The Witch in the Woods

The investigation into Joseph Gallanti’s murder intensified as the days dragged on, and the pressure on everyone involved became suffocating. Detectives Ferguson and Scott had already been able to corroborate Peter Gallanti’s air-tight alibi, which eliminated the closest person to the victim as a suspect.

The pair made their way through the maze of GallU’s administration offices, finally arriving at Peter’s office. The air was thick with unspoken tension. Peter looked up from his desk as they entered, the weariness etched into his face. He had been juggling too many emotions lately—his father’s death, Lua’s constant presence in his mind, and now, Ryder Scott, who stood before him like a specter of everything he couldn’t resolve.

Ferguson wasted no time. “We’ve spoken to Joseph’s neighbors, his sister in Italy, and all the tenants he rented properties to, but nothing seems to point us in the right direction,” he said, his voice gruff with frustration. “There’s also a Pharmacology professor who didn’t get tenure last year and was fired, we’ll have a chat with him later today.”

“We also need to know more about international dealings,” Ferguson continued. “We’ve been informed there were—and still are—some business operations abroad that your father was involved in, so please fill us in on those.”

“Sure, I’ll send over all the information I have,” Peter replied. “But I can assure you, there was never anything shady. There are some university programs in Europe that are still running, the GallU campus in Toronto, and a specialized business initiative in South America that’s been very successful. All of these have been active for decades now, and I’ve never heard of any serious issues arising from them that would justify…”

Peter trailed off, lowering his gaze, still shaken by the memory of the murder.

He recomposed himself quickly and shifted his eyes back up, glancing at Ryder, who stood silently as a steady presence in the background. “I still believe it was some kind of burglary gone wrong,” Peter offered. “The killer probably panicked and fled. They didn’t mean to kill him, just get in and out.”

Ferguson shook his head, unconvinced. “We’re exploring that theory, but it’s not holding much weight. Nothing was taken from the house. We’re diving deeper into students who may have held grudges against Joseph. That’s the most viable lead right now.”

Peter shifted in his chair, his discomfort palpable. His eyes flicked to Ryder once more, lingering on him before he finally spoke. “Should you really be on this case, Ryder?” His voice held a sharpness that wasn’t there moments ago. “I mean, considering you’re Virginia’s son. You’ve got a personal connection to all of this. Shouldn’t that disqualify you?”

Ryder’s expression remained neutral, but Peter could sense the tension between them. The unsaid things—the unresolved feelings about Lua—hung heavy in the room. Ryder finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. “Lake Laura is a small place, Peter. No one here would be completely neutral in a case like this. But I’m a detective, and I’m good at my job. I can separate my personal life from my work. Can you?”

Peter clenched his jaw, biting back a retort. He didn’t appreciate the subtle accusation, but deep down, he knew Ryder was right. He could also tell that Ryder was falling for Lua. Peter hated it. He hated everything about it.

Fergusson, sensing the tension, quickly interjected. “Any troublemakers among the students we should be looking into?” he asked, steering the conversation back on track.

Peter exhaled slowly, dragging his thoughts back to the case. “A few names come to mind. There were some students who recently had their grants revoked—one or two that were involved in parties on university grounds that got out of hand. There were some warnings, potential suspensions looming.” He paused, running his fingers through his hair, feeling the weight of it all. “I’ll get you a list.”

As the detectives prepared to leave, Peter glanced at Ryder one last time, his expression hard to read. Ryder gave him a brief nod, then followed Fergusson out. 

---

Later that evening, the cabin was quiet except for the faint sound of wind rustling through the trees outside. Alinda and Kelly sat together, the warmth of the living room fire casting a golden glow over their faces as they worked on plans for CURA’s presentation on LINAFEST.

Ali stretched, cracking her neck before turning to Kelly. “Kell, come sit closer. We need to talk.” She patted the couch beside her, her voice carrying a weight that made Kelly’s curiosity pique. “We need to figure out who murdered the Dean.”

Kelly raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “Me? Why would I know?” she asked, her voice half-laughing but curious all the same. “Oh, wait! Where’s my crystal ball, again?”

“No. Because you’re obsessed with true crime,” Ali replied, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. “All that reading, those podcasts, surely it’s going to be useful now, right?”

Kelly snorted, unable to hide a grin. “Sure, Ali. Let’s see if my hobby can help crack the case of the decade.” But as she said the words, the atmosphere in the room shifted slightly, becoming heavier. Kelly’s mind shifted gears, going into detective mode. “Ok, I guess I have some inputs. It’s most likely a crime of passion. Someone who knew Gallanti, maybe someone who had a personal vendetta.” She began listing people from Joseph’s life, recounting what little she knew about his relationships and interactions. “Could it be a disgruntled employee? A student? Or someone close to him? I mean, it’s possible. Someone wanted him dead, and they acted on that impulse.”

Ali watched Kelly closely, nodding along, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Kelly was always so guarded, but Ali had started noticing things. The constant buzzing of Kelly’s phone, the way her eyes flashed with worry whenever she glanced at it. There was something Kelly was hiding, and Ali wasn’t sure if she should let it go or dig deeper. 

