Case Closed

Case Closed

By Ingrid Iselin

Dedicated to Michael P. Iselin, my grandfather. He died on December 14 2016

He did not get to read this story before he died he was a big influence on my writing skills

Maple Leaf Writing Project

Brattleboro, Vermont

2017

Chapter 1

A Bad Beginning

It was Tuesday, Tiffany was driving in her black convertible back to the police department, after giving a talk at a middle school about the dangers of drugs. Tiffany was 23 and very attractive. She had long hair that was down to her elbows. It was dark at the roots and light at the tips. Tiffany was a sergeant at her Father's police department. Her father was chief of police. Which was hard at times because of what her father expected of her.

As she was driving back she thought to herself “Well that talk with the students went well.” Suddenly she heard the dispatcher chattering on her radio the dispatcher was calling all the cars back!

I have to get back it sounds serious Tiffany thought as She pressed her foot on the accelerator, but then thought, Not too fast because I'm a police officer have to set a good example.

When Tiffany got to the police department, a well built man with dirty blond hair and a dark brown beard came out to meet her.

“Hey Dad, what’s up” Tiffany said cheerfully

Tiffany’s Father said solemnly ”sorry to lower the mood but there was a women that died up in the hills . I have assigned you and Wallace to the case.”

Hearing this news her optimism shattered like a glass on a marble floor. Even though this was not her first case she knew that it would be an important to her career one, ever since joining the force, everyone had thought that since she was a girl and she was young that she could not do the job as well as Detective Wallace and her father. She decided that this case she would be able to prove by way of her determination and intelligence that she could do just as good a job as anyone. She knew that she could prove not only to her dad but also to Detective Wallace.

Detective Wallace was a tall, well built man with dark short hair.

”Hello sir. Ready to solve this case?” Tiffany asked with determination and confidence in her voice. Unfortunately she had asked it with more confidence than she had meant to. Which had mabey sent the wrong message.

“Easier said than done Tiffany,” said Detective Wallace

Tiffany felt ashamed and frankly embarrassed.

They walked to the car in an awkward silence. When they started driving Detective Wallace told Tiffany what he knew

“Like you I don’t know very much but i do know that she is very wealthy and has a husband and one son” Detective Wallace said.

“ Do we know anything about the son?” Tiffany inquired

“ Not much and we can’t get very much info until we get the fingerprints and the background checks tomorrow. We know that they have a butler.” Detective Wallace said

When they got there Tiffany saw police cars, caution tape, and three men, one of them looked to be Tiffany’s age. Two of the three men were crying. The third was talking Deaven Ryder who was an officer at the department and Gabrielle Nelson. Gabriel came to meet them and said

‘We don’t know very much about what happened we do know is that she was writing letters when she died.” Gabrielle said.

“Thanks Gaby” Tiffany said.

When Tiffany and Detective Wallace went into the house. The house smelled of of honey come right out of the beehive. It was enormous. There were four balconies. It had two equally beautiful

gardens with roses, hedges, daffodils, violets, forget- me-nots, sunflowers, and daisies. Water fountains, sculptures of horses and angels. The house itself was fitting for the landskap, the walls were made of marble and had ivy climbing up the them. The inside of the house was just as beautiful as the outside. With all the fancy furniture and diamonds in the chandelier it was like a museum in their home! After walking through the hundreds of maze like rooms, and up the many stairs,

Tiffany looked down near the desk in the room and gasped! She had seen a dead people before but this one took her by surprise. The victim looked like she had died in horrendous agony. She looked like she was screaming! Her muscles had frozen which made her appear posed.

Then the medical examiner looked up and said sarcastically, “Maybe you could keep your reactions to yourself. I on the other hand have a job to do.” Tiffany Nervously laughed to cover up her mistake.. Well so much for the good start Tiffany thought.

The medical examiner jumped back to the point. “The victim’s name is Karen. She was fifty years old. By the looks of her position, and facial expression I’d say she has been poisoned. But I will have to get it back to the lab to just make sure.”

Chapter 2

Suspects

“Thank-you.” Detective Wallace said solemnly.

They walked outside to find the family. The three men looked up as Tiffany and Detective Wallace came over.

”Hello this is sergeant Tiffany and I'm Detective Wallace, we need to talk to you. Are you ready to talk to us?“ He asked officially. The oldest man said,

“Yes. Come inside it is quieter in there.”

Tiffany was ready to go back inside even though she had been outside for less than 2 minutes. Because of all the noises of the cameras and people talking it was just too much noise.

