Cutting Edge

I was walking down the street, all ready for my winter vacation with my wife’s family in California, when I saw five police cars parked in the driveway of an old house that everyone called Gram short for Grandma. It was the oldest house on this side of the city, a young woman by the name of Lindy owned the place and often hosted parties. I would know because I often attended said parties.

Curious, I walked up to the nearest officer and asked him what was going on.

“There was a murder at yesterday's ‘Event’ but don’t worry, the police are handling it” he said with a reassuring tone that just made me more ready to give up my nice afternoon to solve a nice hard case.

“Can I ask who was murdered?” I asked pulling my wallet from my back pocket to show the officer my badge.

“Lindy’s daughter Lacy.” he answered when he saw my badge.

“Who all attended the party?” I asked as he led me inside

“The father, the aunt, and a lot of people on the block.” He answered

I walked over to Lacy’s father Levi and asked him to join me for a talk, he just nodded, Step 1, find the people with motive.

“So sir, I understand that your daughter has recently been killed during the recent party” I said trying to make him know that I was on his side. “Can I ask when you last saw her?” I asked,

“I saw her around midnight, then Laurie, my youngest found her at around five” he said his head was tilted downward a sign he was uncomfortable.

“Any suspects so far” I asked

“Not officially, but I think it was that guy she was hanging out with all day, Kevin I think his name was, he left at around four.” he said his tone wavering,

“Sir, I suggest that you go, get some sleep and I will come back tomorrow.” I said as I grabbed my notebook and started writing.

Suspect 1:

Levi

Age 37

Motive:

Victim:

Lacy

Age 15

Last seen with: Kevin-

It was getting darker so I decided to go home, and tell my wife that I would have to work this Christmas. But my dreams were restless, and my heart was heavy as I had known Lacy, she was one of my best friends, someone I could talk to no matter what. Now that she is gone I don’t know what I will do.

The next day I grabbed a cup of coffee at the Moose lake coffee shop, and went straight over to old Gram for more investigation. The mother was said to be on a trip, so I settled on a chat with Lacy’s aunt Rebecca, or Becca as the family called her.

“Hello ma’am, can I ask you a few questions in the parlor?” I asked,

“Sure” she answered shakily,

“How close were you and Lacy?” I asked as I sat down on a big blue sofa,

“Very close, she told me everything, even the midnight outings with Kevin” Becca said, but stopped realising she just told me the exact detail that could get Kevin into trouble,

“Who did you see her with last?” I asked pretending not to notice her fumble,

“Levi, he will often go into the attic with her at around three for family reasons” she said with a sigh.

“Okay ma’am you can go, thank you for cooperating, I will try my best to crack this peanut.” I said as I grabbed my notebook and updated my notes.

Suspect 1:

Levi

Age 37

Motive:

Suspect 2:

Rebecca

Age 45

Motive:

Victim:

Lacy

Age 15

Last seen with: Kevin-Levi-

After updating my notes, I walked around the area where the body had been found, a carpeted spare room with a neatly made bed, a desk lay in the far corner and nothing suggested that someone used a weapon, maybe they stashed it somewhere? I looked under the bed and sure enough inside a box lay a white revolver. But did anyone hear a gunshot?

Kevin came into the house in the late afternoon ready to answer questions and clearly heartbroken,

“Kevin, I hear that you would go out with Lacy at around say 4:30, any reason for this?” I asked

“We loved each other, she and I would go out for Ice Cream every monday night, we went at night because of Levi, I don’t think he liked me hanging out with her” he answered

“Do you know who was last seen with her?” I asked leaning closer, one wrong move in posture and we got him.

“Yeah I think it was Rebecca, she likes to talk with Lacy in the spare bedroom” Kevin answered, “I came for our midnight meeting and she was laying there bleeding out of the head, she was still warm but I forgot to check the clock.” he continued breaking into tears.

I updated my notes,

Suspect 2:

Rebecca

Age 45

Motive: Found out about the meetings and tried to stop it?

Victim:

Lacy

Age 15

Last seen with: Kevin-Levi-Rebecca

Suspect 3:

Kevin

Age 17

Motive: Realized that Levi didn’t like him and attempted to kill him, but hit Lacy instead?

Events:

Party starts 1:00p.m

Lacy goes with Levi to attic like usual at 12:00a.m

Lacy prepares to go with Kevin 4:30a.m

Lacy’s death time 1:00a.m-5:00p.m

I let out a big sigh, then decided to go downstairs and compare information with one of the other detectives.

“We found out that Lacy had another little chat with her little sister Hannah, in the spare bedroom.” Detective John Flow said as I walked up.

“I found a white revolver under the bed” I said with a sigh,

“I will check it for prints, you go home and have a merry christmas.” He said as he turned and walked off to get an officer’s help.

As I walked home, the scene unfolded in my head,

“Lacy, do you know where your dad is?” Rebecca asked,

“I think he is in the attic, tell him I will be right up” Lacy responded with a twinkle in her eye, she walked over to the guest room checking the clock, it said 12:15. “Sorry I am late Kevin.” Lacy said as she took a peak out the window only to see that Kevin wasn’t there.

A gunshot jolted me from the case and my blood ran cold, I turned and ran back toward Gram and found that Rebecca was standing over Detective John Flow’s limp body,

“He was getting too close to the truth.” she said her eyes sparkled with murder, I tried to grab the gun, knowing that with the gun in her hand, I was at risk of getting shot.

“Rebecca, you don’t have to do this, we are only trying to help.” I pleaded,

“No, you're just making everything worse,” she said as she pulled the trigger.

The bullet raced past my head landing in the carpet, I looked up and suddenly the pieces connected. No one heard the gun because of the music, no one checked the room because it is a spare, Rebecca killed Lacy because she was jealous of Lacy’s love, the one thing she never had.

Kevin wasn’t at the window like usual,

“What are you doing?” Rebecca asked as she walked into the room,

“Looking for Kevin, do you know where he is?” Lacy asked,

“You know, I think he left early” Rebecca responded as she reached for her prized possession her white revolver,

“Okay, I guess I will go check on the bench.” Lacy said as she climbed out the window,

“Wait, I need your help. I lost my gold ring and I can’t see without my glasses, would you help me?” Rebecca asked,

“Sure, I will look under the bed” Lacy said as she came back through the window, Rebecca pulled the gun and shot three times.

“You killed Lacy.” I said as I stood,

“Very good, now you have to die too” Rebecca said, “Goodbye.” she continued with a smirk.

The next few seconds were a blur, three cops came in and took in the scene, after a slight delay they arrested Rebecca for the murder of Lacy Noelle Beacon on the 17th of december. Levi and Lacy had attic meetings to study for upcoming exams and talk about life. Hannah and Lindy and Laurie were not at all suspects, Kevin however was arrested for murder of his other girlfriend Sadie Grace Everfrost.

What happened to me? I left that day and enjoyed a nice cup of tea with my wife and a lovely Christmas with my family.