Aishwarya,+Craig,+Jessie,+Adam

__Murder in the Café__

Twenty-five year old José Sanchez had no idea that the cheap coffee and donut he ate in the dingy downtown café would be his last meal. Finishing off his chocolate glazed donut and hazelnut coffee with cream, his usual order, he wiped his hands on a napkin and pulled his wallet out of his pocket to pay. In the background, he heard the bell on the door to the café quietly tinkle as it opened. At 7:30 in the morning, he was usually the only person in the café, but he paid no attention to the chime of the bell. His thoughts were elsewhere.

The touch of a hand on his shoulder made him jolt. He turned around in his seat, and his eyes widened.

“I’m sorry, José,” a soft voice whispered. José saw the metal barrel of a gun glint in the rising sunlight, and didn’t even have time to scream when the shot was fired. He fell to the floor, instantly dead.

Forty-five minutes later, Detective Larry Frost pulled up into the café parking lot. Slapping on latex gloves, he opened the door to the tiny café and was faced with a cluster of activity as the CSI unit was sweeping for evidence. The puddle of blood pooled around the dead body was stark against the white floor.

“Fill me in,” Frost said in a commanding voice. His partner, Samantha Blackdoor, turned to him.

“José Sanchez, twenty-five. Comes here each morning for a donut and coffee - he’s on first name basis with the owner.” She gestured to an older man, with gray hair and glasses, sitting in one of the bar stools. He looked frightened and was talking to one of the policemen.

“Sanchez is unmarried and without children. His record’s clean. Never been arrested.”

Frost frowned. “So why would someone want to murder him?”

Blackdoor sighed. “That’s what we have to figure out. The owner, Anton Bishop, caught a glimpse of the shooter as they exited. It was a woman. She had blonde hair, with a brown streak by the forehead. A bit heavyset, with broad shoulders. After she shot him, she got into a blue Hyundai and drove away quickly. ”

Processing all the information, Frost stooped down beside the body. He shook his head. The victim was young. Frost noted the clean shot to Sanchez’s head and his recently pierced right ear. He caught a glimpse of white inside Sanchez’s pocket. An envelope.

Careful not to disturb the body, Frost pulled the wrinkled envelope out of the pocket.On the front was a stamp from the post office: RETURNED TO SENDER. Frost took out the envelopes contents, a letter, and read it. In graceful handwriting, it said:

//Dearest Michelle, //

//I know you said that you did not want me to contact you anymore, and that I was to pretend that what we had never happened, but I must confess that I cannot let this be. I really felt something last Sunday, something I had never felt for anyone before. I am writing this to you in hopes that you might realize that you too feel the same, and that you rejected my love out of fear. If that is the case, I must be blunt. In order for this relationship to be able to blossom, you need to tell her. You cannot let her control you any more. If you will not tell her, I have to. I didn’t want it to come to this, but it is the only way we can be together. //

//All my love, //

//José //

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost looked at Blackdoor. “Let’s find this Michelle.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">* * *

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A tap on his shoulder startled Frost out of his thoughts. He and Blackdoor had returned to the police station to try and track down the mysterious Michelle.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Blackdoor said, “We’ve been reviewing the security footage from Sanchez’s apartment complex from last Sunday night. A woman matching the café owners description was seen around 9 pm entering Sanchez’s apartment. Sanchez let her in. Seems like they knew each other. The footage was too blurry and at the wrong angle to make out a face, but we did find something else.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost looked at her questioningly. “What is it?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Blackdoor pulled a photo from a manila folder she had tucked under her arm. It was a frame from the security footage from a parking lot. Specifically, the apartment complex parking lot.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It was a photo of a blue Hyundai.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“The car is registered to a Melanie Roberts” Blackdoor said. “I think this is our Michelle.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">* * *

