Running through the skyscraper with the abductor close on her tail, adrenaline rushed through her veins. Thoughts of her kidnapper raced through her mind, as she brought herself to climb the 20 flights of stairs that led to the top of the building. Suddenly, a slight tug on her brown hair turned her head back just enough to see her captor’s icy eyes staring back, ready to grab her at any second. Barely managing to escape the abductor’s grasp, she staggered higher and higher up the building until she reached the terrace. Scared to look down, the brown-haired girl, with braids hanging low and trembling hands, could see the city far from her reach, the faint sounds of cars distant from the abandoned building she stood on. The night sky lit up the small town on the outskirts of the city with only the light breeze cooling the night, keeping her calm. Unable to think straight, Kate Salsburg stood frozen in place, her knees shaking as she looked down. The footsteps slowly grew louder, and the shadow of her captor appeared beside her. A frightened scream escaped the victim’s mouth, but a gloved hand muffled the cry. The strong arms wrapped tight around the anxious girl, not letting her slip away. As a last attempt, she tried digging her long nails into the captor’s skin, but all she could manage were a few scratches on the abductor’s forearms. Dragging her closer to the edge, Kate violently twisted with all the strength left inside of her, but the sturdy hands fastened around her arms tightened, keeping her under the kidnapper’s thumb. Her cries would be left unheard, her last chance at being rescued slipping out of reach as she stood hundreds of miles away from the rest of society. Her feet hanging over the side of the building, she tried to regain balance, but the kidnapper would not relinquish any control.Her terrified shriek startled the quiet night as a forceful hand shoved into her back, sending Kate falling off the side of the deserted building. Memories flooded her mind as she fell, tears streamed down her face accompanied by thoughts of her family. When she hit the pavement, throbbing pain encompassed her and the agony was unimaginable. The shattering of her bones left her paralyzed and unable to move. Beneath her, blood leaked from every part of her body, leaving a red puddle around her. With her head pounding and her lungs shaking with every breath, the world around her started to fade and her surroundings turned dark.
Chapter 1: Kate’s eyes remained shut, shielding her twinkling hazel eyes from the loved ones around her. Exiting the hospital room, everyone gave one last glance towards the limp, lifeless body. Her parents and Parker lingered in the hall, their hearts racing, anticipating the report as their girl lay there, silently crying for help. Daisi and Roddie Salsburg sat in the chairs, noticeably uncomfortable, staring at the white walls ahead of them, while Parker paced back and forth. Conflicting thoughts of pain and hope darted through all three individuals awaiting the outcome.Meanwhile, in the operating room, the doctors scrambled around the small space, doing anything and everything they could to save the damaged girl’s life. Her heart monitor flatlined and the defibrillator was rushed into the scene. “Clear!” one doctor yelled as he pressed the machine against her body, but no physical effects could be seen. The surgeons were racing against time, trying every possible thing to rescue her. Unfortunately, the heart monitor continued to make that long, depressing noise no one ever wants to hear, and the doctors sighed...Kate Salsburg wouldn’t live to see the sunrise again. The lead doctor, Doctor Armstrong, walked towards the door to deliver the devastating news.After what seemed like an eternity, the door creaked open and automatically all eyes were glued to the doctor. As soon as he shook his head, tears flooded two pairs of eyes. “Your daughter did not make it.” Doctor Armstrong simply stated. All time seemed to stop. These six words caused enough emotion and tears that a river could be filled. They dragged themselves to the chairs in the waiting room and sat down silent and devastated. Subsequently, Parker picked his stuff up and left, having only said a few words, “I tried to save her.” The once sterile atmosphere turned nauseating. The sun began to rise, but the pair remained cemented to their chairs, sitting silently with a supposedly saved chair remaining empty, never to be filled. A kind nurse approached them, “I am so sorry,” they looked up at her, “But these chairs need to be put up. Do you need any help to go home?” Roddie whispered silently, “No,” and the pair got up and left, silent the whole drive home. When they reached the house, Roddie cooked for himself and Daisi, but when he got to the bedroom to deliver the food, he could hear his wife crying. Placing the food on the floor outside the door, he sank to the floor and slowly started to choke up as well. The Salsburg’s house would never be whole again, and the soft weeps coming from the remainder of the family were the only noise that could be heard until evening.
