People were odd, the way they completely pulled things out of thin air sometimes. I’d just met Nelson, and nothing in my behavior or words exchanged could have possibly given the impression I would be a good addition to the town.

He turned and walked back to the path.

“I am sure I will see you around town soon,” he called back as he waved over his shoulder.

I gave a short wave and turned back to the driveway to retrieve my suitcase.

The handle extended up, and I pulled my belongings along the pathway to the porch, lugging them up the steps.

Inside felt exactly as I expected from the few photos shown on the listing: simply coastal decor and minimal furniture.

To my surprise, a small bookshelf sat in the corner of the living room to the right of the door, and I spotted a few familiar spines amongst the books.

Maybe Nelson was right after all. Maybe I would like him.

I made my way up the stairs directly across from the door to the second floor and found the single bedroom. A makeshift office space and bathroom were the only other rooms to share the floor.

I left the suitcase in my room and ventured back down to evaluate the kitchen and dining spaces. The kitchen was long and took up the back side of the house. A sunroom was built off the kitchen and overlooked the backyard and ocean.

I opened the door for the cool breeze rolling in with the lowering sun. The house was hot and stuffy without any A/C running.

That would be my next task: to find the source of keeping the house cool.

First, I needed to set up what I had packed with me on the case.

I picked one of the emptier walls of the dining room and started hanging up pieces of information I had. I cursed myself for being a complete stereotype out of a crime show, but it was the most efficient way for me to review the details and make connections.

I hung a map I had printed, which I marked the dump sites for each of the killer’s victims and the bar where many had last been seen.

Everything fell within the boundaries of Briarport, making me believe I was looking for a local. The times of killings varied throughout the year, and as Nelson had noted, there were seasonal visitors, but this made me doubt they were the unsub.

This had to be someone living in town year round.

I kept hanging bits of the case and tips on the wall, adding sticky notes with my own thoughts next to everything.