Alright, so here's my new story. I have no idea how long it's going to be, probably quite a bit. I'm sorry for all gramatical mistakes, don't hesitate to point them out foir me. Also my first time writing a criminal story. If you have anything to say, or just want to make me happy, leave a comment :) Thanks and enjoy


''So what do we have here?'' asked the detective, passing under the yellow tape the policemen set up around the alley. At first sight, nothing much happened there. It was just a normal alley, not different from many others that were in New York. Some dirty trashcans , graffiti on the brick walls, and smell of god-knows-what lingering in the air. Yet, this particular alley caught interested of about five police officers and now even a crime detective.

''Man, circa 25, stabbed in back. We can't say much more till coroner arrives.'' Informed him one of the officers and detective put away his sunglasses. It wasn't even sunny, but he had really sensitive eyes and had to wear sunglasses almost all the time he went out of his apartment in Soho. Now he put them away and kneeled over to examine the cause of all the circus in that small uninteresting alley.

The corpse belonged to man, around 25, just like the officer stated. He had curly, brown hair and tanned skin, and if one didn't notice two round holes in his chest which edges stained the white shirt with dark red smears, he could have looked like he was taking a nap. His eyes were closed, as he was probably already reconciled with his death, whatever the reason he died might have been. But then again, that was detective's job to find that out.

''Any ID's?'' he asked, looking closer at the body. He stopped feeling sadness over the dead few years ago. You couldn't do different when working as a crime investigator. He turned his eyes at the officer, who shook his head.
''He's missing any ID in his wallet.''

Well, that was certainly unexpected, detective thought.

''That doesn't seem like a robbery then. Did they took anything else?''

''No sir. We found his cellphone, and wallet with money and some club cards, but nothing from which we could identify him. The culprit obviously doesn't want us to know who he is…or was.''

Detective nodded. It was surely strange, but no big problem, they will find his identity anyway, it will just take a little more time. Then he got an idea. He stood up, walked back to his car and from back seat pulled out his bag, from which he fetched rubber gloves. He put them on and returned to the corpse, gently lifting the man's head off the floor.

The officers around watched him with confused faces, but before any of them could ask, the detective explained what he was doing.

''His suit isn't such a fancy brand, but not exactly the cheapest either. It looks worn out, so he probably wears it a lot, and assuming he cannot afford another one…'' he stopped as he tugged at collar of the suit and looked at it.''he would at least sign this one.'' He finished and smirked when he find name sewn on the inner part of the collar.

''If he's the owner of the suit, his name is .'' The officers immediately scribbled the name down in their notepads.

''We'll check that, sir.''

''Good. I…'' he was interrupted by buzzing of his pager, so he just gave it a quick look and straightened up, turning at his fellow policemen.

''Unfortunately, I must be going now. I'll come to central later. Good bye for now.''

And with that, he turned on the heel of his shiny leather shoe and walked away. When his car went over the corner, policemen let out a deep breath. One of them whistled quietly.

''That guy is a class, I must admit. Though he has this funny accent.''

''You've never worked with detective Kirkland before? He's been one of the best in New York ever since he came here from London. He's idol of every one each of us. If only he would be more friendly…''


Later that evening, detective Arthur Kirkland sat in his office on Manhattan, sipping from his cup of black tea as he looked through the report on his computer. Many more facts were added meanwhile he was busy with another, fortunately much easier murder in China town. The man's full name was Antonio Fernandez Carriedo, and he was first generation of Spanish immigrants born in the States. He had graduated from some common high school and was working as common office worker in some import company. Nothing out of ordinary with him. He paid his taxes and his bills on time, he had no criminal record, damn, that guy hadn't been ever seriously ill or injured. And yet his normal life ended so early in that dark alley with two well aimed stabs of, how coroner stated, boning knife. And it was Arthur's job to find out why. He skipped through the record some more. No family known, parents deceased…oh wait, he had adoptive younger brother. Had someone called him yet? He didn't know, and the body hadn't been officially identified. So he put his cup down on the table and reached over to phone and dialed number of that brother.

It rang. Once, twice, three times.

And then someone picked up.

''Hello?'' rather grumpy voice on the other end of the line asked.

''Good evening. This is Arthur Kirkland, detective of New York's crime investigatory office. Am I speaking to Lovino Vargas?''

It took a while for man to answer, but he eventually did.

''Yes, this is Lovino. How can I help you detective?'' he used the word 'detective' without any sort, any hint of respect others usually had.

''Could you please come to the police central on Manhattan as soon as possible? We need to ask you a few question regarding your brother.''

