Chapter 2: The Wife's Secret

Detective Yang sat in the living room, surrounded by the eerie silence of the Richardson house. He had just finished examining the scene when a soft voice broke the stillness.

"Detective Yang?"

He turned to see Bettie Richardson, the victim's ex-wife, standing in the doorway. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face pale, but a determination gleamed in her gaze.

"Mrs. Richardson," Yang said, rising from the couch. "I'm so sorry for your loss. Please, have a seat."

Bettie nodded and sat down, her hands clasped tightly together. Yang noticed the absence of tears, the stiff posture, and the resolute expression. This was a woman hiding something.

"Can you tell me about your relationship with your ex-husband?" Yang asked, his eyes locked on hers.

Bettie's gaze faltered for a moment before she spoke. "We were divorced six months ago. It was... amicable."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "Amicable? Yet you're still living in the same house?"

Bettie's face twitched. "We were waiting for the property to sell. It was... convenient."

Yang sensed a web of lies. "Convenient? Mrs. Richardson, I need the truth. What was going on in your husband's life? Any enemies, any secrets?"

Bettie's eyes darted around the room before settling on Yang's face. "He was involved with something... shady. I don't know the details, but I know it was big. And dangerous."

Yang's instincts screamed that this was the break he needed. "What do you mean by 'something shady'?"

Bettie leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "He was working with... aliens. I don't know how or why, but I know it was connected to his death."

Yang's mind raced. Aliens? This was a new twist. He thanked Bettie for her information and watched as she left the house, her secrets trailing behind her like a shadow.

The investigation had just taken a cosmic turn.