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A Grim Discovery

“Can you pick up the pace?” Thomas's voice cut through the tranquil morning air at Somerton Beach, irritation lacing his words.

“Don’t take your frustration out on me,” Grace shot back, glancing over her shoulder with a defiant look.

“Those sneakers aren’t made for long walks. I warned you,” he said, his tone sharp.

“My shoes aren’t the problem. Your mood is,” Grace retorted, trying to keep her voice steady despite the throbbing pain in her feet.

“Let’s find somewhere to sit for a bit,” Thomas suggested, scanning the beach for a resting spot.

“Good idea,” Grace agreed, grateful for a moment of respite. They settled onto the cool sand, the rhythmic sound of the waves easing their tension.

As they caught their breath, Grace broke the silence. “We’ve been invited to Shelly’s housewarming party.”

“Yeah, we should—” Thomas began, but his words trailed off.

“What is it?” Grace asked, noticing his sudden stillness.

“Look over there,” he said, pointing toward the water.

Grace turned her head, squinting against the sun. “It’s just a log.”

“I’m not so sure,” Thomas said, rising to his feet, curiosity pulling him closer.

“Where are you going?” Grace questioned, following him, her discomfort forgotten for the moment.

“I need to check it out,” he replied, determination set in his jaw.

“Thomas, wait up!” she called, but he was already moving toward the figure partially submerged in the surf.

“Is that a person?” he whispered, his heart racing as he drew closer.

Grace caught up, her voice trembling. “What do you mean?”

“Let’s go back,” she urged, gripping his arm.

“I need to see if he’s okay,” Thomas insisted, shaking her off.

“Are you out of your mind? If he’s dead, we could be implicated!” she snapped, her fear evident.

“We have to call the police,” Thomas said, pulling out his phone.

“No, we need to leave,” Grace insisted, her voice rising.

“We can’t just walk away! Someone could see us!” he argued, dialing ‘000’ for help.

“Do whatever you want; you never listen to me,” Grace muttered, glancing around at the deserted beach.

“Hello, there’s a dead body on Somerton Beach,” Thomas blurted out when the operator answered.

“Where exactly?” the voice replied coolly.

“Uh, I don’t know… my wife and I found him lying in the water,” he stammered, anxiety gnawing at him.

“Stay at the scene. Officers are on their way,” the operator instructed before hanging up.

“They told us to stay,” Thomas said, his voice shaking slightly.

“Of course they did,” Grace sighed, her heart racing.

Moments later, police cars roared onto the beach, lights flashing. Thomas and Grace stood up, apprehension churning in their stomachs.

“Inspector Strauss, this is my team,” a tall officer introduced himself. Thomas and Grace exchanged tense greetings.

“Did you make the call?” the inspector asked, his expression serious.

“Yes,” Thomas replied, struggling to maintain his composure.

The inspector approached the body, kneeling to inspect the lifeless form. “Do you know who he is?”

“No, we just stumbled upon him,” Thomas answered.

“How did you find him?” Strauss pressed.

“We were walking and noticed something unusual. As we got closer, we realized it was a body,” Thomas explained.

“Did you touch anything?” the inspector asked sharply.

“No! We stayed away!” Grace interjected, her frustration bubbling over.

“Good. I need your details, and you’ll have to come to the station tomorrow,” Strauss said, signaling a sergeant to take their information.

As the officers began their work, Jason examined the corpse closely. “Looks like someone tried to strangle him,” he said, pointing at faint marks on the neck.

“What about his legs?” one of the junior officers questioned, horror flickering across his face.

“Half-buried in the sand,” Jason replied, his voice low. “Dig them out.”

When they uncovered the legs, shock swept through the group—both feet were missing.

“Where are his feet?” Oliver exclaimed.

“Search the area! The killer might have disposed of them nearby,” Jason ordered, a sense of urgency creeping into his voice.

As the officers fanned out, Thomas and Grace stood a few feet away, their hearts pounding. The idyllic beach had turned into a scene of horror, and the peaceful morning was shattered.

“What have we gotten ourselves into?” Grace whispered, eyes wide with fear.

“I don’t know,” Thomas replied, gripping her hand tightly, his mind racing with questions. As the sirens faded into the background, the reality of their discovery loomed heavily over them—this was only the beginning.

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