Chapter 2:
The sky was still not fully lit when the doorbell rang throughout the Salsburgs’ house, a few days after the tragedy. Previous visitors were all friends or neighbors offering their condolences like a vicious cycle, reminding them of their loss, therefore the two didn’t bother to answer the door. However, when the sound of the deafening bell rang again, covers were thrown off and heavy footsteps followed. Roddie stumbled through the living room, barely able to walk in a straight line, and Daisi was already opening the door when Roddie arrived beside her. The first image of Mr. and Mrs. Salsburg to the man on the porch was of two sleep-deprived parents with sunken eyes, obviously carrying the burden of a recent emotional travesty. The woman’s obsidian black cornrows matched her equally dark eyes, except this time they were an intense red. The man beside her wrapped in the faint smell of alcohol, and his round figure contrasting her lean frame. Standing in their wrinkled pajamas, their bloodshot eyes glaring at the man. Behind, the messy living room, with a coffee table submerged in a sea of flower baskets and cards, displayed the gifts left behind by other visitors. Unwashed dishes overflowed the sink and empty cups lay scattered around the living space. Both parents were confused to see this stranger, dressed in an ironed black button-down and casual blue jeans, who they had never seen before. His chestnut brown hair was perfectly gelled back and his soft amber eyes made his appearance seem perfect compared to the parents’ rough looks. The man introduced himself in a British accent, “My name is Palav Chaukh. I am a detective and I am here to help you find out who murdered your daughter.” The couple was too disoriented to notice the short girl behind him, until now. It was almost like she was hiding behind him, scared to say anything or take initiative. “I-I am P-Paige Shao,” she stuttered in her high pitched voice, “And I will be working with Detective Shack, I-I mean Chaukh, to make sure this case is solved.” The information went in one ear and out the other, leaving both parent’s jaws hanging wide open. Daisi was the first to speak after a long moment of silence. “You’re saying my daughter was murdered?” She questioned, “Our daughter committed suicide, although we don’t know why, there is no possibility that someone could have killed her!” The detective and his assistant looked at each other and sighed, “It is very clear that your daughter’s case was definitely murder. The autopsy showed signs of foul play, showing evidence of imprints on her back and bruises and scratches coating her arms and neck. In addition to that, on the roof where the murder occurred, large footprints were left in the mud that did not match your daughter’s, however, we haven’t been able to conclude anything just yet. These clues cannot be a coincidence!” “Why should I believe you?” Daisi asked suspiciously. “Just trust me on this, I can and will find the killer.” He replied.
Chapter 3:
Daisi and Roddie shook their heads and sighed, nevertheless, they eventually gave in to the idea. “For investigation purposes though, we will have to interrogate you both,” Chaukh stated sheepishly. “What?!” both parents exclaimed, “There is no reason to interview us if we are not the murderers.” Paige’s tiny voice spoke out, “It is needed, no…necessary, for you guys to come. Could you meet us at the station at around 11 PM-sorry-AM tomorrow?” Roddie began to shout, “Now-.” “Of course we will,” Daisy interrupted, glaring at her husband, shutting the door without saying goodbye. The pair of detectives, rattled by the abrupt ending to their exchange, walked back to the black Honda Civic parked on the curbside. While driving back towards the station, they exchanged ideas regarding the strange behavior of the parents. Palav started with, “Did you notice that the Salsburgs were acting funny?” “Maybe they are getting divorced,” replied Paige. “No.” Chaukh answered firmly, “I know you are new to this but you can’t just assume things of this caliber.” “B-but,” Paige stammered but was cut off by Palav’s disapproving nod. “The point I was trying to make was that they were acting like they had something to hide,” he finished. “Like divorce?” Paige tried again. ”No, like murder.” he responded in his low British voice backed by a hint of irritation.
Chapter 4: When Palav entered the school Kate attended, Crestview High, the next day, he could automatically tell that it was an elite school with all the awards and trophies shown in a clear case right next to the entrance. The vaulted ceilings looked pristine and the grand staircases filled with students heading to class. What should have been perfectly uniformed students before him, were tired classmates with puffy red eyes and dark bags below them. The school seemed unusually quiet. A white girl with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, with tan cheeks covered in freckles, stood in a corner by herself, seemed unaffected, as though nothing out of the ordinary was happening. However, thick red scratches marked parts of her arms, but that was, of course, an afterthought disguised by her otherwise flawless image. Drawn to the girl who seemed to spare no thought to the tragic death, he immediately walked over curious of who she was. “What’s your name, young lady?” Palav asked politely. Giving him a quick once-over she answered, “Kornilowicz…like the Elsa Kornilowicz.” With a judgemental look on her face, she added, “And, like, who are you?” looking him up and down. “My name is Palav Chaukh. I am the detective investigating the case of Kate Salsburg,” he replied. “Let’s start, shall we?” No time for confusion, seeing that Palav had already asked, “Did you know Kate?” Elsa’s face turned stone cold as she hastily replied “Yes…she was like, my biggest rival. As you probably already, like, sleuthed up she was the top student here. She was the top sports player, top academic achiever, student body president, and most of all, everybody's favorite person. I always came in close secon-.” DING DONG DING DONG! The bells chimed in the hallways signaling for all students to get to class. Elsa scurried away but Palav noticed the look of dismay on her face. He exited the school with a growing suspicion that there was more to her bitter story.
