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Thomas was coming home, exhausted as he always is after any workday, but more than usual . Something was worrying him. He opened the door without even taking his keys out, he knew it wasn't locked. He put his jacket on the sofa in the living-room, undid his shoulder strap and laid his gun down on the kitchen counter. He rested ont it for a while, giving himself a breather. In a few minutes, he knew, his mother that probably saw him entering his house -she lived next door- would ring at the door.

He headed for the bedroom. He found her there, lying on the floor, with her arm leaning still on the bed. He bent near her, observed her slit throat, her so white face, the pool of blood around her head. He huddled on her and started to cry. He took her in his arms to feel her warmth, but she was dead for hours.

He got up and called 911... A few seconds later, the doorbell rang, he opened the door.

- Good evening mum, come in, something horrible happened.

Christine, Thomas' mother, had a burst of panic when she saw her son's shirt, blood-covered.

- Jesus Christ ! Thomas, you're covered with blood, are you hurt ? Let's call...

- It's not mine, mum, it's Seth's. I called 911, they'll be here any minute now.

- Oh, my god ! Is it serious ? Can I see her ?

Thomas held his mother in his arms to calm her down.

- You'd rather not, mum. She's dead, her carotide has been cut.

His mother shut her eyes with disgust and snuggle up in her son's arms.

- Jesus, Jesus ! Why? She was so nice, so pretty! My god ! Poor Seth... She was so nice...

Thomas held his mother in his arms, speechless, holding his tears back.

- But Tom, who did that ? Can't I see her ?

She put her hand before her mouth as she would like to prevent her to throw up. They stayed like that for five minutes, Thomas trying to calm his mother down.

- I don't know mum, I don't know who did it...

His mother step back, wiping her tears away, and she looked in his eyes and caught his arms.

- Tom, you have to find, you have to.

Thomas answered without much conviction.

- Yes, mum. I'll find out, that's my job. Come back home now, don't stay here, the police are coming.

Thomas took his mother back, she staggered on a few steps, and he headed towards the unmarked police car parked next to his own. Three guys came out of it, one of them was wearing a police uniform. They waved to Thomas.

- Thomas, it's ugly as they say. The ambulance shouldn't be long now, even though you told us it was too late. Until then, we'll inspect your house. I'd like you to meet Philip, he's a local cop, but you may already know him. He lives by a few blocks, so we took him up. Anyway, I think we'll get in charge of the case, it's not everyday that the "SRPJ" arrive first on a crime scene !

The two men greeted each other, Thomas already had business with him in the past. The other policemen, Stéphane et