Chapter 144: Dead
As the evening wore on, the tension in the house grew palpable. Abby paced the living room, her heart heavy with worry as they awaited Tony’s arrival. Remo sat beside her, his expression grim as he checked his phone for any updates.
Finally, there was a knock on the door, and Tony entered, his face etched with sorrow. Abby’s heart sank at the sight of him, knowing that his news couldn’t be good.
"I’m sorry, Remo," Tony began, his voice heavy with regret. "We found Martha, but..." He trailed off, unable to bring himself to say the words.
Abby’s breath caught in her throat, her worst fears realized in an instant. She reached out and clutched Remo’s hand, her grip tight with fear.
"What happened?" Remo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tony took a deep breath, steeling himself to deliver the devastating news. "I’m afraid Martha is dead," he said solemnly. "It looks like she’s been gone for about two days. There are signs of decomposition, and... maggots were feeding on her body."
Abby felt a wave of nausea wash over her at the gruesome image Tony’s words conjured. Martha, once vibrant and full of life, now reduced to a lifeless shell.
Remo’s grip on Abby’s hand tightened, his expression a mask of grief and shock. "How... how could this have happened?" he asked, his voice choked with emotion.
Tony shook his head, his own anguish mirrored in his eyes. "We’re still investigating, but it looks like foul play may be involved," he said gravely. "We’ll do everything we can to find out what happened."