Chapter 5: Palav checked his watch and observed the hour hand just barely passed 9. The Salsburgs, if everything went as planned, would come to the station at 11, giving him just enough time to prepare. He got in his Honda and drove back to his apartment, making a mental note of Elsa’s strange behavior. Meanwhile, back at the Salsburg estate, Roddie and Daisi discussed the afternoon discreetly. “What will we tell him?” Roddie slurred. “What do you mean?” Daisi questioned. “You know,” Roddie replied, “The thing…with Kate.” Daisi looked at him understandingly and responded, “Tell the truth, but don’t make it to where you give too much away. Just enough for us to be removed from the suspect list. We cannot let them find out.” He shook his head and went to the fridge to get something to drink. The detective reached the station exactly 10 minutes before the interrogation. Once Daisi and Roddie walked through the door, he sipped his tea and prompted, “Who would like to go first?” They immediately looked at each other and an uneasy look became visible on their faces. “Umm, I guess I can go first,” Daisi hesitated. Roddie pulled her aside, whispered something in her ear, and her face assumed a look of panic, but still, she followed Palav into the room.
Chapter 6:
They ambled into a dark room, nothing but a rickety table and a metal lamp positioned in the middle. “Take a seat,” Palav said. Daisi sat uncomfortably, fidgeting with her hands. Noting her nervous mannerisms, he started, “Where were you the night your daughter was murdered?” She paused for a second. “At home, with Roddie. We had been waiting at home for Kate. It was starting to get late, and she had school the next morning and some unfinished homework.” The two chatted a little more about personal life and Kate’s success at school, and Chaukh recorded observations based on her mannerisms and statements. After around an hour, Palav concluded with, “Thank you for your time. Please call your husband here.” and said nothing more. As Roddie walked in, his eyes darted around the eerie room. His leg bounced anxiously in his chair, while his fingers tapped the table in front of him. Palav asked again, but to Roddie, “What were you doing the night of the murder?” Roddie slowly replied, “Umm, I was with Daisi at this new bar in the city, on a date.” “How long were you two at the bar?” “I think it was about an hour, no two…wait it was about one and a half…I’m not sure, to be honest,” Roddie guessed as his eyes focused on his sweaty palms. “Then when was the last time you saw Kate?” “She came into the house with an annoyed look and just as fast as she came in she stormed out.” Palav curiously asked, “And she was with her study group at the library before she came home right?” “Yes, she has the study group every week” “Did any of you see her after she left?” “Umm, I think she went to a friend’s house, but she didn’t say anything the last time either of us saw her.” Tears filled Mr. Salsburg’s eyes as he remembered the last memory of his daughter. “Thank you, sir, that will be all for today. Once again, I offer my condolences.” Roddie slowly stood up and left the room, only muttering “Thank you,” under his breath. Palav sat in his chair, reflecting on the two different locations for each alibi. This case definitely had more to uncover, bubbling with secrets underneath the surface.
Chapter 7:
Thereafter their hurried departure, Chaukh thought back to the interaction he had with Elsa. Not satisfied with the information she told him, Palav headed back to Crestview High in hopes of learning more about Kate’s school life. The final bell rang through the school, releasing the students for the day except for the several who stayed for extracurriculars. Searching through the hallways, he instead found Kate’s study group in the library. Towering polished shelves crammed with novels lined the sides of the room, and long brown tables stacked with volumes, binders, and notebooks were located in the middle. Right in the center sat an Asian girl, an Asian boy, and a white boy, with their heads buried in their English textbooks. Dark black hair covered the pale-skinned girl’s face as her gray eyes scanned the tall man before her. An identical young man sat beside her with the same gray eyes hidden behind glasses and midnight black hair hanging over his left eye. The twins sat quietly leaving an awkward state between all four of them. The other boy had chocolate brown hair that was slicked back and blue eyes that struck out as he contemplated the contents of his textbooks. Palav settled down into the wooden chair, introducing himself in a quiet whisper, “Good afternoon, my name is Palav Chaukh. I have a few questions for each of you, correlating with your friend, Miss Kate Salsburg.” Widened eyes shot up to match the detective’s gaze. The twins’ shared a look as pink flushed over both their cheeks. A quiet voice uttered, “What do you need to know about her?” Palav answered back, “Well, you all know