I decided to post this after all! Only this isn't going to be a reader insert like my other one. This will probably be longer than that one so it's easier for me to write myself in for it.
Takes place in-between "Murder on Campus" and "Rorschach Reaper"
Murder in the Classroom
Chapter 1 -
It was about 11:22 A.M. when Chief King called Jones and I into his office for a new case.
"Inspector Lexi, Jones." King said as we walked into his office. "I have a new case for you." He looked down as he said this.
"What is it?" Jones questioned, raising a eyebrow.
"A 15 year old sophomore was found dead in a classroom at Rosalina High School." King said, sadly.
"Huh. I graduated from there." I say, without thinking.
"So you know the layout?" King asked and I nodded. I should remember the layout just fine despite it being about 10 years. "Good. Now leave and head to the crime scene."
"Okay." I nodded and headed out with Jones following close behind me.
"You went to a private school? You think any teachers you had are still there?" Jones asked as we walked out the main doors.
"I don't know. Maybe." I shrugged, "I went to a private school all my life. Excluding college that is."
"Huh. I'd gone to public school all of mine. Funny how our high schools are rivals in football." Jones grinned as we got into a police car.
"Yeah but you gotta admit, Rosalina is better at football than Grimsborough High School." I chuckled.
"Yeah…yeah." Jones rolled his eyes as he turned the car on.
"Though I am curious to know how much it changed over the last 10 years. I'm friends with them on Friendnet and I know I've seen pictures of the renovations they've done to the classrooms over the years." I said once we pulled out of the parking lot.
"But the layout shouldn't of changed much." Jones said.
"It shouldn't of." I replied. "But who knows."
"I wonder how this kid died." Jones said, sadly and breaking the minute long silence.
"I hope it was a accident but Hell knows it probably wasn't." I frowned.
"Yeah. But how could someone kill someone in the middle of a school day and in a classroom for that matter?" Jones questioned.
"Could've been during the teacher's free period. But I'm pretty sure they are suppose to lock their doors whenever they leave the room. Even for a few minutes. So this kid and someone else somehow got into it." I said, looking out the window.
"We'll definitely have to talk to the teacher of that room." Jones said. "And find out where they were at the time."
"Agreed." I nodded. "And probably the principal or a few friends of the victim too."
After about 10 minutes, we arrived at the High School. A teacher that was outside led us up to the third floor and to the room where the possible murder took place in.
"Mr. Smith." The teacher said, walking up to a man I recognized. "These are Inspectors Lexi and Jones. This is Principal James Smith."
Mr. Smith had salt and pepper hair and blue eyes.
"I'm so glad you're here." Smith said, turning to us. "It's awful what happened to that girl."
"What can you tell us about her?" Jones questioned.
"She was a 15 year old sophomore. Poor girl was found dead in a math classroom." Mr. Smith replied.
"What's her name?" I asked, typing the information onto my tablet.
"Hannah Berrie." Smith replied and looked me up and down. "Do I know you by chance?"
"Perhaps. I graduated from here close to 10 years ago." I replied, not looking up from the tablet.
"I thought I recognized you and your name!" Smith nodded. "You were a more quiet and reserved kid, right?"
"Bingo." I smiled and looked up.
I was surprised that he even remembered me since I wasn't a sports player or very popular. I liked solitude better than dealing with people.
"You probably didn't think you'd be back here for this, did yah?" He asked and I shook my head.
"Not at all." I replied.
"Who found her?" Jones decided to ask.
"The homeroom teacher." Smith replied. "His name is Paul Brone."
That name sounded familiar…
"Where was he when it happened?" I questioned.
"He said he was in the teachers lounge and came back for the next period to find her dead." Smith said.
"Can you show us to the crime scene so we can collect evidence and get a good look at our victim?" Jones asked and Smith nodded.
Smith turned and headed down the hallway to a classroom. He then allowed us inside and that's where we found the girl.
Hannah Berrie had been pushed back into some desks, making them fall over. She had a serious bruise on her face like she had been punched. And her glasses were beside her, looking like they had been thrown down.
I also noticed her phone being on the floor too.
"What are you thinking, partner?" Jones asked as we got a good look at the victim.
"I'm thinking that someone had pushed her back into the desks after hitting her in the face." I replied. "They may have also grabbed her glasses and threw them down. Let's collect the glasses for Grace, cellphone for Alex, and get the body to Nathan pronto."
Once the obvious evidence was collected, we allowed the forensic guys to come in and collect the body to get her back to the station for Nathan to look at.