''My brother? What happened to Feliciano? Is he alright?'' now, he didn't sound really that concerned, it was more like he said what he was supposed to say. Arthur was startled for a brief moment though. Feliciano?

''No, I'm talking about your step brother, An-''

''Oh, you mean Antonio. What kind of trouble did that idiot got himself into?''

Detective frowned at the bold rudeness with which he had been interrupted, but decided to let it go, considering what he was about to tell to that man…or boy, judging from the fact the sounded like one. He took a quick sip of his tea before continuing, concentrating his glare on the photos included in the report.

''I'm sorry I don't think it should be explained over the phone. If you just came-''

''Listen, detective. I ain't coming anywhere until you give me a god dammned good reason to! Got it? Now tell me what happened to that Spanish asshole.''

That made Arthur furrow his bushy eyebrows. He knew very well what it was like to have a shitty brother, he had three, but it wasn't adequate reason to talk like this about them to anyone! That boy obviously didn't respect anyone!

''Please restrain of using such a foul language…'' , he said, earning a grumpy 'pfff' as answer, but he continued anyway.'' I understand this might bother you, but I still think you should come here and here me out, because this isn't any easy matter…''

''Easy what?!'' Lovino barked in the phone and Arthur realized that as the boy was getting angrier, his accent was coming out, but it wasn't clear Spanish accent, rather mixed with something, but he couldn't think of with what…

''Easy matter.'' He repeated.

''Right…I'm not coming! Leave me alone and tell that bastard to solve his own problems!''

Arthur realized the other is about to hung up and caught on his last chance.

''He can't do that because he's dead!''

After that amost yelled sentence, the line was quiet for a while, but so long while that detective almost thought that the other actually hang up, until he heard something like a deep breath from the phone.

''..what?''

This time, Lovino's voice was quiet and he spoke slowly, almost as if he was about to die or at least faint.

''Dead. We found him this morning in an alley at Brooklyn with two stabs in chest.''

''…I-I'll come right now..i-if that's fine…''

''Thank you. Ask for me when you'll get here.''

Lovino hang up. Arthur put the speaker down and sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. That didn't go as smoothly as he expected. And something was telling him this case won't be smooth at all.

And it wasn't. When Lovino came, Arthur took him to see the corpse. Lovino clearly identified him as his step brother, and although it was one of a prude, detective honestly felt sorry for him. He had seen many people morning over loss of someone dear, but seeing that prudish, auburn-haired Italian(he learned that when he heard him speak directly and realized that the accent was Italian) cry and sob still made his heart clench and he was getting feeling that whoever this Antonio really was, he shouldn't have died. But as he walked Lovino to the man's dark red FIAT, he became confused. And he remained confused even when broken Italian drove away, probably to cry himself to sleep.

He returned to his office even though the time was close to eleven p.m. He made himself another cup of tea and thought about the case. From what Lovino had said, he had seen Antonio for the last time the day before yesterday, on Tuesday, when he left for work, but that was because Lovino himself was visiting his real brother on the other end of the city, he stayed there for two nights and returned to his and Antonio's shared apartment just about two hours before Arthur called him. They still have two days in which they had no idea what happened. Arthur hoped that his upcoming visit of Antonio's office would help them, since the coroner stated the death sometime around Wednesday midnight. He looked at the man's photography from his office, where he was standing next to some pretty girl and smiling widely. From what Lovino said, Arthur judged that Antonio was carefree, happy and positive person that everyone liked. Then why did they kill him?

He was determined to find out.


''Ah, detective Kirkland. We were so sad after your call. Antonio wasn't the smartest worker, but he was a good guy. Friendly…'' the director of the department Antonio worked in led Arthur through the cubicles to particular one. They were getting sad looks from everyone around and that only supported Arthur's theory about how popular must that guy have been.

''Here…he worked.'' The director, fatty small man with bald head showed him Antonio's workplace and sighed again. ''Tell me, detective, will you find the one who did it to him?''

''I'm sure we will them in front of right judgment.'' He assured him as he looked through the cubicle. It was small place, but Antonio managed to make it seem nice. He had brought some flowers, one of which seemed to be miniature tomato plant, and put them on his table. His computer was covered in funny happy stickers, most of them being tomatoes and sunflowers with gold shiny edges. He had calendar with sceneries from Spain, and a bright red mug with inscription, saying he was the 'best gardener'. There were also several photo frames with pictures, most of them being Antonio and Lovino. Antonio and Lovino on the beach, Antonio and Lovino in amusement park (Arthur noticed Lovino's lack of amusement), Antonio and Lovino and three other people in front of small house. He looked closely at that one. One of the others looked really similar to Lovino, from which he concluded that it must have been Feliciano, his real brother. Other two were older and tanned, probably Antonio's parents. The last photography had Lovino, Antonio and some blonde girl on tomato plantation, their faces kissed by sun and their smiles big, even Lovino smiled. He turned to the director, showing him the photography.