that Kate, for an unknown reason, passed away a few hours after this study session. However, foul play may have been involved with her death, making you three, some of the last to see her.” Shock washed over the peers’ faces. Silence surrounded them. The girl tugged at the tips of her hair and spoke in a soft voice, “I’ll help you with whatever you need to know. We all care immensely about Kate. I’m Melody by the way.” She glanced quickly at her brother whose face glowed bright, resembling a tomato. Grateful one of them seemed to be complying with the situation, Palav inquired, “Thank you. May each of you describe what occurred during your last meeting?” “Uh, well…w-we were preparing for a uh…group project…for uh, history, and uh yeah,” the shy, boy paused, “Oh, and I’m…uh…Micah.” “Nothing out of the ordinary happened that afternoon?” Correspondingly, the other tanned skin boy added, “Nope, we had been rushing to finish our project for the reason that it was due the next morning. And I’m Parker.” Palav added on, “No arguments or uncommon behavior?” The room became tense, and no one said a word. The only sound came from the nearby high schoolers flipping the crinkled, faded, pages of the workbooks they were invested in. Melody bit her lip apprehensively, at the same time that her brother crossed his arms across his chest and stared intently at the closed textbook. Repeating the question again, Chaukh got a response when Parker shifted in his seat finally mumbling, “I guess we might have…maybe…sort of...possibly…had a disagreement, not a fight. It wasn’t anything major.” Likewise, Micah added, “I-I-It was just over what our final display would look like. Nothing more.” Processing the newly discovered information, Palav slowly replied, “Did you four resolve your dispute?” Once again, stillness filled the air. Fidgeting with the crest on her uniform, Melody opened her mouth to speak but immediately closed it. “Well, we…umm…uh…I gue-,” before Micah could finish his sentence, the detective jumped out of his chair. Chaukh had seen Elsa out of the corner of his eye, and would not let this opportunity escape. “I apologize for leaving like this, but I have somewhere I need to be. We need to finish this questioning at a later time.”
Chapter 8:
Leaving through the glass doors of the library, Chaukh chased after Elsa. “Ms. Kornilowicz, I have a few more inquiries,” Palav begged, “It will only take a few minutes.” Irritated by this man she wanted nothing to do with, she spun around and huffed “Fine. As long as you like, stop bothering me. But can we do it like somewhere else, where people can’t judge me? Like, I don’t want other people seeing me with a person like you.” “Anything is fine, I just need some answers.” They headed towards Crestview’s courtyard which was full of colorful roses, tulips, dahlias, and numerous different species of mesmerizing blossoms that surrounded a pristine pond. Stone benches placed strategically between the numerous bushes full of flowers. Greenery enclosed them and questions spilled out of the detective’s mouth. “Can you describe what your relationship with Kate Salsburg was?” Resentfully, she responded, “Kate and I, like, always competed to be at the top. Whether it was to be, like, the president of a club, or earn like the highest grade in the class, Kate and I would always strive to be better than each other. But, like, Kate always won. Like, no matter what the competition was, I could, like, never beat her. If she was, like, never alive, I would have been, like, the top student at Crestview. Wait…I shouldn’t have…I didn’t mean to…I mean…whatever.” Keeping his calm composure, Palav asked once more, “Where were you the night of the murder?” “Umm, like somewhere outside of the city at this private gymnasium. I have lessons with a personal trainer who likes keeps me in perfect shape for any kind of athletic activity, for me to have like any chance of being the captain.” “How often do you go out of the city for these sessions?” “Uh, like maybe every Monday, if I can. But like, sometimes if I have other commitments that I prioritize, I like, can’t.” “So this week, what time was your lesson?” She wondered for a little while, “Umm, from like seven o’clock to like eight thirtyish or something like that.” “Did you leave right after your private session ended?” “Of course I did. Like I didn’t wanna be around those like filthy country folk anymore. They’re gross.” Palav’s mind went back to the location of the murder. “Oh, well did you happen to see anything out of the ordinary while you were out there?” “Ugh, I never pay attention to those like nobodies, but I did happen to see Parker's filthy red car there.” “Who is Parker?” “Kate’s like best friend, duh,” Elsa replied while rolling her eyes. Even though he was surprised by her tone towards Parker, he politely concluded, “That will be all madam. Thank you for your-.” Elsa stormed off before he could finish his farewell, disappearing into the vast school building.
