat around the dining table.

Chicken.

Potatoes.

Vegetables.

Four glasses of water.

One chair had been pushed backward.

Another was slightly turned away from the table.

A television played quietly in the living room.

The officers called out again.

No response.

There was no obvious sign of a struggle.

No overturned furniture.

No broken glass.

Nothing appeared damaged.

Reed checked the kitchen.

The oven was off.

But one pan was still warm.

Someone had been eating recently.