''Who is this girl?''

The director shook his head.

''I don't know. He talked only about him…'' he pointed at Lovino. Arthur looked at the girl again. Could this be his girlfriend? He certainly didn't hear about her from Lovino. But why would Antonio keep only one photo of her, while having so many of his family? Maybe it was Lovino's girlfriend.

''So you're saying he was working on Wednesday?'' he asked while examining the rest of the cubicle.

''Yes. He worked all his shift on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.''

''Did anything unusual happen? Did he mention someone, for example?''

''I don't think so, and I wouldn't know anyway. Ask Gilbert Bieldschmidt, he should know.''

''Gilbert…could you repeat that?'' he asked, taking out his notepad, ready to write the name.

''Bieldschmidt. He works in department of Alcoholic beverages.''

''Department of Alcoholic beverages?'' Arthur raised his eyebrows, wondering whether was director making fun of him or not.

''Detective, we're one of the biggest importing companies in the whole States. We have many departments, like cosmetics, food, clothing, electronic devices, ..Antonio worked in food department. We had to put Alcoholic beverages away because of some laws about importing alcohol…''

''I see. And who is this Gilbert?''

''He and Antonio were really good friends. Even I heard of some of their many 'night adventures', so if anyone knows what Antonio was doing Wednesday evening, it's Gilbert.''

Arthur wanted to smile, but he knew it would be inappropriate. Night adventures? This Gilbert was the person he was looking for.

He took the photo with the blonde girl, thanked the director and when he was told the directions to Gilbert's department, he left Antonio's cubicle, one of many sad traces the man left behind.

''I'm sorry, Gilbert isn't here today.'' Informed him the receptionist of the department when he arrived and asked for him.

''He isn't?''

''No. You know, his best friend died, so he took a day off.'' The woman explained quietly and smiled sadly.''Poor Antonio, it's such a loss…''

''I know, madam. I'm detective Kirkland, in charge of investigation of mister Carriedo's case. I need to speak with Gilbert Bieldschmidt.'' He explained with low voice, showing her his badge.''So if you have any idea where he could be right now…''

The girl thought about it for a while, and then looked at Arthur sheepishly.

''He often talks about one bar in Brooklyn.''

That was what Arthur needed to hear.

''What bar?''


It wasn't that much surprise that the bar was only two streets from the place of crime. It's name was ''Three corsairs and warlock''. It had kind of stylish look, being all designed to pirate style with some spices of wizardry. And he hadn't even entered yet, but thought it looked kind of nice and he might go there for a few drinks someday. Although he was appraised detective, he had a weak point for drinking, but it wasn't like he was getting drunk on every day basis! Just..every week or so…

Just as he was about to go inside, he ran into some guy with a huge box, and they ended up sprawled across the street.

''Ouch…'' he said quietly and glared at that clumsy guy, who dropped the bag and now was trying to collect all those…were those boxes with ice-cream?

''Watch where you're going with that box!'' he snarled at him, which caused the boy turned at him.

He had really nice blue eyes, blonde hair, glasses, and altogether, he looked like a king of graduation prom. Yep, he was also incredibly young-looking. He could be considered a celebrity, …until he opened his mouth.

''Geez, sorry dude. I couldn't see you o'er the box, you are the one who should watch!'' he complained loudly and if Arthur thought Lovino spoke without respect, he had to rethink it to make a place for this guy. He stood up, trying to clean his suit of the dirt.

''You annoying brat, you should watch!''

''Told ya I'm sorry, didn't I?'' the boy whined, collecting all the boxes and stuffing them in the big paper one he dropped, and then he checked Arthur out. Yes, he literally checked him out with those blue eyes.

''You look like you need ice-cream.''

Well, Arthur certainly didn't see that coming. Ice-cream?

''Do I look like I need ice-cream?'' he asked coldly and glared at other from behind his sunglasses.

''I already said you do! So why don't you come over there to the candy store? We have the best ice-cream in whole Brooklyn!'' he said excitedly and pointed at some colorful candy store across the street. Arthur gave him another glare though.

''I don't have time for ice-cream.''

The boy shrugged.

''Well, we're open non-stop, so come when you DO have time.''

Arthur nodded, just to get away from the annoying boy. It's not like he was ever going to come. And with that stated in his mind, he entered the bar.