Chapter 9:
Driving his black Honda back to the station, the new suspect preoccupied Palav’s mind. He flipped pages in his notebook, rereading every statement and action made by the three suspects. He thought about what Elsa had said about Parker. If the teenage boy she mentioned was truly Kate’s best friend, he had to know more than what he was letting on. The detective’s mind struggled to think of a way to get data on Parker, but eventually, one idea sparked. He would have to visit the Salsburgs again.When he parked into the driveway, which he felt like he knew like the back of his hand, he noted that one of the lights was on. The lights had been off every time he had come, even in the morning, so he took this as a sign of emotional progress. His black leather shoes clicked against the rock path as he walked up to the door. He rang the doorbell and within 30 seconds, Daisi answered the door. “Good evening Detective,” Daisi said, surprised, “What are you doing here at this time?” “I just have a few questions about someone,” he replied, “It is about Kate’s best friend specifically, Parker.” Her eyes lit up. “Parker! Parker Warner I believe is his full name. Yes, he and Kate were very close.” She laughed, “What do you need to know about him?” “Anything you can tell me,” Palav stated, “I just need to pick up enough information for me to find out a little more about him.” “Well, there is a lot I know about him.” Daisi confirmed, “To begin with, they became friends on Kate’s 4th birthday.”The two discussed Kate and Parker’s friendship for about another 20 minutes. “Thank you so much, Daisi, I think that could help the investigation.” She smiled, “No problem. Drive safe!” Palav caught a glimpse of the house one last time, perceiving something strange. Roddie had not been present at the house, or at least it didn't seem like he was there. As he drove home, he repeated the information he just heard. Kate and Parker, Daisi made very clear, were the best of friends, the fact staying true to Elsa’s statement. Despite the two appearing to be the closest of friends, Palav thought if their relationship might not be what it seems.
Chapter 10:
The next afternoon, Palav ran a scan at the station and found the address of Parker. For what seemed like the millionth time in the last 24 hours, he got in his Honda and pushed the key in, ready to question the teenage boy. He reached the apartment complex in which the Warners resided and observed that it was about 2 minutes away from the Salsburgs. He trekked up the stairs to the second floor and searched for apartment number 24. Palav went all the way to the end of the floor and then knocked on the door. Parker’s large feet shook the ground as he sauntered towards the door to turn the doorknob. “Can I help you?” He warmly smiled. “Good afternoon, I think you might remember me as Palav Chaukh. I am here to interrogate you about the murder of your supposedly best friend, Kate Salsburg.” Parker’s eyes expanded. “It wasn’t me. Why would I do it?” Palav exhaled, answering, “I will need to ask you a few questions, so either we could settle this now and you drive down to the station or you come tomorrow.” Parker stuttered, “I-uh-actually can’t do that either. My car is at the repair shop for this week.” Palav chuckled, “That’s alright. I will drive you there, if that’s permitted by your guardians of course.” “Yeah, my dad won’t care.” He stepped out, “Dad I’ll be back in an hour or two!” The car ride there was one of the most awkward moments in each person’s life. When they reached the station, Parker almost leaped out of the car. The two walked into the same interrogation room and the tension in the air materialized again. They sat down and Palav started, “Where were you the night of the murder?” Parker’s eyes paced around the windowless room. He took a breath, “I was at work at Lorenzo’s Diner. I have to work extra hours for my dad, it’s just us two in the apartment.” “Ah, I see. I’m sorry about your mom.” He looked up, “It’s ok, she left a long time ago.” Palav looked in his notebook, “Can you tell me anything about Kate and you?” “Yeah, we were best friends for the longest time. We did-” he wavered when a tear began to roll down his cheek, “everything together. We were both top of the class with our study group as well.” Palav’s brain immediately lit up, remembering the meeting with the three members of the study group. “Do you mind giving me the addresses of the other two?” Parker stared at him for a moment, but then responded, “Of course.” Parker barely got through the interview without full-on sobbing. “Thank you for your time. Let’s get on our way before it gets too dark.” The car felt like it was heavier, filled with sorrow as Parker’s sniffling in the back intensified. They reached the complex in a hurry and Palav bid farewell with, “I’m sorry for your loss. I’ll get to the bottom of this.” Parker murmured, “Thanks.” The mourning boy exited the car and the detective slowly drove away. Nonetheless, when he looked back, he saw the blue-eyed boy looking around nervously, then sprinted up the stairs. That’s weird. Wasn’t he just crying? Palav pondered. Surveying the backseat, where Parker had been seated, the investigator saw something shiny. Taking a closer look, a thin rectangular device, made out to be the teenager’s cell phone. Knowing he wasn’t supposed to keep it, he slipped it into his compartment anyhow. Palav drove away into the night fallen sky, waiting for what tomorrow would bring. Chapter 11:
