Welcome to Case Closed.

You're listening to Dirt Creek by Haley Scrivener, narrated by Sophie Lockren.

Let's pick up where we left off last time.

Sarah, Monday, 3rd of December, 2001.

That morning, Sarah had woken early to the sound of a dog barking.

The noise slid out from the folds of her dream and into the real world as she rolled over.

She blinked against the light that shone through a gap in vertical blinds that wouldn't sit

flush and was grateful that she'd managed to drift off at all.

Her first conscious thought was to wonder if Smithy was sleeping through the noise.

He probably was, the bastard.

She wasn't sure how long she lay there before pulling herself into a sitting position, a climber hauling herself up and

over a cliff edge. She'd been dreaming about Amira, replaying their last fight. No matter what

she did, it ended the same way.

For a moment, Sarah contemplated staying in the room, making a crappy instant coffee.

But something in the insistent bark, a warning, sent her to the door.

Sarah walked around the side of the building.

It was early enough that the earth beneath her feet was still cool,

the sky and insincere blue.

The dog was on its feet, straining against its chain.

She'd kept hoping to see the motel owner since her interview with Clint Kennard,

but it'd made himself scarce.

She'd have to call him in for a formal interview if she wanted to speak with him.

...