Fishy business

He glared at the photos. Those marks were stab wounds, and no one could convince Detective Phineas otherwise. He sensed the viciousness with which the murderer had struck through the polaroid pictures. A distant voice dragged Phineas from his bitter loathing.

“Detective, are you alright?" Miss Marina held her black leather agenda tight against her chest. With a pleasant figure with all the right shapes and sizes, Phineas couldn't help but smile seeing her. "The Serge wants to see you in his office right away.”

“About what, Marina? Did you do something with your hair today?”

Marina blushed, her hips twisting ever so gently. “I had it styled a bit differently. It's called a sea-curled bob. Do you like it?"

From across the hall, the sergeant bellowed. “Finn, get your ass in here, now!"

“You look gorgeous, Marina. How come you're still single?”

She laughed nervously, her wide smile complimenting a set of full, perky lips. "I'm just waiting for the right guy to notice me, that's all.”

“Finn, I'll have your ass for breakfast!"

“I better see Serge. Wouldn't want him saving it for lunch.”

Detective Phineas marched down the hallway leaving Miss Marina staring. She felt hungry all of a sudden. Her blood sugar was probably low.

“Detective Phineas Finn, would you mind explaining this." The sergeant dropped a thick file on the desk. “Why is the Abigail case not closed yet? Before you answer, let me give you a warning: if I hear the word murder coming out of your mouth, I swear to Christ you'll be writing parking tickets for the rest of the year."

"Look, Sergeant, I'm telling you there's something fishy about those bodies."

“The flood came and killed those two. They were trapped inside and all sorts of debris impaled their bodies. That's why they died without water in their lungs. The necropsy report is crystal clear. You get me?”

“Yes, Sir, loud and clear. I'll wrap it up before the day is done.”

"Now, detective. I want you done with this fantasy and focused on the job. We got a body downtown. Probably gang related. Get down there. The mayor's up my ass on this one.”

“Any leads? Any whiteness?”

"Some guy called Si Phon called it in. He has shop down there like the rest of those fuckin immigrants."

“Serge, the HR group might take offence to –"

“Get your fucking ass down there and deal with it!"

“Right, on it."

The sergeant ripped open the drawer where he kept his painkillers. He crushed a pill and washed it down with whiskey– no, with a can of sugar-free Mako Max energy drink. Detective Phineas quietly slipped out the door. He could hear the sergeant screaming on the phone as Finn paced down the hallway.

The detective ran all the red lights, tyres screeching, and burning rubber, as he zip-zagged through alleyways. Wearing his leather jacket and sunglasses, he looked like bad company to the cowering shop owner.

"Alright you yellow bastard, let's hear it. What did you see?"

Si Phon Opie, a chubby, stocky man, fixed Detective Phineas with his bulbous eyes. His golden robe clung to his rubensian physique.

“There were these two scavs mauling the guy in purple. I grabbed my bat and scared them off. But the guy was dead before I could get to him.”

"Opie, your fat-ass couldn't scare a blind cat. Tell me the truth or I'll crack open that golden head of yours."

“Alright, man, relax. I locked the door and called the police. By the time those two finished, the guy stopped moving.”

"So he was alive at the time of the attack?”

"He was twitching, like he was on drugs or something, not all there. He didn't even fight back.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Finn caught movement inside Opie’s shop. He saw a hooded figure crouching behind the counter. The detective shoved Opie and reached for his gun. The figure bolted through the back door into the maze-like streets, and Finn sprung into action. The chase was unbelievable: that guy was parkouring over walls and rooftops. Finn struggled to keep up beneath him, smashing through people's windows and drywalls. Right when the guy thought he'd jump to freedom, Finn shot his leg. He stumbled over the edge and plunged toward his death. But Finn caught his ankle from the window one floor beneath. He had the guy dangling from the fourth floor.

“Hey don't let me go, man! I'll tell you everything you want to know! Just please don't – yeek, quit it!”

"I should drop you just for making me run like that. Do you know how much this jacket costs?”

"Look, man, I wasn't in on it. Cory and Oto, those two jumped that guy. He looked like he was spazzing out or something. I just stayed back, you know?”

"What do they call you, creep?"

“I'm Loach, man. If you need to get inside a house I'm your guy. I'm just a thief, I'm no killer. Go ahead, ask around, they'll tell you.”

Detective Phineas snapped the cuffs on him, and dragged him in holding. Like flicking off a switch, the precinct went dark. Eventually, everyone left except Finn. The detective stirred his drink, the gentle clicking of ice against the class was the only thing keeping him company.

“How'd it go, Finn?"

“Oh, Marina, you're still here? Burning the midnight oil?"

“No, I was just worried about you. I heard you chased a guy through a building and shot him. Are you alright?"

“I just nicked him. He's in holding, downstairs. I'm fine, come sit with me. Would you like a drink?"

She sat down beside Finn and smiled awkwardly when the detective touched her glass with his.

“To you, Miss Marina. Cheers!"

“The view is beautiful at night, don't you think so, Finn?"

“Sometimes I feel like this is all a big show, like we're on display for someone's amusement, you know?"

Miss Marina bit her lip.