As the sun rose, the windows of the station were bathed in sunlight and the space itself seemed to wake up. Officers hustled through the headquarters, answering calls, filing reports, and interrogating numerous suspects. The forgotten cellphone shuffled around in Palav’s coat pocket waiting to be turned on. Curious of the contents hidden throughout the device, the detective debated whether or not to press the home button. “Just turn it on, what’s the worst that could happen?” a small voice called out, surprising Det. Chaukh. The short, petite girl with auburn dyed hair and brown eyes stood behind the detective. “Paige, I cannot just go through another person’s personal items, you know that.” “B-b-but, it’s evidence, w-w-we need it.” Slowly processing what Paige stuttered out, Palav sighed and shook his head emphasizing, “It’s an invasion of privacy.” The assistant-in-training snatched the phone and quickly turned it on. A flash of notifications from various social media and text messages from numerous group chats bombarded the screen. Suddenly, complete darkness occupied the LED display. The battery icon popped up red with a charger image underneath. “Are you serious?!” Both detectives exclaimed, clearly frustrated. “I might have a charger in my car,” Palav said as he stepped out of the station. In the almost empty parking lot, except the few patrol cars, he noticed a familiar burgundy car. Beside it, he saw the Salsburg couple next to it. The pair at first looked as if they were just talking, however very quickly their conversation turned heated. The pair were yelling at each other within minutes, nevertheless, Palav could not read their lips to see what they were screaming about. He detected that their car was not parked in front of the police station, but instead in front of the local court. The building stood grand with pillars raising the sign of the courthouse. The flag on the front lawn billowed greatly in the breeze. Why would they be at the courthouse? his mind questioned. His suspicions started to rise even more once he saw the couple trudge up the cement stairs into the court. Not knowing whether he should retrieve the charger or run down the lead, he chose the riskier path by evaluating the matter. Besides, he was not didn't know if the Salsburgs would ever be sighted at the court again. While he sat in the car, he remembered why he came out in the first place. Palav saw the white charger he was looking for and slipped it in his pocket. He texted Paige a quick message and told her he’d be back later, and focused his mind back to his mission. Palav waited for a little while and then saw the two walk out after around 30 minutes, both their faces with a blank expression. They stepped into the car almost robot-like and drove away, still not noticing Palav’s car. Palav made a mental note about this weird encounter and went back to the station to deliver the charger to Paige, something he should have done an hour ago.
Chapter 12:
Paige immediately sat up from her chair when Palav came in. “Where have you b-b-een?” He answered, “My apologies, I made a tiny detour.” He plugged the phone in and said, “I’ll be back soon. Watch the phone for me please.” Paige nodded her head and obeyed. In about 20 minutes, the detective stepped back into the office and saw Parker’s phone lying on the table, bright again. When Paige clicked on the home button, a password entry popped up. “Ugh, what do we do n-,” before Palav could finish, she pressed a simple pattern, 1, 2, 3, 4, and the phone unlocked. “Ho-?” Palav muttered at a loss for words. A variety of apps filled the screen. She clicked on the green message app and scrolled through the conversations. An unknown number he responded to the night of the crime intrigued both of them. Paige clicked on the conversation and read out loud, “Hey, why did you clock out early? Your shift ends at 10.” The statement caught Palav’s attention. He lied to me. Why would he lie straight to my face? Where was he? he thought. Paige continued to read, “I had business to do.” She scrolled to look at the times each text was sent. “Look, the number texted at 10:21 PM and he responded at 1:57 AM.” Palav stated, “Kate was admitted to the hospital at 1:30 AM, and doctors said her wounds still looked fresh, meaning her murder most likely occurred that night.” Paige questioned, “Wasn’t he the one who found her? And you’re saying he texted while he was at the hospital?” “Exactly.” The two scrolled down even further and saw a group chat called “Study Group.” Remembering the fight the three had told him about, he clicked on it excitedly. Kate was the last person to text. She wrote, “We just need to decide. It’s not that hard, you guys are making a big deal out of nothing.” Paige scrolled through the string of messages and Palav saw what they were talking about when they said an argument. Although the debate was left unresolved, why were the twins hesitant with their answers? And why did they act in such a way when questioned? What were they hiding? More loose ends clouded Det. Chaukh’s mind but had to be shoved aside for now. Palav clicked on Kate’s name and opened the last conversation. Parker started the conversation, “Kate, why don’t you come to my house and we can relax. The twins are getting you rattled up for nothing.” She sent a smiley face emoji and an “Of course. Be there in 20.” Palav scrolled to see the date and time, and he saw that this discussion took place on the night of the murder around 7 PM. Paige looked just as dumbfounded as Palav did. “I need a minute to process this.” Paige knew exactly what that meant and walked out. He thought about it. Not only had Parker lied to a detective, but was also most likely the last person to see Kate. Palav was originally just going to deliver Parker’s phone back, but now he knew he needed to have a talk with him as well. He cracked his knuckles, picked up his pen, and listed every possible circumstance from this confusing case.
