Thank goodness for no homework! I wrote half this chapter today because I didn't have homework. Yes! This chapter could be one of my favorites so far. But I'm not telling you anything. Just read. And review too. Anonymous reviews are enabled. Now, please enjoy!

As Sonic walked down the busy streets of Westopolis, he caught sight of a news stand swarmed with people. "What's up?" Sonic muttered to himself.

He walked up to the crowd and pushed his way through. It seemed everyone was here to buy a newspaper, and Sonic understood why the moment he saw the headline.

THE MURDERS CONTINUE

16-Year-Old Kora Neils was found shot to death today in her Westopolis Apartment.

K.N., Sonic realized, gritting his teeth. I'm too late.

He snatched up a newspaper and dropped the money on the counter. He elbowed his way out of the crowd and as soon as he was free, he began to read the article.

WESTOPOLIS-Today, the teenager Kora Neils was found dead in her Southern Street apartment, shot multiple times. Neighbors claim they heard nothing and would never have expected something of this sort to happen.

"She kept to herself really," said her 43-year-old neighbor. "Quiet, kind, nothing out of the ordinary. I'm in shock actually. An innocent girl shot like this. It's such a shame."

The police suspect that the murderer could be the same as the one who killed 12-year-old Amy Rose in Central City.

"We don't want to set anything in stone just yet," admits one officer, "but the deaths are extremely similar. It's possible that one murderer killed both girls."

The murderer of Amy Rose has yet to be found. The Neils case currently has no suspects and there were no witnesses. No consolation can be given as of yet. The murderer could still be on the move and precautions are advised to all citizens.

Sonic growled. Sorry, Amy. What do I do now?

Sonic balled up the newspaper and threw it in the trash. He still needed Amy's letter from that apartment, but with police swarming it, Sonic was clueless on how he would break in. It wasn't like he broke into buildings all the time. That sort of stuff he saved for villains like Shadow.

But right now, he didn't really care. If that's what he had to do to get Amy's letter, then that's what he would do.

Tails felt very crowded with about twenty people in one person's apartment, especially with part of said apartment taken up by a dead body lying on the ground.

An involuntary chill ran down Tails's spine. He wondered what family the girl had that who were probably off sobbing somewhere. They weren't allowed to see their poor relative's body because it was part of a crime scene.

But honestly, Tails could vogue that it was probably better not to see your loved one's body broken and soaked with blood.

Bullet holes wrecked every part of the room. So far, only seven bullets had been found, but the police expected that there had to be at least fourteen.

Tails currently inspected the bullets carefully. They seemed different from other bullets of a similar type. These seemed customized for the shooter. And each and every one was branded with a logo Tails didn't recognize. If Tails could get his hands on the bullets from Amy's case, he could determine if the murderer was the same.

"What have you got, Tails?" the General said from behind Tails.

"All these bullets have some sort of symbol in the side, maybe a logo," Tails explained.

"What do they look like? I'll contact the manufacturer," the General said, pulling out his cell phone.

Tails shook his head. "I don't think it's like that. I think whoever killed Kora made these bullets himself." Tails looked at the General. "I'm pretty sure this guy is a professional killer."

"Going around killing random girls?"

"Amy wasn't random," Tails said through gritted teeth. No way someone was going to talk about his friend so heartlessly.

The General didn't push Tails in the killed "girls" subject. "Do you know anyone who would do this?"

Tails sighed. "I wish I did, but I've never dealt with anything like this."

"Keep looking then."

The General walked away, and Tails turned back to the bullets. Our biggest problem has always been Eggman. This murderer makes him seem like a perfect angel. Who could be doing this?

Tails bit his lip. He had no idea what the first step to figuring out this mystery would be. Figuring out what to do next was sort of Sonic's job. Sonic decided what he wanted to do, and Tails just followed his friend's lead. But this time, Sonic was MIA. Tails was on his own here.

As darkness fell, Sonic watched officers leave the apartment building. Sonic stood in the shadows of a building, unable to be seen. His heart jumped a bit when he saw Tails exit the building. What was he doing here? Sonic resisted the urge to run up to him. He knew this had to be done alone.

Sonic found himself tapping his foot impatiently, waiting for everyone to leave Kora's apartment. He couldn't be sure if everyone was gone so he wanted to wait as long as possible.

Finally, his attention span decided it was time to stop waiting and start acting. He quickly looked up and down the street and, seeing no one, approached the building. He entered the front door. The door right inside the building was open as well, probably to allow access for any officers investigating the recent crime.

Sonic's way was still clear, surprising him. He headed toward the stairs and bolted up them. He had no idea what floor he was looking for so he ran up and down each one. He was just a blur, unable to be seen. Not that anyone was around to see him.

On the third floor, Sonic found the room with a door covered in bright yellow police tape. He pushed his way into the empty room. His brain registered the blood on the floor and the bullet-sized holes in the walls, but he felt nothing toward them. He really didn't care; all he wanted was Amy's letter. And, seeing as Amy hadn't said where she'd leave it, he had a long search ahead of him.

Sonic began to rip apart the apartment. He pulled drawers out of dressers and threw their contents to the floor. He pulled cushions out of the couch. He ripped apart the kitchen, leaving all sorts of food around the room. He continued until he found a folded up piece of paper in the drawer next to Kora's bed.

Satisfied, he sped out of the apartment, leaving it in disarray. Sonic had better things to do.

Tails felt his jaw drop when he walked into Kora's apartment the next day. Everything was ripped apart and thrown every which way. The General looked at Tails. "Someone tampered with this crime scene!" he growled angrily.

Tails stepped further in, shaking his head in shock. "Who could do this? The murderer?"

The murderer wouldn't care that much to rip apart the apartment. He branded his own bullets. He doesn't care about being caught, Tails realized. But Sonic's been missing for days. What if he got upset over there being a second murder and he…?

Tails shook the thought from his mind. Sonic wouldn't tamper with a crime scene.

Right?

She knows. Kora knows she's going to die. I hope you got there in time to save her. You're so fast; I know you can do anything.

Neither of us can figure out a connection, Kora and me. We don't know each other, and we can't figure out how we're related. I hope you can figure it out.

Once you're done with Kora, I know of another place you need to go. Kora gave me a hint from the murderer. I folded it in with the note. I'm guessing where the place is, and I hope I'm right. Hopefully, whatever the murderer left there will help you track him down. My note won't be there, I don't think. But please go there first. I'm trying to get there too. I don't know where my next note will be, but it'll be close to home. Promise. I'll do my best to help you.

Always,

Amy Rose

Sonic closed his eyes and allowed angry tears to seep out. He could hardly believe what he had done; it hurt so much to even think it. But he had to.

I failed you.