Crow

The Case of the Golden Brick Murder.             

I can’t believe I was summoned to come back to this god-awful place. The sky is a muddy blue as the sun rises on another day in Golden Brick City. I decided to take the bus in. I needed the time to get my thoughts in order.

Things are different now. After all, it has been over ten years since I transferred out of my hometown. But this place is like a wound that I kept hidden and now that I am back. I can feel the ten-year scab start to weep.

Stopping off at the hotel, that police chief set up for me to stay at while I’m here. I dropped what little items I had on the bed. Looking around the room I felt as if they wanted to keep me under wraps as I stayed in town. The room smelled. There was no masking the deep down soaked in the smell of smoke. The walls were an old egg yoke color. The color probably changed with the years of smoke and time itself. A twin-size bed with two pillows and a off white crochet blanket thrown across it to make the common occupants feel at home.

Looking at my watch I realized the time is seven am and I need to start and solve this as quickly as possible so I can leave. I locked my door to run into a woman who came up to my chest and had her hair put up in a messy ponytail at the top of her head.

“Sorry sir. Do you need me to clean your room?”

She was all of twenty by the looks of her. I can see she was sizing me up and liking what she saw. She gives the telltale sign of biting her lip. She is attractive and given another place or time I would pursue. This is not this time or place.

‘No just leave my room as it is.”

“Well maybe later then?”

Aggressive isn’t she. A bit too much for my taste.

“I’ll let you know.” I turned my back and left.

The sun pushed through the cloud covering the city. That little boost of natural energy is needed to illuminate the gold-plated bricks on the street.

Ever since the time of “The Great Greed”. The people of the city try to put on the air of civility that their forefather destroyed by ruining a city of hope and dreams. Now they are reduced to the facade of uplifting joy.

Walking to the precinct I noticed that there were several reporters out front waiting for the announcement from the chief. The minute the thought entered my head she appears. Police chief Caraway. Six feet one, flaming red hair and intense blue eyes. Caraway is the youngest police chief in the history of the Golden Brick City being only 35. 

It is speculated that she rose in the ranks by solving crimes that were considered unsolvable. My theory is completely different. I figure she rose in the ranks because of one case. A case that her partner Stunner lost his life for and solved before his soul left his body.

Yeah, those eyes convey a lot if you just knew what you were looking for.

“Good morning. The murder of Calum Dupont is unfortunate. We do not have much information to give all of you that you do not already have. This is an ongoing investigation, and I know the public is entitled to any information concerning this case. Like I said there is not much we can divulge.’

“Chief Caraway, is it true that his ex-wife is one of the suspects?” (reporter 1)

“That I cannot say.”

“Chief, is it true he was killed because it was rumored, he found one of the legendary golden bricks?” (reporter 2)

“Please, please ladies and gentlemen let’s not put a fairytale spin on a loss of life.”

“Chief, Margaret Stanple here from GB Gazette. Then tell us why you called detective crow to work this case. The last we heard of him he wanted nothing to do with the people of this city.”

There’s a leak in the precinct. Caraway will need to nip it in the bud.

“We have called for Detective Crow for assistance. He is the best and we need the best in this case. That is, it for now. Thank you.” She turned and went back into the precinct and the reporters threw more questions at her.

I turned and walked down the block behind the precinct. There is a door there that only officers knew about. Making sure no one was behind me I proceeded to punch in a code that I hope was not deactivated.

The familiar click informed me that it wasn’t. I entered quietly to be welcomed to the familiar scent of old. You know the kind of scent that lets you know that the building aged and the knowledge it was privy to sunk into its pores.

I made it to the second landing before a young officer noticed I was about to enter.

“Hey, how did you get in here? Don’t move and show me your hands.”

Yeah he was young but I really did not have time for this. “I’m here to see Caraway.”

“Not what I asked and you’re not complying. If you don’t show me your hands in three, I will put you down.”

I began to raise my hands. He was focused on me. I waved my right finger, and he glanced to the right and I pulled the door open on the left and entered.

As I walked in. I knew the officer was on my heels pointing his government issued taser at me. There are levels to the force that are allowed to carry live ammunition. Due to the fact that the new recruits seem to want to fire first and ask questions later.

“Stop.” The officer called out.

Everyone watched as I stopped and looked towards the chief’s office. The officer was right behind me with the taser aimed at my neck now.

The chief turned to see what the commotion was, and her eyes almost popped out of her head. She walked out of her office and called out, “Officer Vain. Stand. Down. Now.”

The office let out a low growl before backing away.

‘Sir the man came in from the back entrance as I was leaving and when I questioned who he was he did not give me an answer. He still hasn’t.”

Turning towards him I asked, “Is that what you recall? I seem to recall the incident differently. You asked how I got inside, and you wanted me to raise my hands. You did not ask for my name or identification. I stated I wanted to see Caraway and you insisted I raise my hands. Now if this is the way you document your cases, I advise that someone should read them over and put in the truth.”

Eyes turned to Vain and I knew everyone was scrutinizing his behavior.

“This Detective Crow. Now that you have made yourself and this station look like complete incompetence, I advise you to go to work officer Vain.”

I heard him whisper, ‘Detective Crow’. As if knowing who he was apprehending poured a bucket of ice water over his head.

“I do apologize Detective Crow. I wanted to make sure you were not coming in to harm….”

I couldn’t let him go any further with this.

“Next time ask for identification. We all know that not just anyone knows that way in.”

Vain turned a shade of red that I have never seen on a man. I walked away and went into the chief’s office. Not sparing him or the office another glance.