Chapter 13:
RIIING!! RIIING!! The station’s telephone awakened the tired officers waiting at the facility. The dispatcher snatched up the phone announcing, “Hi, this is the Des Moines Police Department. How may I help you?” “Hi…it’s Parker. Oh, um, Parker Warner. I, uh, left my phone in I think, uh, Palav Ch-h-hock’s, I think that’s his name's car, sometime last night. Is there any chance, um, you guys might have it?” “PALAV!!” The dispatcher called, “There is someone who needs to talk to you!!” Rushing to the desk in hopes of the call being a lead, the detective replied, “Hello, this is Detective Chaukh. Did you need me?” “Oh, yeah, hi, umm…it’s Parker. Umm, you brought me to the station yesterday. Remember? Uh, I think I left my phone in your car?” The investigator’s face turned stone cold. Shooting a look of irritation at Paige, he stood in his place making no noise. “Umm, hello? Mr. Chaukh?” Snapping back to reality, Palav replied, “Oh, yes, we do have your phone here. Would you like me to drop it off at your apartment?” “Oh, umm, yeah, that would be great! Thanks, bye.” “Goodbye.” He slammed the phone down. Anger penetrated the detective’s facade. “I need more time! Of course, just as we were about to get somewhere, our lead gets ripped into pieces!” “Maybe this is for the best,” Paige squeaked out, “Maybe there is evidence at his house.” “That’s nonsense. I need to get going anyway. I’ll discuss this with you tomorrow morning.” Jamming his key into the ignition, Palav followed the GPS back to the complex he visited the night before. Neon lights and banners caught his attention from the side of the road. The two-week-old grand opening sign for Verdant swayed as the day ended. “Umm, I was with Daisi at this new bar in the city on a date.” Roddie’s words ringed in the detective’s ears. Recalling the clashing alibis, the investigator would not let this opportunity get away. Taking a U-turn, he turned into the Verdant’s parking lot. Through the window, he could identify the round man at the bar. The bells on the door rattled as Palav made his way into the bar. Not many people occupied the restaurant, presenting the detective with a chance to obtain more information about the case. Sitting at the opposite end of the bar, far from where Roddie could see, Palav called out to the bartender. “Hi, my name is Andrea. What would you like to drink?” “Actually, I have a question about your customer sitting over there, Roddie Salsburg. Do you by any chance know him?” “Do I know him?” the waiter chuckled, “Of course, I do. He comes in almost every night and stays until closing.” Trying to keep a straight face, the detective inquired, “Does he ever come with anyone else. Like, his wife perhaps?” Andrea instantly stopped preparing a drink and looked up. “Why would he ever bring his wife here?!” she vocalized, turning some heads in the bar, “He complains about her all the time to the other bartenders here. He’s here so often trying to get away from his wife that he could live at this bar.” “He and his wife are having trouble?” “You didn’t know? They are even planning on getting a divorce. Or something like that, Roddie is always mentioning things under his breath after a few rounds of beer.” Astonishment leaked through the investigator’s wise front but vanished immediately. “Let’s move on. Were you working the night of March 2nd?” Pausing to think, she replied, “Yes…I remember I was working that night because it was game day, but surprisingly the man you refer to as Roddie wasn’t here.” “Really? Well, that is most certainly interesting.” A sudden round of cheers echoed off the walls as the TV blasted the local game. Noticing the time already being seven o’clock, Palav briskly excused himself and thanked the server. Exiting the establishment, his engine roared to life and soon the investigator was back on the road again towards the apartments. The daylight had turned to a sky with shining stars floating in a navy blue sea. Cars rushed to and from restaurants around the city, and honks and whistles filled the atmosphere. Flashing lights from buildings and vehicles distracted Palav’s thinking process. He looked around and saw Parker’s phone. I completely forgot. I have to give it to him. Palav thought and headed to the apartment.
Chapter 14:
Standing awkwardly in front of the shut door, Palav waited patiently. He already knocked three times and rang the doorbell, but no answer. Ready to leave not wanting to waste precious time, the door slowly creaked open. Chocolate brown hair peeked out from the crack of the door. “Oh, Hi, Mr., um, Chaukh.” “Well, good evening, Mr. Warner. I have your cell phone right here.” Parker stood eager to possess his phone with his hand out waiting in front of him, however, the detective still had something to say. “Oh, but before I can return this device, may I ask you a few more questions?” “Sure, I guess.” Parker led the detective into his room. As he opened the door, the investigator’s nostrils were filled with a strong scent of Axe body spray. The dark blue room was covered with posters of football stars and his trophies took up space in every corner. His bed in the middle of the room was left unmade and piles of dirty clothes laid on the floor. The desk by the window had piles of paper thrown all over it. What a clean room. Palav laughed to himself. Palav pulled a black chair from the corner and asked, “May I?” Parker nodded. “What were you actually doing on the night Kate died?” He sternly said. “You were also the last person to see Kate.” Parker’s face turned visibly pale. “Did you look through my phone? Aren’t you not allowed to do that? I could report you.” Palav stared at him giving no sign of faltering. “Answer the question.” Parker was about to say something and then stopped to take a deep breath. “Kate was my best friend and you know that, you have to believe me, I just wanted to help her. I called her over and we talked over some cookies and then she went back home, at least that’s what I thought.” He sniffled a little bit, but continued, “I found her as I was driving around and called 911 as fast as I could.” Palav just sighed, “What was the reason for you to tell me false information then?” Parker’s eyes filled up with more tears, “I’ve been off this last week, I don’t even know.” Palav showed no sympathy towards Parker though, not even a hug. “Thanks.” As Palav got up, he took a final glance around the room. In one pile he noticed a familiar-looking scarf. He squinted and something clicked in his brain. Without a doubt, it was the exact same scarf Kate was wearing before she had been attacked. He recognized it from the social media search he conducted in hopes of unearthing more clues. Palav roamed out of the house without saying anything. Something wasn’t adding up.