The conversation shifted back to the Dean as Kelly continued, “Virginia, his assistant? Doesn’t make much sense—there’s nothing in it for her. Other faculty members? No fallouts or conflicts that I know of.” The mood in the cabin was growing heavier and more unsettling as the night wore on. The crackling fire no longer provided the comfort it once had, and a strange, eerie tension hung in the air. Ali and Kelly sat in silence, both feeling the weight of something unspoken pressing down on them. The eerie stillness of the cabin made every creak and groan of the old wood feel ominous.

Suddenly, a noise came from the porch—a sharp thud that broke the quiet, sending a jolt through both women. Ali let out a small gasp, startled so badly that she knocked over her wine glass, the dark liquid spilling onto the floor in a messy splash. Her eyes went wide, and Kelly instinctively stood up, her heart pounding in her chest.

They exchanged uneasy glances, both feeling a weird chill crawl up their spines. It was the kind of feeling that made the hair on the back of your neck stand on end, like someone was watching you, or something was about to happen. Kelly moved toward the window, peeking out cautiously, her breath fogging the glass.

“It’s just Lua and Ryder,” she whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with relief. Ali sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly, though the unease hadn’t completely disappeared.

Outside, on the porch, Lua and Ryder were saying their goodbyes. The air between them was thick with something unspoken, a tension that had been building all night. Ryder’s brow was furrowed, his usual calm demeanor now tinged with uncertainty.

“Lua,” he began, his voice low and serious, “I know I promised at work I wouldn’t talk about the investigation, but there’s something I need to ask you. It’s been weighing on me, and I can’t shake the feeling that it might be important.”

Lua looked at him, her dark eyes searching his face, sensing the weight of whatever he was about to say. “Go ahead,” she encouraged softly. “Ask me.”

Ryder hesitated for a moment, clearly torn between his loyalty to the investigation and his need for answers. Finally, he spoke. “Do you think Brett and the twins could be involved in the murder? Especially the twins, considering how deep they are into drugs and throwing parties on campus. I know it sounds far-fetched, but… we’re exploring every possibility.”

Lua took a deep breath, her gaze drifting toward the woods beyond the porch as she considered his question. She wanted to believe the best in people, especially those she cared about, but she also knew that in the right circumstances, anyone was capable of doing things they might never have imagined.

“I can’t one hundred percent vouch for anyone in this world,” she admitted, her voice steady but reflective. “Anybody is capable of snapping if the situation pushes them far enough.” She paused, meeting Ryder’s eyes again. “But if you’re asking for my opinion… no. I don’t think Brett or the twins are involved. They’re reckless, sure, and they make bad decisions. But murder? I just can’t see it.”

After Ryder left, Lua joined her friends in the living room. Kelly handed her a glass of wine. “Did you hear anything back from Hunter?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Lua sighed, taking a sip before sitting down on the floor beside the red fox. “No, nothing. I’ve called him, I’ve called Collin… I even asked Virginia to talk to him personally, but he’s avoiding me completely.” She stroked the fox absentmindedly. “All I can do right now is respect his decision.”

Deep down, Lua suspected Abigail might be the one poisoning Hunter against her. But she couldn’t share those suspicions with Kelly or Alinda—doing so would raise questions she wasn’t ready to answer. Instead, she decided she’d try to catch Hunter at GallU soon and clear the air directly. For now, though, she needed to steer the conversation in a lighter direction.

“Speaking of which,” she said, shifting gears dramatically, “I need your help picking a name for this beauty.” She gestured to the fox in her lap, her smile inviting a new, playful energy into the room.

“Electra! Zephyr! Nixie!” Alinda immediately began shouting out names. Her face lit up with excitement. “Oh my God, Nixie the Foxie! Please? How cute is that?”

Lua chuckled but raised a hand. “There’s just one catch—I want her name to be something witchy. So, I’ll take your suggestions with that in mind.”

The challenge sparked Kelly’s intellectual side. “How about Medea?” she offered, eyes twinkling. “The Greek sorceress. Or Grimhildr, the legendary Nordic witch.”

“Those are lovely, Kelly,” Alinda chimed in, though her tone carried a hint of annoyance. “But do we really have to stick with actual witch names? Can’t it be something… I don’t know, witchy-adjacent? Like Hex, Coven, or… Salem!”

Kelly waved off the suggestion, slightly dismissive. “Alinda, I’m pretty sure Salem has already been taken by—”

“SABRINA!” Alinda suddenly shouted, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she looked expectantly at Lua.

Lua squinted, considering it. “You can’t be serious?” Kelly said, her tone dripping with skepticism.

But Alinda was undeterred, cuddling the fox. “Hi, Sabrina!” she cooed, as if the decision had already been made.

Lua chuckled, taking another sip of her wine. “Well, I guess Sabrina it is.”

Kelly rolled her eyes, but even she couldn’t suppress a smile as the laughter flowed through the room.