"Both victims are male, from the history department. The older one, Matthew, is 21, and the younger one, David, is 20."
Glynn nodded, taking the IDs in plastic pouches, and instructed;
"Contact their families and check if they have any record at the station."
The officer replied;
"Yes, sir."
Approaching the crowd outside the red police tape, Glynn asked;
"History Department?"
A few students and teachers raised their hands. He selected a handsome, bespectacled male professor in his early thirties, a charming, mature female professor in her forties, and two average but tall male students.
"Hello, I'm Officer Glynn from Main Nova City Police."
he introduced himself.
"I need you to identify the victims and answer a few questions."
The female professor spoke up, her face etched with concern.
"Officer, you have my full cooperation... it's just that... are the two victims from our department?"
Glynn nodded solemnly, his expression grave. The woman's frown faltered, replaced by a timid expression, as if she feared the worst.
"Oh... no..."
She whispered, her voice trembling.
The male professor spoke up, his voice laced with worry;
"Who are the victims? Please, tell us..."
He glanced at the female professor, who nodded hesitantly. Glynn showed them the IDs in transparent pouches. Glynn's expression was grim.
"Matthew Smith, 21 years old and David Brown, 20 years old. Both are History Department students."
Ella's hands flew to her mouth, tears welling up..
"Oh no...those poor boys!"
The male professor took a deep breath and spoke;
"I am Edward Clayton, Professor of ancient languages and runes. This is Ella Jones, Professor of Archaeology. Matthew and David are our students."
Edward comforted her, his voice laced with concern.
"Officer We must know what happened... Can you tell us? They were our students, our responsibility."
Glynn's gaze was cold as he stayed silent for a moment before asking;
"I'll need your help to piece together. Can you tell me more about them?"
Ella looked towards Edwards who nodded at her. Ella composed herself, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Matthew was a brilliant student, always eager to learn. David, on the other hand, had a wild streak, but he was smart, too. They were working on a project together...a historical research paper."
Glynn's pen scratched across his notebook.
"And when did you last see them?"
Ella's eyes clouded.
"Two evenings ago, leaving the library together. They seemed...nervous, but we didn't think much of it."
The two students exchanged furtive glances. One of the students, Mark stepped forward and spoke up, his voice hesitant.
"Officer, we saw them arguing with someone near the library...three days ago. We didn't think it was a big deal at the time, but..."
Glynn's eyes locked onto Mark's.
"Arguing with someone? Describe this person."
Professor Edwards spoke up;
"Unimportant It was a female student they were arguing with before coming to me. They were arguing about the project distribution as the female student wanted to do the presentation not research."
Glynn raised his eyebrow but still noted important points.
"Anything else?...Was there any change in their behaviors? Or anything unusual?"
Professor Edward shook his head gently. Two students didn't notice anything in specific. Ella however was thinking about something;
"Officer... actually... Matthew is serious most of the time...but from last week he has been constantly smiling... it's a good thing to smile but...his smile gave off an uncomfortable feeling."
Edward frowned as he continued;
"Now that you mention it...David has also been awfully quiet in my class from last two weeks... Usually he would make a joke at the end of the lecture or ask completely unrelated questions during the class..."
Glynn nodded thoughtfully before asking;
"Alright, one last question. Who else was close to Matthew and David? Did they have any other friends?"
Mark, one of the students, spoke up:
"David got along with everyone in the department, but Matthew was kind of a loner. However, he was close to David."
Glynn sighed softly, his expression contemplative.
"Thank you all for your cooperation. If we have any further questions, we'll need you to come to the station. And if you remember anything unusual, please don't hesitate to call or visit us. That's all for now."
Professor Edward nodded, his eyes filled with concern, as he led Professor Ella towards a nearby bench. The two students returned to their group, exchanging worried glances.
Glynn sighed before returning to the crime scene. He entered the cold alleyway while officers were preparing to transport the bodies to the forensic lab. Glynn approached the bodies and bent down.
As he bent down, the deep rotting smell of blood, flesh and smoke filled his nostrils. A worse smell that can cause tears to be welled in one's eye but Glynn was not affected. He gazed at the two bodies, their eyes frozen in a permanent stare. The dim light of the alleyway casted an eerie glow on the scene. Glynn's trained eyes scanned the area, taking in every detail.
Looking at the scene, many people wouldn't have any appetite for days. Many officers were investigating with pale faces. On the contrary, Glynn kept gazing deeply at the bodies;
'I wonder how the meat will taste now that it's—wait! What the hell? WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?'
Glynn's eyes widened as the thought crossed his mind. His face twisted in revulsion, making him nauseous and filling him with disgust towards his own thoughts.
'Something is definitely wrong with me. Why would I even... God, do I need to be locked up in a lunatic asylum? I need to take a day off or something.'
Glynn rubbed his forehead, trying to ward off the growing headache. A young man with red hair and grey eyes, around the same age as Glynn, approached him and whispered;
"Bro - ah, sir, is everything alright? You look a little pale. Did you find something?"
Glynn hesitated, unsure how much to reveal.
"Ah, Leo... No, I'm good. Don't worry. Tell the officers to hurry up. We need to send these bodies to the forensic lab ASAP. Did you contact the victims' families?"
Leo observed Glynn's behavior before answering;
"Alright, and we have contacted their families... they are at the station as we speak."
He paused, studying Glynn's expression.
