The Cold Case Series: Book One

By e. Coleman Burris

The sun dipped below the tree line, casting elongated shadows across the Whispering Pines Golf Course. The wind rustled through the towering pines, their whispers mingling with the distant hum of cicadas. New Haven had long moved past the horror of Emily Grace Mercer's disappearance, content to let time wash away the uncomfortable truths buried beneath its polished surface. But Valeria Scott had never been one to let the past remain buried.
The case had taken months to unravel, but in the end, justice had found its mark. Oliver Davis, the long-vanished specter of Emily's tragic story, had been found living under an alias in a small Tennessee town, a drifter hiding in plain sight. The forensic evidence had spoken louder than his feeble denials. The fragments of Emily's remains, coupled with blood traces recovered from an abandoned property he once rented, had been enough to break him. In the interrogation room, his fa ade had cracked, revealing the cowardice beneath his violent tendencies. A plea deal had been struck, sparing him the death penalty but ensuring he would spend the rest of his days confined, forgotten by the world as he had once tried to forget his crimes.
Sarah Mercer had never lived to see justice for her daughter. Addiction had claimed her years earlier, another casualty of a system that had failed her as much as it had failed Emily. But in her final days, those who knew her recalled her speaking of her daughter with a mixture of regret and hope, as if believing that someday, someone would remember Emily's name.
The town of New Haven was left to reconcile its past with its present. The discovery had shaken the community, forcing it to acknowledge the cracks in its idyllic veneer. For the first time in years, the local police department had begun revisiting cold cases with fresh eyes. Awareness programs for missing children were implemented, and new funding was allocated for social services. It was a small step, but a step nonetheless.
Valeria stood by the newly placed memorial at the edge of the golf course, where a small plaque now bore Emily's name. The case had left its mark on her, as every case did. But as she traced her fingers over the engraved letters, she felt something she hadn't in a long time-resolution. Emily Grace Mercer's voice had been heard at last.
With one final glance at the whispering pines, Valeria turned and walked away, leaving behind a town forever changed.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DYYY3CTB
• ISBN13: 9798312583243
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"