Chapter One: An Unexpected Ending

The graduation gown was no substitute for a proper coat in the late November evening air. Why he chose to graduate at the end of the Fall Semester was beyond him. There was no family there to congratulate him and only a few classmates had bothered to say goodbye before rushing off to their own waiting parties. He was alone in the back corner of the dark parking lot. At least that was what he thought.

12:53A.M.
A white male was found dead in a university parking lot after an anonymous call to dispatchers. Two stab wounds to the upper left torso appear to be C.O.D.* Victim has defensive wounds on both arms and a split open lip indicating a struggle before death. The murder weapon was not found at the scene of the crime. Victim's wallet appeared to be untouched. No signs of robbery were present. Identification through state driver's license confirms victim to be Alfred F. Jones; D.O.B** July 4th, 1990.

1:12A.M.
A suspicious person was found at a gas station three blocks away from the crime scene. Suspect showed signs of being in a recent fight. Officers retrieved a knife from the dumpster behind the gas station. The knife tested positive for large amounts of blood; may possibly be missing murder weapon. Suspect was taken in for questioning.

1:35A.M.
Suspect is Lovino "Romano" Vargas. Vargas's younger brother runs the establishment where officers picked him up. Suspect claims that injuries were caused by an unknown male. He claims to have no knowledge of the murder. Vargas's cellular phone number matches that of the anonymous phone call received by dispatchers. The suspect has called for a lawyer.

Arthur looked over his notes for the fifth time that night. He had been working as an investigator for almost five years and still was not used murder cases. This victim struck a new cord with the young officer. Mr. Jones had just graduated and was about to start a life in something he must have worked hard for. To die at the beginning of that new life seemed intolerably sad.

"How long have you been on duty?" a warm voice asked. Arthur looked up from his notes and saw a pair of concerned eyes looking back at him. "You look exhausted."

"I'm alright, Lizzie." Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes tight. "It's been a busy night is all."

Elizabeta sat down on the corner of his desk and offered him a cup of coffee. "I know you prefer tea, but this is all they have in the break room."

"Thank you." Arthur took the cup and blew away the steam emanating for the hot fluid. "Has the deceased's family been notified?"

"We've called his residence, but there was no response. When they went through his cell phone's contacts they found mostly take out numbers. The boy must not have had a home cooked meal in a long time. I know he was a college student and what not, but really… How could anyone eat out so much?"

"And his family?"

"Oh, yeah…" Elizabeta frowned. "We couldn't find any personal numbers. Just a couple professors and take out restaurants. Poor thing must have been a recluse."

"So no one knows he is dead…" Arthur looked at his notes one more time. "That's really too bad."

"It's such a waste of life." Lizzie sipped from her own mug. "He was a looker too."

Arthur shot her a look. "And I suppose if he were heinous you wouldn't mind so much?"

"That's not what I meant, Mr. Kirkland." she rolled her eyes defensively. "It's how I cope. Don't judge me too harshly."

"Aren't there better ways of coping than checking out the victims?"

"Ha-ha-ha. Very funny." Lizzie downed the rest of her coffee and pouted at him. "You're cranky when you're tired. But even a nanny goat like you deserves a break. You were supposed to clock out an hour ago." She snatched away his notes and tidy them up in her lap. "Go home and get a good night's sleep. We have the suspect in custody and no matter how you look at it a jury would easily convict him. Even if he lawyers up, as soon as the D.N.A. tests positive we'll be dragging him into court a guilty man."

"I don't know about that…" Arthur took his notes back and filed them into his briefcase. "It almost seems too easy. I've never had of such an open and shut murder case. The only thing that would make it easier would be if Vargas admitted to the crime."

"Well, count your blessings then. Confession or not we've got him."

"But I cannot help but feel there is more to this. How are the victim and suspect connected?" He began strumming his fingers on the desk as more questions formed in his head. "If nothing was missing from the victim, what was the motive? If robbery is out of the question, what? And why stabbing him in the heart if the two were not well acquainted? I'm sure Vargas's lawyer is going to point all of these facts out. Have we gotten a hold on the gas station's security footage yet?"

"The warrant is sitting on the judge's desk right now. It'll be signed in the morning." Lizzie put a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "You have a lot of questions, and those will be useful in this case, but right now you are going to leave those questions at this desk, go home, and draw yourself a hot bath, then go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow when you are fresh."

"Thank you, Lizzie." He smiled and rose from his chair with stiff joints. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

She waved goodbye with a friendly smile as he walked past scattered desks and cubicles in the less than organized office. The early morning air made his muscles tighten even more. Pulling his suit jacket a little closer, he scanned the lot for his brown Corolla. He jingled his keys as he walked weary-eyed to the familiar vehicle. It was not until he sat down in the worn leather seat that he realized how tired he really was. With a turn of the key, the car started with loud purr. When he turned in his seat to reverse out of his parking space, Arthur was astonished to find a young blonde man sitting in his back seat wearing a brown leather jacket and jeans.

*C.O.D.= Cause of Death
**D.O.B.= Date of Birth