Sam, a dedicated detective, rose at the crack of dawn with a singular objective in mind - to unravel the circumstances surrounding the victim's murder. As he arrived at the station, anticipation coursed through his veins, his mind fixated on the autopsy report that awaited him on his desk. With unwavering focus, he settled into his seat and meticulously analyzed the findings, compiling a roster of potential suspects based on the victim's recent whereabouts and interactions.
Meanwhile, Eric, his partner, silently entered the room, drawn towards Sam engrossed in his work ."Someone's been quite occupied," Eric remarked with a hint of curiosity. Sam, without looking up, replied sternly, "Where were you last night?" Eric shrugged casually, his voice tinged with regret, "You know me, I love a good party. Ended up overindulging, couldn't tell apart a pillow from my ex-wife."
Sam's steely gaze pierced through Eric's nonchalant demeanor, "While you were indulging, we found ourselves knee- deep in a homicide case." Realizing the gravity of the situation, Eric's response was laced with remorse, "I'm sorry, alright?! I promise to exercise more restraint in my overnight activities. Please spare me that judging glare, you resemble the captain." Sam sighed, his attention back on the suspect board he had meticulously crafted.
As Eric approached the board, curiosity got the better of him, and he queried, "What's all this?" Sam glanced at Eric, his eyes briefly acknowledging his partner's presence, "I couldn't sleep last night, so I reached out to the tech team to gather information about Peter's recent movements and interactions.
I used that to create this dossier," he explained. Eric, puzzled, asked, "Who's Peter?" Sam let out a sigh, weariness tinged with sadness, "Peter is the victim. We'll learn more during the briefing. Don't be late for that either."
Sam and Eric headed to the briefing room, their fellow detectives already seated, awaiting their captain. Eric couldn't resist a cheeky remark as he joined the group, "Vanessa, as dashing as ever!" Vanessa, clearly unamused, retorted, "Oh, take a hike Eric," her exasperated eyes rolling in response. Diego chimed in, coming to Vanessa's defense, "Pay no mind to him, Vanessa". Smirking, Eric responded, "Your knight in shining armor, Diego, here to the rescue." Diego, amused, countered with a playful jab, "Why can't you be more like Sam?" Eric tapped Sam's shoulder playfully, admitting defeat, "Oh, you know I can't keep up a serious facade for too long." Sam calmly removed Eric's hand from his shoulder, "Let's put an end to this juvenile banter; the captain has arrived."
With that, they all rose to their feet, extending a welcome to their superior, ready to dive into the next phase of the investigation. "Good morning, Captain," they all intoned in unison, acknowledging his presence as he entered the room, leading the forensic team and the medical examiner. With an air of authority, he replied, "As you were, officers," as he positioned himself alongside the projector, where the forthcoming briefing on the murder of Peter Salt would be delivered. "Without further delay, let us commence this briefing on the homicide case," the captain declared, gesturing for the forensic and medical teams to take the podium to provide detailed insights into the case.
With the detectives seated, their attention focused intently on the forthcoming revelation, a forensic expert commenced, "Mr. Salt met his demise between the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., yet the authorities were not alerted to the situation until an hour later, when his lifeless form was discovered within his apartment, oddly suspended in a seated posture."
The medical examiner seamlessly continued, "This peculiar scenario was made possible through the introduction of a toxin into the victim's jugular vein, compelling a post-mortem rigidity that maintained his seated position and gave the illusion of a macabre smile. As for the enigma surrounding his presence in a tuxedo within his own abode, with no apparent intent of departure, it remains an unsolved mystery." "What toxin is capable of something so terrible?" Diego's inquiry interjected the medical examiner's presentation. The examiner, maintaining composure, responded, "We're not entirely certain of all the components at play, but the predominant substance involved is a venom sourced from an exceptionally rare flower known to exist on the fringes of Nigeria, named Eyin Esu," The examiner projected a vivid image of the flower onto the screen before proceeding. "It roughly translates to the Devil's Tooth. This exotic plant's elusive compounds, when introduced into the human body, possess the capability to manipulate posture. However, the specific method by which theperpetrator harnessed this toxin to contort the victim into such a peculiar position remains a cryptic and concealed aspect of our investigation."
With a confident stride, the captain addressed Detective Sam, inquiring, "Detective Sam, were you the responding officer at the crime scene? Can you provide any additional insights?" Sam's countenance reflected unwavering concentration as he recollected the crime scene, responding, "There were no indications of forced entry into the apartment. However, it's worth exploring the security camera footage from the building's hallway to track the comings and goings over the past 48 hours." In a display of subtle approval, the captain acknowledged, "Excellent, that's a promising lead. Join Eric and proceed with the investigation. You're excused" With a commanding presence, the captain made his exit from the briefing room, and his accompanying team followed suit.
As the briefing drew to a close, the detectives stood poised to depart. Diego, however, punctuated the silence by offering, "Sam, if you require any assistance, don't hesitate to ask. We all know Eric's a better drinker than detective, after all." Eric, in response, mustered a sardonic chuckle and retorted, "Oh, haha very funny, Diego. Take a hike." Eric was the first to stride out of the room, leaving a lingering camaraderie among the detectives.
Sam swiftly exited the briefing room, a faint chuckle escaping his lips in response to Diego's playful jest aimed at Eric. As he walked alongside Eric toward the station's elevator, Sam couldn't resist teasing, "Eric, how does it feel to be on the other side of these silly jokes?" Eric, stepping into the elevator, grinned and quipped back, "He's just lucky I'm still hungover from last night" With a smirk, Sam replied in jest, "Of course, Eric, blame it on the hangover. Let's go with that narrative." He then pressed the button for the ground floor as the elevator began its descent.
In the solitude of the descending elevator, Eric broached a sensitive topic, briefly disrupting the tranquil silence. "Sam," he began, "how's Grace holding up, and how's the baby?" Sam turned, his gaze meeting Eric's, and he responded, "Grace is doing well, and the baby is healthy. But she insists on torturing herself staying up late at night, waiting for me." Sam turned his attention forward, his expression thoughtful. "Can you blame her, though? I mean, being a cop is inherently dangerous. She should be used to it by now, especially considering the fact her father is one of us" Eric picked up the conversation from there, understanding the complexities of the situation. Sam sighed, his voice carrying a hint of self-doubt, "Yes, the captain isn't particularly thrilled that his only daughter married a cop. He had higher expectations." Trying to lighten the mood, Eric remarked, "I'm pretty sure Captain Woods would have aimed higher than a warning shot if he ever doubted your worthiness for his daughter."
Sam let out a subtle smile and commented, "You do have a unique way of delivering compliments, but thank you" Eric gently tapped Sam's shoulder and replied, "You're welcome, either way." While Eric's hand was still resting on Sam's shoulder, Sam shifted his gaze down to Eric's hand where he noticed the glint wedding ring still on his finger. Curiosity piqued, he probed, "Aren't you divorced?" Eric withdrew his hand from Sam's shoulder and replied, "This ring's too valuable to stash away just because a certain lady stopped loving me."
The elevator doors glided open, and they progressed toward the garage. As they approached their designated vehicle, Eric declared, "I'm Driving." Sam, however, objected, asserting, "Not while you're nursing a hangover." Sam extended his hand, pressing the car key's button to unlock their vehicle.
Climbing into the car, the engine roared to life, and they pulled out of the garage en route to the apartment for further investigative endeavors.