"You sure you're okay, Glynn? You seem a bit... off."
Glynn forced a reassuring smile.
"I'm fine, Leo. Just a little tired. Let's focus on the case."
Leo sighed before patting Glynn's shoulder.
"If you say so. If there's anything, tell us, okay?"
"Don't worry."
Leo walked away, leaving Glynn alone. Glynn took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Team Leader. Yes, we'll be transferring the bodies to the forensic lab very soon."
"Alright... Glynn..."
The Team Leader's voice trailed off, hinting at a concern.
"Hmm...? What is it, Team Leader? Is there any problem?"
Glynn asked, his curiosity piqued.
Just then, a hesitant voice spoke up from the other end of the line;
"Glynn, I've received a request from the South Nova Police Department. They want to assist with the investigation."
Glynn's smile turned mischievous;
"Oho, this case happened in our assigned area, but there's no reason for us to refuse an extra helping hand. Justice and Peace are our first and foremost goals...Heh..."
A tired, mature voice responded;
"Glynn... Don't. Create. Another. Mess. Please. Let this old man have some peace in his final days."
Glynn's smile grew brighter.
"Oh great sun, why would I do such a thing? They're my slav- er fellow teammates from another place... We'll all work hard together. Bye-bye, dear Team Leader."
"Glynn... haaa... See you at the station."
The team leader ended call with a sigh. Glynn chuckled to himself.
Leo, watching from afar, smiled brightly as he spoke to the other officers nearby.
"Bro-- I mean, Sir Glynn is smiling so brightly there's bound to be a good news soon...or...heh."
The surrounding officers felt a chill run down their spines. Nothing ever went well when these two troublemakers were smiling at the same time.
Glynn turned to face the surrounding officers and announced;
"Officers!"
The officers, who had been exchanging wary glances between Leo and Glynn, flinched at the sudden address. Those gathering evidence, the four transporting corpses, and the others calling out all turned their gazes towards Glynn.
"Brothers, it's time..."
Glynn paused for dramatic effect;
"...To welcome our fellow teammates from South Nova! Make sure to give them a warm welcome."
The officers fell silent, the only sound being the gentle rustling of the wind. Then, like a contagion, wide grins spread across their faces, transforming them into statue-like figures with sinister and mischievous expressions.
Timothy returned from gathering witness statements, only to be met with the unsettling atmosphere. He frowned and leaned closer to one of the grinning officers, who was carrying a victim's corpse at one end of the stretcher. Despite feeling a little creeped out, Timothy asked;
"What's going on? What's behind this strange atmosphere?"
The officer raised his hands upwards, causing the stretcher to wobble precariously, but Timothy swiftly caught it, preventing a disaster.
"Hey, you damn dog! Respect the dead, protect the peace, work with justice and equality. How dare you?"
Timothy shouted at the officer, who still had his hands raised.
The officer's expression turned bitter.
"It's been six years since I joined the Main Nova City Police Department... I was once a poor junior sent on a joint mission with the South, and those smug-faced..."
The officer spat on the ground;
"...made me run errands, clean toilets. Today, heavens have finally giv-- "
"Oh, shut up and move the bodies! And all you dumbasses, get back to work before I bury you deep with the bodies."
But before he could finish, Timothy cut him off. The officer's words trailed off, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the group.
Timothy's face turned red with anger as he scolded everyone.
"Well, what are you looking at? Start!"
The officers quickly returned to work, their expressions serious and subdued. Timothy turned towards Leo and Glynn with chilling smile. Leo and Glynn both were avoiding his gaze.
Timothy walked towards Leo and Glynn, his gaze icy.
"What are you two doing?"
Leo hesitated, avoiding eye contact.
"Glynn, look...the birds."
Glynn nodded, equally evasive.
"Ah yes...the birds."
Timothy's expression turned incredulous.
"Birds? You're worried about birds at a crime scene?"
He smacked Leo's head, his frustration evident.
"Focus!"
Glynn held his hand to his heart and said;
"You...were a very cute and dedicated little junior when I first met you. Kids grow up fast these days. So rebellious."
Timothy's face reddened with anger, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Kid? I am only a year younger than you. And it's not just about age - it's about respect. You're our leader, but you're acting like a joke. Two students lost their lives, and you're making light of it?"
Glynn's expression turned solemn, his eyes clouding over.
"Timothy, what makes you think I don't understand the situation? I understand it very well... Perhaps too well."
Glynn paused, his gaze piercing.
"Ever since we got here, many officers have had grim expressions or pale faces as if they can not wait to leave this place... If I can lighten the mood, even a little, I won't hesitate. Despair? No, I need hate and a healthy mind for my team..."
Glynn's gaze turned cold as the corners of his lips curled up.
"I need hate and thirst for justice to drive them further. Only by doing the unnecessary can we find what's necessary."
Glynn turned towards Leo and Timothy, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
"Right now, the purpose of making this light joke was to make the officers realize the gravity of this situation. At this moment, even as we speak...my officers must be feeling intense hate for the killer...They are able to joke, smile...what about the victims? They were young...and it happened right under our noses."
Glynn smiled brightly as he spoke;
"Call me crazy, but I believe humans tend to take a problem more seriously when it's personal and hits their pride. My officers are responsible and driven by a desire for justice. But sometimes, that's not enough. We need a stronger driving force to achieve the best outcome."
"As the light grows brighter, so too does the darkness of the shadows, my friends."