Detective Eliza

The Pink Hat

The sky was overcast, a chilly breeze swept through the streets as I, Eliza, stepped out of my office building. My phone buzzed, it was a message from Martha, one of my trusted assistants. "Eliza, we have a new case. A woman named Sarah has disappeared. The only clue is a pink hat found at her residence." I felt a shiver run down my spine, not from the cold, but from the inkling that this was not going to be a straightforward case.

Upon arriving at Sarah's residence, I was greeted by a visibly shaken man, presumably in his early thirties, who introduced himself as Mark, Sarah's husband. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hands trembled as he ushered us inside. The living room was neat and tidy, a stark contrast to the chaos that had descended upon their lives. Mark offered us a seat and began recounting the events leading up to Sarah's disappearance.

"We had dinner like usual," he said, his voice quivering. "She seemed a bit off, distracted maybe, but she said she was fine. After dinner, she went up to our bedroom. When I went up later, she was gone. The window was open, and her pink hat was on the floor."

I studied Mark's face as he spoke, looking for any signs of deception. His expression was one of genuine concern and confusion. I then turned my attention to the pink hat on the table. It was a bright shade of pink with a ribbon tied around it. It seemed like an ordinary hat, but I knew better than to dismiss any detail as insignificant.

Martha, always organized and practical, started asking Mark about Sarah's friends, work, and any unusual incidents that might have occurred in the recent past. Robert, my other assistant, was busy examining the hat and taking pictures of the room.

Mark mentioned that Sarah had been acting a bit distant for the past few weeks but couldn't think of any specific incident that might have triggered her sudden disappearance. "She mentioned a friend from her past, Annabel, who she had recently reconnected with on social media," Mark said, his brow furrowed. "But I don't know much about her."

The mention of Annabel caught my attention. Was it just a coincidence, or did she have something to do with Sarah's disappearance? I decided to pay Annabel a visit.

As we left Sarah's house, the clouds grew darker, and a light drizzle began to fall. The weather seemed to mirror the somber mood that had settled upon us. The pink hat, the open window, and a friend from the past named Annabel were the only leads we had. Little did I know that this case would force me to confront my own past and the mysterious events that had haunted me for years.

The Clue

The morning sun peeked through the clouds as we made our way to Annabel's residence. The air was crisp, and the streets were bustling with activity. Despite the normalcy surrounding us, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my chest.

Upon arriving at Annabel's house, we were greeted by a woman in her late twenties, with a warm smile and bright eyes. "Hello, I'm Annabel," she said, extending her hand. Her demeanor was friendly, but I noticed a flicker of apprehension in her eyes when I introduced myself as a detective investigating Sarah's disappearance.

We sat down in her living room, which was tastefully decorated with pastel colors and floral patterns. I started by asking her about her relationship with Sarah. Annabel explained that they were childhood friends but lost touch after high school. "We reconnected on social media a few months ago," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It was nice catching up with her after all these years."

Martha, ever the observant one, asked Annabel if she owned a pink hat similar to the one found at Sarah's house. Annabel's eyes widened slightly, and she hesitated before answering. "Yes, I do have a pink hat," she said, her voice trembling. "But I haven't worn it in ages. It's packed away in a box somewhere."