From cjnwriter: "Chicken as projectile weapon. Not the first time I've seen that."
Lestrade examined the streaks on the wall, humming thoughtfully.
The officer at the entrance, a fresh faced young man who'd only been on the job a few weeks, was watching him eagerly. "Should we call in Mr Holmes?" he asked, voice cracking.
"Not every mystery requires Mr Holmes, Officer Parks!" Lestrade scoffed. "We can do our jobs perfectly well without him." He stood up, leaving his examination of the wall. "Besides, I already know what happened here. Chicken as a projectile weapon. Not the first time I've seen that."
Officer Parks stared at him, wide eyed. "You already know what happened, Inspector? How?"
"Just takes a bit of good, solid police work. We've got witnesses who said the couple were arguing. The streaks on the wall say she threw the chicken at him, but he evaded it. He must have retaliated and thrown the salt cellar, hitting her in the head, killing her and leaving grains of salt in her hair. Open and shut case."
Parks broke into a grin. "That's amazing, Inspector! Not even Mr Holmes could have done better!"
"That's just good police work!" Lestrade argued, but he couldn't help puffing up slightly with pride. He understood better now why Holmes always liked having Dr Watson around!