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Look at that house. Wow.” Blackdoor stared in awe at the sheer size of it. “These people are rich.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Let’s not forget what we came here for, Sam,” Frost said. He knocked on the door.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The door opened to reveal a blonde woman, wearing an expensive fur coat and a necklace of pearls. Her thin face registered confusion as she noted the badges in Frost and Blackdoor’s hands.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Melanie Roberts?” Frost asked. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yes?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“We have a warrant to place you under temporary custody and to search your house,” Frost said in his commanding voice, pulling the warrant out of his jacket pocket.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melanie’s eyes widened. “What is this about?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You’re a suspect in an ongoing murder investigation. Step aside, ma’am.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melanie, frightened grabbed the cross around her neck, stepped back from the doorway and let the police enter. Behind them, a black car pulled into the driveway. A stocky man got out and ran towards the door.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hey!” The man reached the doorway. Blackdoor shoved her badge in his face.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Step back, sir!”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“That’s my wife, what the hell is going on?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“We have a warrant to search your house to recover evidence in an ongoing murder investigation.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What are you talking about?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“We’ll explain everything inside, sir. We just need to ask your wife, and now you, a few questions.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">* * *

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Mrs. Roberts, we need to ask you some questions regarding your whereabouts this morning. Where were you around 7:30?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I was in bed, asleep.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Can anyone confirm that?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melanie turned slightly red. “Um, my husband, I guess. Mike. He was drinking coffee when I got up, around 9.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You didn’t wake up when he got up?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melanie became flustered. “Mike and I…are having problems. We don’t exactly sleep in the same bed anymore. But that information sir, remains between husband and wife,” she said.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost nodded. In the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Mike, sitting in the kitchen, looking out the window as Blackdoor was questioning him. Mike had a rosy tint to his cheeks. He caught Frost staring, and seemed to turn away, blocking Frost’s view.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost sighed. “Mrs. Roberts, I’m going to be blunt here. Were you cheating on your husband?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melanie was horrified. “Absolutely not! We have our problems, but I would never cheat on him. Oh good lord, was this all I had left to hear?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost wasn’t satisfied. “This is a nice house you’ve got, Mrs. Roberts. Who’s got the money?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melanie swallowed. “Well we’re both from decent and reputed families.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“This is not about your reputation but in reality the money in the bank. If you were to get divorced who would get the money?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melanie’s face turned red from anger. “Sir, a marriage is not about the money. Yes I admit I come from a well-to-do family. But you are speaking of marriage, a bond between a man and woman that only the good lord makes. Speaking of divorce in this house…,” she said with disbelief.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost nodded. “I see.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“But what does any of this have to do with a murder?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost pulled a photo of Sanchez out of his pocket. “So, to get this straight, you were not cheating on your husband with this man? Nor did you decide to kill him when he was going to tell your husband? I mean an affair would most definitely ruin this marriage of yours. Not to mention what divorce would do to your saintly reputation.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melanie gaped. “What a horrid accusation! No, no, no, no! I’ve never seen that man before. How could I ever go back to church and pray to the lord when I know I have committed a grave sin?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost stood up. “I think we’re going to have to bring you in for some more questioning, ma’am.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melanie just stared at him.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost motioned to Blackdoor to join him in the other room. She had finished questioning Mike and was in the process of searching the house.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Find anything?” Frost asked quietly.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“No sign of the murder weapon. Just some weird but useless evidence.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost frowned. “Such as?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I found some women’s underwear and other random pieces of clothing lying around in odd places. One was under the couch, the other was behind the TV. I guess Melanie dropped it. What did you find?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost pondered for a moment. “She has no alibi,” he said, still thinking. “She claims she was asleep.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Then let’s bring her in for questioning. She’s obviously got something to hide.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“No.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What?” Blackdoor stared incredulously at her partner. “Are you kidding me? Her car was at his apartment and clearly their marriage is not stellar”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Just trust me.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost walked back over to the couple. “I’m so sorry for your time, it seems there’s been a bit of a mistake. The murderer was just apprehended.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost grasped Mike’s in a handshake as Mike stared at him blankly.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“That’s it?” Mike asked. “Barge into my home, and then say you’re sorry?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost just smiled politely and escorted Blackdoor back to the police car.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Once they were outside, Blackdoor demanded, “Tell me what is going on, Frost.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frost leaned against the car, and rubbed his chin with his hand. He nodded to himself. The smell of acetone was distinct.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I know who murdered, José Sanchez,” he said grimly.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">THE END

Fired or Hired Report