A/N: Another new story. So much for only writing one at a time.
--------------------------------__________________________________-------------------------
Holly Short awoke to a sharp rapping on the glass of her car window. She opened her eyes, turned her head to see a young Captain standing beside her squad car, and rolled down her window.
"Catchin' a lot of speeders are we?" He asked. Holly closed her eyes again and sighed, leaning her head against the head rest, but before she could say anything he continued, "You really shouldn't be sleepin' on the job. Someone sees you and your hopes of makin' Recon are shot."
"What do you want Trouble?" Holly asked with her eyes still closed.
"I caught a case, Root wants you to help me out," Trouble answered, "Do this right you'll be on the fast track for Recon, if not...well get used to traffic duty."
"You need a ride?"
"Yeah, mine already left." Trouble climbed into the passenger side, "We're headed to the corner of Randolph St. and 116th Ave."
----------------------------------___________________---------------------------------------------
A large crowd that had gathered in front of the house of Lieutenant Rollin Covena, their victim, Lieutenant Droin was trying to keep the press at bay, while a couple of the corporals from his office handled the civilians. Holly and Trouble pushed through the gathered crowd. They flashed their badges to Lieutenant Droin, and he waved them in. Holly and Trouble ducked under the yellow crime scene tape and walked in.
An officer met them at the door. "Corporal Almaden, I was the first officer on the scene," he introduced himself.
"Captains Kelp and Short," Trouble replied, "What've we got?"
"He dropped dead at exactly 2:18 p.m, wife remembered to look at the clock. She administered CPR, but it couldn't bring him back. When I realized who he was I put in a call to Root, and he sent you."
"What about an M.E?" Holly asked.
"Chanson's already inside." Almaden replied. He led Holly and Trouble into the kitchen. Deon Chanson kneeled next to the body, inspecting it.
"Got a T.O.D yet?" Trouble asked, Kneeling beside him and pulling on latex gloves.
"You know how I hate to speculate on such things, Captain Kelp," replied Chanson.
"If you had to speculate?"
"2:18, just like the wife said," Sensing Trouble's next question, Chanson continued, "What possible reason could she have to lie, even if she did kill him."
"You probably have a point," Trouble concluded, "Anything on cause?"
"I've been here a grand total of five minutes, Kelp. I know how you hate it, but you're just gonna have to wait."
"Wait I shall," Trouble replied. He walked the few steps to Holly and asked, "What've you got for me?"
"Crime Scene's baggin' and taggin' pretty much everything in the house and I've got a copy of the wife's statement first officer on the scene took," Holly replied.
-----------------------------________________________________-------------------------------
Chanson made one final note on his preliminary autopsy and looked up at the corpse lying on a steel slab in his morgue. "Well my friend," he told the corpse, "This is strange, very strange indeed. I don't suppose you could tell me how this happened or who did it?" when no one replied he continued, "No? Well, that's okay," he placed his clipboard down and continued, "You know many people find it strange that I talk like this to you, but I find it strange that people like country music."
"I'll agree with you there, Chanson," a voice replied.
"Holly, I didn't hear you come in," Chanson replied.
"What've you got for me?" Holly asked.
"Now, it's just preliminary, and do make sure you mention that to Kelp, but it appeared he had a severe allergic reaction to peanut oil."
"Peanut oil? You'd think everyone there would've known not use any."
"You would indeed, which leads me to suspect it was murder."
-------------------------------______________________________--------------------------------