After getting one final look at the crime scene, we decided that was enough and went to talk to more possible suspects.
When we walked back into the hallway, a familiar teacher was talking with the principal. He has black hair and brown eyes.
"Mr. Smith." Jones said as we walked up to him.
"Everything alright?" He asked us.
"Yes, we collected evidence and are letting the forensic guys take care of everything now." I replied and turned to the teacher, figuring out who it was since I was closer. "Mr. Brone, where were you when that happened?"
"How do you know my name?" Brone questioned.
"Mr. Smith told us a while ago and I also graduated from here 10 years ago." I said. "Now answer the question."
"I was in the teachers lounge at the time." Brone said. "It was my free period. Hey… you're Lexi, right? I never saw you as a detective."
"Wouldn't your door be locked since you weren't there?" I asked, typing stuff into my tablet. "Yeah. I guess I found my calling." I shrugged.
"It was! I don't know how that girl and someone else got in." Brone replied.
"What period was it?" I asked Mr. Smith.
"It was 4th period." Mr. Smith replied and I noted that.
"What is your 5th period class?" I asked Mr. Brone.
"Another sophomore geometry class." Mr. Brone replied. "I had Hannah in my 1st period geometry class. The students were mortified when they walked in and saw the body."
"I'm sure they were." Jones replied.
I look back up from typing on my tablet. Jones glanced down at it and noticed I put a "SUS" next to the teacher's name. Despite both him and the principal being on the suspects list.
"Mr. Smith, can you get us any information you can about the victim and her family?" I asked, turning to him.
"Of course, I'll head down to the office and get it." Mr. Smith nodded.
"Thanks." I nodded back. "We'll talk with other teachers in the hallway in the meantime."
"Can I go back to my room?" Brone asked.
"Not yet." I shook my head. "Probably best to go elsewhere for the time being until the forensics crew is done."
"Alright…" He said and headed down the hall with Smith.
Once they were away from us, I began looking at the top corners of the hallway, in search of a camera. With my luck, I found it near the doorway that the two men had exited through.
"What's up?" Jones asked. "You think the teacher is suspicious? And you know him too"
"Definitely. I had him senior year for Statistics. Can you catch up with Mr. Smith and tell him we need a copy of the footage from that camera." I said as I pointed to it.
"Okay. But I don't know where the office is." Jones replied.
"It's down on the floor below us. Just go down the stairs to the right. It takes up the entire right side of the hall." I replied, telling him the directions.
"Okay." Jones nodded. "I'll be back soon."
I watched as Jones headed down the hallway and decided to talk with another teacher while I waited on him. Going up to the door across from the crime scene, I knocked on it.
"Yes?" A woman answered.
"Hi. I'm Inspector Lexi investigating the death of the girl across the hall behind me." I said. "I was hoping you can answer a few questions."
"Of course." She came out of her room that had students in it.
"What's your name? I was wondering if you heard anything?" I asked, turning my tablet on.
"Mrs. Mills and No." She shook her head. "We were watching a movie. We heard a crash but thought nothing of it."
"Did you see anyone enter or exit the room?" I questioned, typing her name.
"I didn't." She said. "I was focused on grading papers and the students watched the movie."
"Hmm." I hummed and decided I couldn't think of anymore questions that could help the case. She didn't seem suspicious anyway so I had her in the witness notes. "Thank you. That's all for now."
"You're welcome." She said, going back into her room.
I glanced down the hall and saw Jones was on his way back so I headed down and met him halfway.
"Find out anything new?" Jones asked.
"Apparently the class across the hall heard the crash but thought nothing of it because they were watching a movie. The teacher was focused on grading papers and the class on the movie." I replied. "She isn't suspicious to me."
"Great…" Jones huffed.
"I know you just came from there, but I think we're done here. Let's wait in the office for the information." I said.
"Okay." Jones nodded.
A few minutes later, Mr. Smith came around the counter with a folder of all the information we needed on the victim. Including; her schedule and family information. He also handed me a disk for the footage from the security camera.
"Thank you." I replied, taking the disk as Jones took the folder.
"You're welcome. Ah, here's her family now." Mr. Smith said, noting the parents and what we assumed was a sister that had came in behind us.
"What happened to my baby?" Mrs. Berrie cried.
Jones and I looked at each other, sadly.
"Mr. and Mrs. Berrie, I'm inspector Jones and this is my partner, Inspector Lexi. Why don't we go somewhere and we can talk privately." Jones said, taking a step forward.
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