After walking past a dozen new rooms again, they finally got the the gigantic “living room” that was way too big to be a living room. It was more like a ballroom. When they sat down Detective Wallace started the conversation “Can you each tell me your names and then tell me how you Karen?” The older man spoke calmly ”My name is Frank, and Karen was my wife. We have been married for thirty-one years. Two weeks ago was our anniversary.”

Next the youngest of the men spoke thoughtfully. “My name is Aaron. Karen was my mother.”

“My name is Collins, Collins Trimmings, and I am the butler in this household.” said the last of the three men very haughtily.

”Good, thank you,” Detective Wallace said “and could you illustrate what happened throughout this morning?”

Frank said “ Yes of course! I woke up at about 7:30 to get our family picnic ready, Collins was already up, he is always up first, so while he was cleaning I made the picnic.. It was a special treat on me since I am at work so much. Then at about 8:30 Aaron got up and then Karen never got up, so I went upstairs to look for her and saw that she was dead on her bed.”Said Frank with tension in his voice as if he was trying to to convince them. But like he was trying to hold back a cry.

“You know frank that you should not hold back the tears, there is no shame in it.” Tiffany said

I know,” Frank said bursting into tears. “I can’t believe that she’s gone.”

“Thank you is there anything else.” Detective Wallace said everyone looked at each other but not anyone had anything else to say. Seeing this they left.As they were walking out Aaron came out to meet them and said “you do know that I expect you to find out who killed my mother. And please let me know of any progress as soon as possible, if I am living with a murderer I would like to know.”

“We will let you know as soon as possible what we can tell you. We will see you tomorrow Aaron.”

“I don't q trust him. He is too shifty,” said Detective Wallace

Chapter 3

Batrachotoxin

“ Huh?” said Tiffany who wasn't paying attention at all. Because she was thinking how Karen could have been poisoned. “She must have been poisoned with a shot that someone gave her this morning.” she said. Tiffany had a tendency to say things out of context. Now it was Detective Wallace turn to say it

”Huh?”

“She must have been poisoned with a shot that someone gave her this morning . How else would she have been murdered.” she said agen

“Woah Tiffany! Hold on, we don’t even know if she has been murdered.”

“No we don’t, and we won't know until we have had word from the lab, But if she was murdered…”

“....If she was murdered. We still don’t know if she was murdered or not!” Detective Wallace said with annoyance in his voice.

“No but we have to look at all the possibilities if she was murdered or committed suicide or if it was just an accident.”

Just then Detective Wallace’s phone rang the Detective answered “Hello…… uh-uh……alright we will be right down.”

Then turning to Tiffany, said “ The medical examiner asked us to come to the lab. So it looks like it is time to find out who is right. When they got to the Lab the medical examiner came out dressed in green and had a matching green mask on and said.

“Well my thought of her being poisoned were right she was poisoned by Batrachotoxin. All you have to do is touch the frog and you are at risk of dying.

Which kills you in about 3 minutes. It stiffens the nerves and casses you to stop breathing.”

“Wait it is a frog? Tiffany said

“Yes. It is a frog, comes from brazil” the medical examiner confirmed. ”Commonly known as the poison dart frog. It is just as small as the tip of your index finger but has enough poison to kill a few elephants. Unfortunately there is no know cure for it.”

“Does it live in our climate” Tiffany asked

“ No it only lives in Brazil.”

“Well, thank you for this helpful information we will now be on our way” Detective Wallace said.

Chapter 4

Sofie

When they went back to the murder scene. When they got there they found Aron there with a girl.

Who have we here?” Detective Wallace said

“Allow me to introduce myself my name is Sophie I’m Aron’s girlfriend.” the girl said.

“Then tell me Sofie why weren’t you hear erler?” Detective Wallace asked.

“That's because we all just got back from Brazil and I had been there the day before and I live across the state so I went home to get my homework done.” Sofie said.

Tiffany narrowed her eyes in interest

“What do you mean by we all?”Detective Wallace said

“The whole family Frank, Karen, Collins, Aaron, Betsy, and myself” Sofie said.

“Who is Betsy and why did she come?”Tiffany asked.

“Betsy is our friend and the reason she came is ……. Well the reason that Aaron, Betsy, and I went is because it was for a research project for college. Kern found out that we were going and wanted to come along. Such a sweet women too. Can you tell me how she died?” Sofie asked

“I am sorry but that is classified information.”Detective Wallace said

“Well alright.”Sofie said astonished that they would not tell her

“We will be on our way hope to see you soon.”Detective Wallace said

When they drove back to the police department and said good night Tiffany drove to her family's house for dinner.

“So how was your day Tiffany”her father said as they sat down for dinner.

“It was very stressful but I think that we're getting somewhere.”Tiffany said.

“Well it's good that you are getting somewhere. Who do you think it is?”her mother said.

