CHAPTER TWO:

Stottlemeyer's POV

"Uh…excuse me?" I choked out like an idiot. Regaining my composure, I painted on that "business" face and took my seat again. "You mean to tell me that you believe your father was…"

"Murdered." The girl finished plainly. It seemed as if she was controlling her emotions, too.

Just then, Lt. Disher came into my office and ignorantly started up a conversation. His nose was buried in some files as he spoke. "Captain, I think I have a theory on this case…" He reached my desk before looking up and realizing he had interrupted this…meeting.

"Randy, I'll be with you in a moment." Turning my attention to the girl, I continued. "Now, missy, if this is some kind of prank you teens do, then--"

"Prank?" Randy asked. He never really did know how to keep quiet. "What are you talking about?"

"Randy!" I was about to tell him to leave when the girl (who infuriated me more by the second) piped up.

"My father was murdered, and I heard that Captain Stottlemeyer could help. You must be Lieutenant Disher." The girl stretched her hand out, blatantly ignoring me, and offered it to Disher. "Jen Davis. It's a pleasure to meet you."

I could see Disher blush as he took the girl's—Jen's—hand. I rolled my eyes. "Are we finished with the introductions, or should I tell the rest of the department who you are?"

Jen shook her head, fighting a complacent smile, like she enjoyed irritating me. I began to believe it.

"Fine. So…do you have any evidence or reason to believe your father was murdered?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Randy interrupted me—again. He made a gesture that I assumed to be reassuring, but he pulled his hand back when he had no idea what to do with it. "Are you okay?" He asked the girl sympathetically. Great, now I felt bad because I hadn't thought of how the girl might feel.

"I'm fine." she replied, for the first time breaking away from Disher to look at me. "My father was murdered, Captain. He had a heart condition, but that's not what he died of, despite what the doctors are telling us."

"Who's 'us?'" I asked, still unbelieving.

"My aunt, uncle, and myself. Since my father's…well, they're my only legal guardians."

"And your mother?"

Jen glanced at the floor before answering. "Died in childbirth."

Oh, this kept getting better and better. "Mmhmm. So you think someone purposefully killed…?"

"Larry Davis"

My brow shot up. "Larry Davis…as in the famed frozen meal franchiser? That Larry Davis?" Jen nodded. I leaned back in my chair, trying to sort this all out. "Why would anyone want to kill the creator of Chicken in 15 Minutes?"

The girl, Randy, and myself waited in silence as if the answer might just come to us. I saw Jen wipe away something from her eyes and stare intently at the floor. Was this really all just a prank? It had to have been...right?

A/N: Sorry for any typos, inconsistencies, and whatever else might be wrong with this fanfic. I would really appreciate reviews, critiques, and thoughts!

Also, sorry for changing the title on ya. I'm thinking up the plot as we go along, and the new title just made more sense.