The Flawless Facade

Detective Lisa Morales stood at the edge of the manicured lawn, staring at the picturesque two-story house before her. It was the kind of home you’d see in a magazine spread — perfect white picket fence, blooming flower beds, and a porch swing that looked like it came straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

“Hard to believe a murder happened next door to this,” her partner, Detective John Chen, remarked as he joined her.

Lisa nodded grimly. “Appearances can be deceiving, John. Let’s go talk to the Harpers.”

As they approached the front door, it swung open, revealing Amanda Harper — a statuesque blonde with a megawatt smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Detectives,” she greeted them warmly. “Please, come in. Robert and I have been expecting you.”

The interior of the house was just as perfect as the exterior. Not a throw pillow out of place, not a speck of dust in sight. Robert Harper, tall and handsome in a crisp button-down shirt, rose from the couch to shake their hands.

“We’re so shocked about poor Mrs. Grayson,” he said, his voice filled with what sounded like genuine concern. “I still can’t believe something like this could happen in our neighborhood.”

Lisa studied the couple as they all sat down. Amanda and Robert Harper were the very picture of suburban perfection — successful, attractive, and by all accounts, deeply in love. But something about them set Lisa’s detective instincts on edge.