The body has already been removed as they return to the crime scene, only the deep crimson pool of blood remains. Miles's face gives off no emotion as his cold eyes scour the crime scene, his eyes zoom onto the puffy-eyed teenager clutching now what looks like an unconscious dog. He marches straight towards him with Jayla in tow.
''Your name?''
The buff looking teenager stops crying instantly quite taken back from the intimidating cold-eyed detective.
''I'm G-grey, I swear I didn't kill her ... I w-was just-''
''Deep breaths Grey, ''Jayla stoops down comforting him.
Grey starts to cry all over again as he glances over to the large pool of blood where the body of young Sasha-Gay was once laid.
Miles clenches his teeth, something about watching Grey hyperventilating about a dead body brings back dark memories from his past.
''Listen, Grey, you know that you are the number one suspect right now and if you are not helping yourself to sit here crying like a-''
''Heavens Miles!" Jayla scowls, hitting his knee, ''that's not the way to talk to people.''
''Woman keep your hands to yourself,'' he moves his foot out of her reach. For a second, he feels pity toward Grey, he was once in Grey's position. He stoops down at a red-faced Grey with a now unmoving puppy in his arms.
''I'm detective Myers and this is my partner he motions to Jayla with a quick curt motion... . is it okay if we ask you a few questions?''
''Yeah, y-you c-can''
''How did you stumble upon young Royce's body?''
Grey sits up straighter. ''I'm an athlete at West Brook High and I always take my morning runs in this forest every day.''
''Runs at 12 in the morning?'' The detective eyes narrow.
''Yes sir, only on weekends with my dog Rudolf right here- oh God Rudolf!?''
He finally realizes that the dog isn't moving. A soft shriek escapes his mouth. ''Oh shit, can this day get any worst!''
''Relax the dog is still alive... just unconscious.''
''Oh right, I don't think I can manage another dead body again.'' he lets out a dry laugh as he watches his dog's chest slightly moving up and down. His light blonde here is now sticking on his forehead, his clothes now look as if he had a dip in the lake, but it is all sweat.
''Back to the case Mr. Fuller,'' Miles grits through his teeth.
''Sorry sir, I always run here because of the quiet environment sir, I was running when Rudolf just took off sir, it is very unusual for him to do that so I followed him a-and t-that's when I s-saw the girl.''
''Did she have anything on her or near her? Did you or the dog touched her?''
''Yes, sir, a blue cloth, we didn't touch or go anywhere near her, he was just standing there barking and then he starts to hound t-thats when I knew something was off, I called the police as fast as I could.''
''Did you see anyone or anything suspicious?''
''n-no, just the sound of a car speeding on the road, it scared the shit out of me.''
''A car,okay, that would be all, for now, Mr. Fuller, give that Deputy,'' he points to Deputy Jackson, ''your contact information, do not under no circumstance leave the country until you have our permission.'' He stands up with a grim face and walks away from Grey not sparing them another glance. Jayla moves an inch closer to the broken boy, she touches his cheeks, his sad baby blue eyes look up at her.
''It's going to be okay, deep breaths Grey, did anyone call your parents?''
''Y-yeah, the officers who arrived on the scene, they said they are on their way.''
''Oh, you say you are an athlete right?''
''Hmm.''
''What sport do you play?''
''Baseball, miss''
''Okay, thank you, you were really helpful,'' she flashes him a smile small.
The tip of Grey's ears turns a darker shade of red as he cast his eyes away from Jayla.
''Yeah.''
[*]^*^[*]
''So, this is the only piece of evidence here? Miles said as he looks at the baseball bat in the plastic bag. No fingerprints or DNA?''
''Negative sir, we are going to carry it to the lab for further analysis, and the victim's phone was found a few feet from the body, but that had already been sent to Zayn and we also found a tire track a few meters from here, Jamie oversees that evidence Detective, the best leads for your case right now is the fabric that was found around the skull and the boy.''
''Okay, thank you uh..'' he trails off unsure of the name of the forensic scientist. He only knows the name of his partner and the blonde deputy that always offers him coffee. He has no clue about the people he is working with. When the captain which is his uncle called him to work at his department he couldn't disagree. Being a private Detective can be slow at times, he wanted some fresh air in the countryside but that is not turning out well so far. He despises the place already and it's his second day.
''I'm Mickey Walters.'' He sticks out his hands for Miles to shake it. With a small polite tug of his hat over his face, he passes the man with his arms outstretched in thin air.
*
''Here,'' Jayla says as she hands him the notepad. His eyes quickly skim over the pages of notes then he frowns.
''We are missing something here,'' he muttered to himself.
''So, what do we do next? partner.''
''Visit Royce's, we need to inform the parents on their child's death and get information on her last whereabouts.''
''And then?''
Miles raises his eyebrows at her as he hands her back the notepad.
''Is there somewhere you have in mind?''
''I'm starving!''
''That has nothing to do with me, please take off your shoes before you enter my car.''