I look around the room everyone is waiting for me to conclude my deductions I look at Rena she has a stern face ready for whatever comes next. I continue, "Following their movements leads us directly to our culprit. The culprit in question made three big mistakes after the crime that will prove to be fatal. One the culprit never managed to get the flash drive onto the body they were interrupted by something before they did. Two the culprit never managed to completely get rid of all the blood from the victim. Lastly the culprit never showed up to a certain place on time. In order to to reveal each of these mistakes let us first turn to my colleague Mr. Iskandar Snickerdoodle." I grinned I have always wanted to say that.
Iskandar looked stunned, "M-me? We are rivals why would I help you in any way you little worm." I laugh, "I don't need your help, but I will congratulate you, after all you are a hero. Who did you say gave you the flash drive?" My ego boosting seemed to do the trick Iskandar stood tall, and prideful he responds, "H-hero? Me? Right after all I am the great Iskandar Snickerdoodle. I received the flash drive from that Roe boy. Rie had it on him, so I questioned him, and he handed it over." I smiled without his confirmation what I said next would not work as effectively. I continue, "Right next we should turn our attention to Korn." Korn gave me a look of compliance he was ready to respond. I question, "Officer Korn you've been with the force for a long time I can tell." Officer Korn puffs out his chest in pride, "Yes sir I am 46 years old I have been with the force for 24 years now."
I say happily, "Right is it not very important to arrive at the scene of a crime as an officer in a punctual manner?" Korn affirmed, "Why yes it is very important just this morning I had to scold Roe here for not getting to the scene on time. We are the publics first line of defense punctuality is very important for any officer on duty." I nod, "I would expect no less of officers of Sweetwater. Korn is an example of what all officers should strive to do." I stare Roe dead in his green eyes now filled with fear his eyes lack maturity his face round, and lacking of any facial hair. The man Roe looks like he belongs elsewhere not on the force, but perhaps behind a desk. I take a look at his nametag slightly disheveled it reads Roe Everend. I finish my statement I declare, "I hereby indict Roe Everend as the culprit who murderer Fez Sobrey in cold blood in the alleyway." The room goes silent everyone looks at me with wide eyes, and then at Roe whose face has gone fully pale.
Roe snaps out of his shock, "N-no me? Why me? I didn't do it there is no evidence of that. Gingerbread sir, surely you don't mean that surely this is a jest I haven't said a word!" I clear my throat, "You never needed to say anything your actions spoke for you. You killed Fez, and you arrived after Korn because you were wrapping up some loose ends such as the flash drive, and the police actually got to the scene a bit after 8:30 am you probably arrived 5-10 mins late." Roe attempts to defend himself, "N-no there is no evidence I was late because I had to do some errands first." He paused attempting to regain his compare he all but shouts out, "Proof give me physical proof with all due respect you have nothing!" His eyes swirl a frenzy seemingly overtaking Roe I sigh, "Just give it up Roe firstly the flash drive was edited from your laptop, once we search your laptop I am sure we can find proof there. Even if we can't I am sure you left your old clothes either in your police car, or in a trashcan nearby. In the hour timespan you had I doubt you had much time to dispose of all the evidence properly considering you had a lot to do. I do have to ask was this a rush job? Clearly this was only planned just this morning, or maybe even the night before."
Roe's face froze anger seemed to build behind the surface, "Your just a newbie you don't know anything! You have no physical evidence! You have nothing but that stupid tongue of yours, and that useless ability." I smile I take a look at the watch that Roe is wearing the time read 10:45 am I noticed this earlier, but there is a tiny dot of red on the six on his watch. I smile, "This useless ability just led to your downfall in my vision before Fez died, I saw something silver before my vision faded away. That silver thing I recognize it now. It was your watch Fez saw it before he died." I approach Roe before he can hide the watch I point to his watch, "Everyone take a look at his watch on the number six there is a bloodstain what do you suppose this is from?" Roe glances at the watch he sees what I mean he quickly tries to hide the watch from view with his other hand.
Korn standing close by springs into action he grabs Roe hand prying it away from the watch with his other hand he removes the watch dexterously. He holds it up for everyone to see on the watch near the six there is a tiny little blood spot. I laugh, "You keep crying about physical evidence well I would of had you in checkmate anyways, but this wraps things up nicely. On that watch should be Fez's blood if we have it tested it should match up with the victims." Roe's face gives into despair as he realizes the road to freedom is collapsing in front of him. Roe's face contorts in blind rage he begins to take ragged breathes, "N-no! Its that stupid posh god damn dumbass he stopped me before I could return the flash drive. He always has to order me around like I am nothing under his foot its his fault I have to suffer like this!"
