I'm Christopher Mars, Neptune's newest resident. I'm staying with my grandpa, Keith Mars.
Christopher made his way to a building we are very familiar with. 'Mars Investigations' is etched on the door.
Tragedy blows through your life like a tornado, uprooting everything. Creating chaos. You wait for the dust to settle and then you choose. You can live in the wreckage and pretend it's still the mansion you remember. Or you can crawl from the rubble and slowly rebuild.
How do you rebuild? You face the tornado head on and make it pay for what it took from you, at least that's what I plan on doing. They said it was suicide. That she didn't want to go on living. I know, sorry, knew my mother, and she wouldn't do something like that. She was murdered, I'm sure of it. Now, the only thing left is to find out who did it.
Neptune High School - Day
Laughs and chuckles filled the atmosphere as Penny Jenkins makes her way up the path towards the enterance to Neptun High School. As she makes her way through the crowd, she comes to the flagpole, where she finds Chris duct taped to it.
Penny sighed heavily as she made her way over to him, pushing a boy who was taking a picture with his cell phone. "Two days in Neptune, and you're already making enemies."
Chris rolled his eyes and looked down at Penny. "Can you just get me down, please?"
Penny pulled out a pocket knife and began cutting him down. "Go Pirates." She shouted, as the crowd began to disperse at the sound of the first bell rang.
I know you're wondering just how I got taped to the flagpole.
Well, to know that, I guess we'd have to rewind to yesterday.
Mars Investigations - Day
Christopher Mars, 17, high school junior, made his way into the office, duffle bag in hand. Shutting the door behind him,
he made his way further into the office, notcing the front desk, where he was told his mother had spent a lot of time helping out her father. "Gramps?" Chris said aloud, in a questioning tone.
A door swung open, revealing an older, Keith Mars. He looked warn out, and like he'd been crying. Wouldn't you if your daughter had just been murdered. "Chris." Keith said a smile forming on his face as he walked over to him and enveloped him in a hug. He backed off. "Sorry, I couldn't pick you up."
"Forgettaboutit." Chris said with a shrug. "I had to get my car down here somehow."
"Yeah. But still." Keith stated.
"I like road trips. Plus, I had to say good bye to some friends, and I figured you'd be bored, so it worked out." Chris said with a smile.
"Okay. Did you stop by the apartment?" Keith asked. "Find it alright?"
"Yeah. The unpacking is coming along slowly, but I'll have it finished by tonight." Chris said as he took a seat at the desk.
"No rush. I'm actually leaving. Have a case in San Fransico,
you think you'll be alright." Keith asked.
"I'm sure I can manage." Chris said as he looked through some of the files on the desk.
"Okay. Well...I'll be back tomorrow morning. Call if you need anything." Keith said as he grabbed his briefcase and walked out the door.
He's different from what I remember, but can you really blame him? When you lose a daughter and get stuck with her kid, who reminds you of her, it's kind of hard to be the normal chipper self you once were. Espeically when you're the one who found her.
Flashback
Mars' Apartment - Night
Keith walked into the apartment he had lived in for years, laughing as Chris followed him, laughing as well. "Honey,
we're home." Keith stated as he moved further into the apartment, and as he passed the bathroom, he stopped, stunned at the sight in front of him. His little girl was lying in the bathtub, blood dripping from her wrists.
"Veronica!" Keith shouted as he bursted in, going to her, lifting her out of the water. "No, baby, no!" He said, tears streamed down his face.
"Gramps, what's wrong?" Chris stated as he made his way quickly towards the bathroom. He saw a glimpse of his mother's lifeless face before Keith slammed the door.
"Call an ambulence, Chris. NOW!" Keith shouted.
Chris pulled out his phone and dialed 911.
End Flashback
Mars Investigations - Day
Chris is still sitting at the desk, his face and eyes filled with sadness.
That was the last time I saw my mother. There was nothing they could do, and the investigation into her death was brief.
I mean, anyone who was there would say that it was a suicide,
everyone except me.
A girl made her way into the offices, a large shoulder bag on her arm. She stopped in her tracks as she looked at Chris.
"You're in my seat." The girl snapped, making Chris quickly get up, and move.
"And exactly who are you?" Chris said as he watched the girl take a seat behind the front desk and set her stuff down. "I'm Penny. Mr. Mars' assistant, and you are?"