Tiffany answered “they are all very good suspects so I can't rightly say.” After they finished the dinner small talk and dinner. Tiffany said her farewells and went home.

Chapter 5

Backarounds

The next day they met up the police department to consolidate all of the information as they had done so many times in the past.

“ All right let’s get this day started,” Detective Wallace said “Karen.”

Tiffany answered immediately “the victim killed with the poison dart frog or Batrachotoxin. Her only backgrounds are parking tickets from when she was younger.”

“Frank”

“Husband of Karen but nothing in his background not even parking ticket.”

“Collins.”

“Buttler of the family. He has been accused of robbery but nothing provin.”

“ Realy ? Interesting, Aron.”

“The son of Karen he got his first speeding ticket last month.”

“And last but not least Sofie.”Detective Wallace said

“She is Aron’s girlfriend and has got a few speeding tickets, and a few parking tickets. Also she is in a lot of financial trouble ”

“Collins murdered karn! We have to go to the murder scene.”Detective Wallace said Urgently.

Chapter 5

Evidence

When they got there they found colins looking through every drawer and cabinet. Tiffany and Detective Wallace nodded at each other Tiffany went behind Collins.

“Collins, what are you doing “ Detective Wallace said

“I’m…… um …trying to find a …a…a fork.”Collins said.

“That's odd because you are the butler you should know where the forks are.”Detective Wallace said

But before Collins Could answer a member of the search team came rushing in and said

“Tiffany! Sir! We found the poison!”

“You did? Let's go then.”Detective Wallace said

The three ran out to where ten people were standing.

“Sir here is the poison.” the police officer said pointed to a patch of all grass.

“ Thank you “Detective Wallace said.

Then something caught Tiffany eye

“Sir may I see that bottle please.”Tiffany said

“Sure Tiffany, here you go.”Detective Wallace said

Tiffany held the bottle up to the light and saw a goat hair in the

Liquid that was in the bottle

“O my god it's you isn't it? Sir I know who killed Karen ”Tiffany said

“Yes I know it was Collins“ Detective Wallace said

“No it was not“ Tiffany responded

“Really? Then I will call everyone together” Detective Wallace said sarcastically

“Yes. Why don't you do that. It would be very helpful,” Tiffany said ignoring the sarcasm.

Chapter 6

Busted

“Fine we both have different ideas of who killed karn. I will make a bet with you if you are right I owe you a dinner but if I am right then you owe me a drink. Deal?”Detective Wallace asked

“Deal, may the best man win” Tiffany agreed with a definite hint of attitude in her voice

Wants everyone was together Tiffany came out with Detective Wallace next to her. Then she began

“ This case was very difficult to solve. Collins we found you rummaging through cabinets.Why?”

“ I did not kill her if that's what you think .”Collins said

“No I know you did not kill her, you may be secretive but you are not a murderer. Aron you would receive a lot money.”

“ Even for all the money in the world I would not kill my mother!”

“No you did not kill her either. I have found nothing against Frank but Sofie

…Sofie Sofie Sofie you Knew that you were about to be in a lot of financial debt so thinking that you and Aron were going to get engaged killed karn for the money.”

“ How could I have killed Karn if I was five hours away.”Sofie asked.

“ I’m so glad that you brought that up. You knew that kern sent letter to her parents every week so you put Batrachotoxin which you bought in brazil and pout on her envelope with your makeup brush three minutes after she liked it she would be dead.”

“And why would I use a makeup brush ?”Sofie asked

“ Because if you touched it you would die.” Tiffany asked

“ How come you think I was the one to buy the poison. Everyone hand a chance to .” Sofie asked

“ You were the only one that had a motive. Why would Frank kill his wife. Why would Aron kill his one mother. And why would Collins kill her she is the one that give him his paycheck?”Tiffany inquired.

Sofie started to cry “It was for us Aaron it was for us!”

“Lock her up” Tiffany said, then turning to Detective Wallace said “Now where's that drink?”

“All right you won. So where do you want to go?” Detective Wallace said

“How about Maggie’s bar?” Tiffany said

“Alright. Good job you earned it.”Detective Wallace said

After their drink at Maggie”s bar Tiffany went back to the police department to get her stuff. She saw her father there.

“Dad what are you doing here?” Tiffany asked.

“Well when I heard how you brought the murderer out in the open I knew you had to have this.”he handed her an envelope. Tiffany had just opened so many possibilities.

“A promotion?” she starmered

“Yep deputy detective Tiffany a promotion. Congrats!” her father said clearly proud.

Tiffany felt like she could take on any challenge murders, robberies, kidnapping, but most importantly the challenges of herself.

! The End !