CHAPTER 1: MURDER CASE

CHAPTER 1: MURDER CASE

“Amber,” Kane called, tapping my table.

I looked at him for a second, raising a brow, then continued typing on my computer for some incident report I need to finish.

“Another case.”

“Uh-huh,” I nodded.

What is happening to Texas lately? Homicide cases has been rising these past months. Maybe these crazy criminals want to give police enough work to do. How generous of them. I was busy the whole month and just as I thought I can have a two day off, another one came. Great.

“I wonder if these criminals get tired making troubles…” I murmured and leaned back, giving my full attention to Kane. “I already told Captain I won’t be working this weekend. What is this?”

He shook his head. “No one else is free, and you just closed a case. Actually, this was supposed to be Louie’s and he already went to the school this morning. He gathered some information but he got into accident on the way here. It’s not too serious but he can’t work for a few days.”

“How about you? I think you are very free, Kane.”

“Come on, Amber. We both know I’m still inexperienced that’s why I’m just assisting you.”

I frowned at him. I was about to open my mouth but he raised his hand to stop me.

“Listen. I also figured you’d want to take this case since the incident happened in your high school.”

“Mansfield?”

“Yup.”

I leaned on the table. “What happened?”

“Two students were killed last night. But the thing is, their bodies are nowhere to be found.”

“Hidden by the murderer?”

“No, impossible. It was caught in the school’s footage that the two students went to the school at 1 AM, and they never went out. The witness also told that he saw a bit of the crime. But the problem is, there was no blood in the crime scene, just a few broken chairs and torn clothes.”

“Then maybe it wasn’t murder at all?”

“The school is surrounded by cameras outside, Amber. The police have been checking the footages since this morning but all they got is the footage of the two students going in. No one came after them.”

“Wait. You said no one came after them, and there is this witness who’s claiming that he saw a bit of how the crime happened. And as you said, bodies are nowhere to be found, right? Then, this is simple. This so-called witness must be the murderer. Maybe he buried the bodies or hid them somewhere inside the school. Mansfield is big, Kane. There’s a possibility.”

“But if this janitor is the murderer, why would he leave traces like the broken chairs and torn clothes?”

“To support his alibi. He wants to play the witness role but his words are nothing without some evidence. And like you said, it was seen in the footage outside the school how the two students went in. He can’t get rid of that, nor he can make the people believe he didn’t work that day since the faculty would surely know.”

Kane nodded. “You have a point… but isn’t it too weird? Why would the two students go to school at 1 AM?”

I snorted. “He probably called them, sent a message or something.”

“But if I was on his place and I want to kill those two, I won’t bring them to the school where I know it would be seen in the CCTVs outside that they went in at 1 AM and no one came after them till sunrise.”

“Of course, you would think that way because you are a detective. But I tell you, Kane, most criminals are dumber than you think. Only professional killers will plan their crimes thoroughly.”

As soon as I finished my report, we drove to Mansfield. I checked out some information from Louie to weigh if the janitor is the only suspect.

My eyes narrowed looking at his photo. How could an eighteen-year-old small guy kill two bulky guys his age?

“I told you, Amber. Something is off. That janitor is just a lad, and he’s a working student. The school gave him a scholarship for his service. He’s also a top student, no bad records at all. And as you can see, he’s smaller than average kid his age. I’m betting my one-month salary. He’s not the killer.”

I’m beginning to doubt too.

“We don’t know that. Innocent looking people have the craziest minds. Or if he’s really not the killer, that means someone else was in the school that night. But since there wasn’t a footage that someone came after them, it’s possible someone messed with the footages, or the killer stayed in the school, perhaps an enemy of the two who’s also a student. It’s not the first murder case with a high school student as the suspect, after all.”

Kane pulled over at Mansfield’s driveway. People were gathering outside the school and there are also reporters. It’s been what, six hours since the crime happened and the press is still here?

“The other student who died is the son of mayor,” Kane informed.

Now I understand why this is a big news.

We went out and reporters flocked towards us. We were not in uniform but Kane’s police car made it so obvious.

“Are you from the police?”

“Who is the murderer of Mayor’s son?”

“Where are the bodies? Why—"

“Yes, we are the detectives handling this case. We just came to investigate so we can’t answer your questions yet. We are not even sure if it’s really murder or they are just missing. But we assure you, we will get to the bottom of this as soon as we can,” I said and walked past them.

Kane looked more approachable so they didn’t let them go. I sighed and looked back to call him, but I stopped when I saw a random passerby across the street.

Walking in black slacks and overcoat, the man looked so familiar to me. The side view of his face, his copper-colored hair… even if he was meters away, I knew. I was sure.

He was that man twenty-two years ago. The strange man who saved me. I can’t be wrong. I drew him back then so I will never forget his face. Because I knew he was the key to the mystery of my family’s death.

After so many years of seeking for answers, I found him. Finally.