One for the daytime (freewrite)

The feathers have all fallen, spread out around him on the cold dirt. He looks around, absent-minded, and realizes he's waiting for something that'll never come. A beautiful woman that will never love him, a joyride that will send him a-falling and a murder he'll never solve. The grass, the inconspicuous grass, sways with the wind and tickles his bare feet.
The girl had been sitting right there, right at his feet, only two nights before. And yet, she was gone now. He thought back to the night he'd seen her there, she seemed so lonely, so...other, unlike the girls he'd seen in his life. And he's seen a great many, both alive and dead.
The detective knew there was something off with the girl as soon as he saw her. Nobody sits alone in the park at 2 A.M.
He would've liked to be able to go closer to her, to see what she was looking at, in the distance, to talk to her and ask if she was lost, 'cause she sure felt lost to him.

But she could not, he could tell from the way she'd flinched when Peter, his dog, had taken a step toward her. She'd bolt if he came closer, so he stayed where he was. And perhaps, that had been his mistake. Perhaps if he'd spoken to her on that night, in the park, the girl would still be alive now. Perhaps she would've never crossed paths with the one who killed her.
He looks at all the feathers. He always sees feathers when there's been a murder, although he's kept that to himself, save for a privileged few. He'd lose his standing if he told anyone. They'd think him mad.
The detective steps back, retracing his steps through the grass and shedding one singular tear for the dead.

And the dead follow him as he goes, or rather, one does. She is quite a scrawny girl and she remembers him well. He's the man with the dog, from that night. And she wishes she could run at him, she wishes she could scream at him – why did you do it? What did I ever do to you?
But there's no justice, it seems, in the world of the dead either. And she would be screaming in vain. She's been following him around for some thirty hours. He's a reputable man and he will very likely “crack” this case, as well. He will find someone to stand accused of the murder he has committed, just like he has with all the others.
There are many ghosts who follow this particular “detective” around. And they're all silent.

Prompt of the day was 'detective' and this was the best I could come up with. Check out @mariannewest's blog and give freewriting a try! You'll be pleasantly surprised ;)