Roe continues his tantrum like a child that being scolded, "I did it! Are you happy? That little shit Fez was going to ruin me he would of told everyone in the force that I was buying shady information. Ah!" He yells after a moment his mind seemingly racing he pointed over at a gang member one I recognize from earlier Lutz. Roe says in a rushed manner, "And you! You said this would go seemlessly! That I would get off a free man all I had to do was keep my mouth shut! That since Rena would be honor bound she would keep her mouth shut nobody, and nobody would question me!" I glance at the man Lutz his gold eyes intense as he is verbally assaulted by Roe he remains calm in the face of a new threat. Lutz says with a cocky grin, "What could you possibly be talking about kid I don't even know you I would never associate with a police dog." Rena chimes in, "Enough Lutz this charade ends now I already know about your involvement in Fez's death you are the traitor that I was having Fez look into."
Lutz's composure falters, "Tr-tratior? What are you talking about I have been loyal to the rising eagles since day one!" Rena scoffs, "Don't give me that I know that you were loyal to another gang once the iron blood syndicate they dealt with serious drugs. Fez dug up information that you really are still loyal to them, and that joining our gang was just so you could destroy us from the inside." Lutz went pale he couldn't seem to come up with a proper retort. I asked Roe, "At the very least tell me this, was the murder spur of the moment, or at the very least tell me what lead you down this path to murdering Fez." Roe looked at me it would appear some guilt had begun to surface, "Listen I never hated Fez never wanted to kill him I was fine with this entire exchange ending with this as the last deal. Lutz yesterday had begun sowing the seeds of doubt into my mind. I had allied myself with the rising eagles a half a year ago I needed money times were tough, and working as an officer these last few years hasn't always paid the bills."
He looked at Korn sadness welling up on his face, "Paying my rent in the rough side of town wasn't easy, but I found a new way to make money. I could pay a small fee to the rising eagles for information on other gangs drug routes, or dealings, gangs like the syndicate. I got prestige as an officer, and pocketed the drug money for myself to help with the bills. Times were good I was able to pay my rent on time, and my fellow officers treated me with some respect I wasn't just a screw up anymore." He looked at the floor his face full of regret, "Lutz filled my head with fear yesterday when we met up for our usual exchange. He exchanged information with me as usual, but said he would throw me a bone for our continued partnership. He told me that Fez was going to stab me in the back tomorrow, and that when I got to the alleyway he would threaten to turn me in to the police. I couldn't have that this was my only reliable source of income, I would go to jail, and worst of all my friends in the force would cast me out like a dog."
He paused for a moment he looked at Korn, "I felt like I had no way out, so I decided yesterday that with Lutz we would make a plan to take out Fez. Everything else is just like you said Gingerbread sir." Korn looked shocked, but also resolute, a few other officers arrived in the room it would appear that Korn had called them in earlier. Korn looked at Roe, "I always saw promise in you kid, shame it had to end this way. Come quietly son." Roe looked dejected as they put handcuffs on him he glanced at me and then at Rena, "I know I can't ever make up for what I have done, but I am sorry, both you and Fez never never deserved this." Rena never said a word she put on a brave face as Roe got escorted out. She looked at the ground sadness in her eyes, "Stupid kid," she whispered. I didn't know if she was talking about Fez, Roe, or Lutz either way she seemed to bask in melancholy.
Lutz on the other hand went out kicking and screaming multiple officers had to retrain him as he had planned a murder, and was an accomplice to murder. Some of the rising eagles namely Marcus had to help hold Lutz in place as he screamed in a rage. He yelled out, "Unhand me I had nothing to do with this that stupid rat bastard officer is way off the mark I am not the accomplice!" I gave a somewhat childish bow to the officers leading out a screaming Lutz. Rena mocked, "Not bad kid don't let it get to your head though you got a long way to go before you earn my respect" I laughed, "Hopefully that day won't come I don't plan on hanging out with the rising eagles everyday." Iskandar interjected he looked defeated, but also determined, "I can't believe you solved the case before me, uh how lucky can one get that evidence fell right into your lap. Next time you won't be so lucky remember that ginger boy! I raised my hand as I exited the room, "Oh I wont soon forget the man that made this all possible thank you Iskandar! I hope you'll show off more of your key deductions in the next case" I chuckle as I walk back outside into the fresh air this is what it means to feel the satisfaction of solving your first case. I bask in the feeling, there is nothing like the freedom that comes in this moment, and one I plan to keep feeling for a long time.