Police cars and ambulances surrounded the Palm Woods on the following day. Many policemen were sealing off the Palm Woods grounds, to prevent any unwanted paparazzi episodes. The death of a famous actress drew those annoying vultures like ants to a sugar cube. Already they were swarming the area, numbering in the thousands, begging to get just one picture of the corpse, or just a few words with one of the Palm Woods residents. Officer Alexander Henderson sighed in sorrow. Didn't those people have any sympathy for the poor girl? Someone's daughter, sister, best friend, girlfriend; just snuffed out of mortal existence. Officer Alex pitied the horrified family and friends of the girl, Josephine Taylor. As time passed, Officer Alex thought about those poor distraught individuals more and more. Finally, he decided to go have a few words with them.
As Officer Alex stepped into the lobby, he saw all of them assembled in a corner of the luxurious area. His colleague, Officer Denise Lee was strutting in front of them, spitting out questions with rapid-fire delivery. He stepped closer, noticing that most of them were sobbing and sniffling, obviously still in shock. Officer Alex winced as he heard Officer Denise callously interrogating them, uncaring for their woe. 'That girl really has to learn to feel empathy,' Officer Alex thought in his mind. 'Hey Denise, I'll take it from here. Go monitor the situation outside and make sure no one gets in. The last thing we need now is a bunch of heartless photographers storming the area,' Officer Alex told the younger policewoman. Officer Denise nodded and marched out the door.
'Sorry 'bout her insensitivity. She's not that good with people,' Officer Alex apologized. 'No, it's alright. We want the creep who did this to Jo behind bars as soon as possible, anyway,' a redheaded woman said firmly as she stood up, wiping tears off her cheeks with a silk hanky. "Jennifer Knight, at your service,' she introduced herself to Officer Alex as she smiled warmly. 'I know. I saw a dossier with all details about this case when I first came here this morning. I'm Officer Alexander Henderson,' he replied. 'Ok, first of all, I wanna say that I'm really sorry about your loss. She must've been a great person,' Officer Alex said to the whole congregation. 'The best,' a skinny long-haired brunette muttered. 'Camille Roberts,' Officer Alex thought. 'I'm sure of it. Anyway, who was with Jo during the last few hours?' A girl with black eyeliner spoke up. 'Camille and I were. We picked her up from the airport and dropped her off at Camille's apartment. Then we went to the convenience store to get some snacks. When we got back..' The girl's voice cracked and she fell silent. She ran a finger through her red and black hair. 'Lucy Stone,' Officer Alex recognized. 'Did you see anything suspicious? Anything at all?', he continued. 'Like what?' Lucy asked, slightly annoyed. 'I dunno, a figure sprinting away?' 'Nope,' she replied.
'Come on, think hard, both of you.. There must have been something you saw.. Anything would be helpful.. Come on..' 'Stop it, ok!' a hoarse voice cried out. Everyone's eyes rested on the source of the outburst; a lanky blond boy glaring angrily at Officer Alex. 'Kendall Knight,' Officer Alex identified. 'They're saying that they didn't see anything, so lay off!' he yelled. 'Kendall, there's no need for melodramatics. I'm just trying to find additional information. Anything would be helpful for us right now,' Officer Alex explained. Kendall still wasn't satisfied. 'If you want additional info, go search the room where the murder happened! Stop torturing us. Besides.. we're already in pain..' Officer Alex suddenly felt sorry for Kendall. He hadn't seen his girlfriend for three years, and to only catch a glimpse of her dead corpse after all that time.. The poor boy must be bawling inside.
'Ok, I understand, and I'm sorry.. Now boys, where were you last night?' 'Umm, at a concert. We only got back this morning,' a handsome young man said. Officer Alex recognized him as James Diamond. Sitting on James's lap with his head on his shoulder was a tearful Logan Mitchell. "How exactly.. did Jo..,' he whispered sadly, unable to complete his sentence. 'Did you mean, how exactly did Jo die?' Officer Alex guessed. Logan nodded slowly. 'Well, the autopsy results haven't come back yet, but based on my guess, the cause of death was probably asphyxiation,' Officer Alex clarified. Beside the couple was a tan Latino whom Officer Alex identified as Carlos Garcia. 'Umm, English please?' Carlos asked, a little confused. 'It means that she was.. strangled..,' Logan explained. 'Oh.' Silence befell the room, and Officer Alex continued his interrogation, anxious to clear the air. 'How about you, Jenny?' Officer Alex queried Jenny Tinkler. 'Who, me? I was at a pizzeria, on a.. date.' 'Anyone who can prove your claim?' 'Umm, not that I know of..' 'Umm, what about the guy you were dating?' a young girl sitting next to Camille asked with a hint of scorn. 'Thank you, Katie Knight,' Officer Alex said with a smile, and focused his attention back on the nervous Jenny. 'Umm, well.. I guess.. It's just..' 'Stop stammering, Jenny.. Just tell us who you were with,' a chubby boy said, trying to calm the flustered girl. 'Oh, shut up Tyler!' Jenny yelled. 'Jenny, is there something you're hiding from us?' Officer Alex asked. He was confused by the girl's reaction to his question. Perhaps it was her who did it..
'OK, I was on a date with Bitters!' Jenny screeched. A simultaneous gasp of surprise and disgust escaped everyone's mouth. 'I knew it! I told you guys!' Katie exclaimed triumphantly. 'I can explain! See, I kinda needed some money, and Bitters said that..' 'Ok, I get it!' Officer Alex yelled, stopping Jenny's horrifying revelation. 'I'll contact Mr Bitters to confirm your story. What about you, Katie?' 'I was with my mom, making cookies. Which provides an alibi for the three of us,' Katie nonchalantly said. 'Three?' 'Oh, Tyler was there too,' Katie added quickly. 'Hiding from my mom, again,' Tyler explained with a shrug. 'Ok, that'll be all. Thanks for your cooperation. I'd suggest you guys get some rest. It's been a rough day,' Officer Alex said before walking out of the lobby.
Officer Alex noted everything down and frowned. There was a seemingly solid alibi for each and every one of them, which meant that the killer probably wasn't anyone present in the room just now. He'd just have to pray that his other colleagues got something good from the crime scene.