Chapter 15:
Leaving Apartment 24, Palav sets out down the staircase. CRASH! Before him, Melody and Micah appear, red-faced and scrambling to refocus while regaining their balance. Shiny black hair hid their faces once again, but for a change, they were not in their pristine uniforms. “Ah, just the individuals I was looking for.” Panic enveloped their faces as Micah began to slightly tremble. Palav quickly assured, “Oh, don’t worry. I just have a few things I would like to discuss with the both of you. Will that be alright?” Melody rested her hand on her brother’s shoulder mumbling a short phrase under her breath, and after a pause, he nodded. “Umm, can this be quick? My brother and I really need to get home.” “Yes of course, this will not take long. Is it ok with you two if we went down to the cafe? I passed by it earlier, and I know it will have a glass of water for Micah there.” In a shy voice, the apprehensive boy replied, “Thank you.” The walk towards the coffee shop felt like ages. Not a single noise was made except the faint conversations of the families living in each unit. Examining the complex around him to past time, Palav distinguished the row of doors equally distanced from each other, painted the same shade of brown along the hallways. The gray patterned carpet below them could be seen by the dim recessed lighting throughout the corridors. The bright lights welcomed them in. The strong smell of coffee beans took them by surprise. A few students sat in the corners unaware of the bustling customers around them. The twins find a table by the succulents hanging from the wall, meanwhile Palav orders an Earl Grey Tea, a cappuccino, and a glass of warm water with lemon. Back at the table, the pair murmured in Japanese, but abruptly stopped when the detective headed their way. Chaukh took his time making his way back to the table, carefully observing his surroundings. The colorful chalk menu board suspended above the barista and the plush couches that sat in the center of the room made the coffee house very relaxed. “Shall we get started?” Both the students unsurely nodded their heads, that being said, the questioning had already begun. “Where were the two of you the night of Kate’s murder?” Micah sucked in a sharp breath yet didn’t say a word. Looking at him worriedly, Melody answered for both of them, “Well, that night we were volunteering at an animal shelter together. We need these volunteer hours and extracurriculars for our college applications.” “Did you do this event together?” “Of course, we do almost everything together.” “And, lastly, may each of you describe your relationship with Ms. Salsburg?”Lemon slices fell out of the cup and the glass shattered as it hit the table, spilling the hot water all over the floor. The suspect choked out water onto the empty table next to him. Embarrassment flushed his face and left the three of them still in their place. Some heads turned to look at the commotion and the barista rushed over with rags. Just when Micah bent down to help clean the disaster he created, he rammed heads with Palav, leaving him toppled on the floor. A crinkled slip of paper fell out of his coat pocket. A yellow sheet with stains, full of information about Kate, her birthday, her family. where she lived, and who her friends are. A hand snatched up the paper crumpling it into a tiny ball, resting in Micah’s fist. His vibrant gray eyes stare for a moment into Palav’s horrified eyes. The detective spoke in a low, severe voice not losing eye contact, “What is that paper? I need to know the truth. Don’t even try to lie to me.” The accused’s heart, beat loud, and his breath turned rapid. Not a single person moved a muscle. He bolted out the door, leaving only the sound of the slamming door. Melody fled the cafe chasing after her brother, abandoning Detective Chaukh by himself in the coffee shop. Another long day, and now more suspects to add to the already confusing list. What was that sheet even for? Palav sighed as the eventful day came to the end and the mystery was yet again, unsolved.
Chapter 16:
Palav hit his alarm clock and sat up in his bed. He stared at his plain gray walls around him, trying to wake up. He sluggishly made his way over to the tiled bathroom, where he washed his face with ice-cold water and brushed his teeth. He got ready as usual and put a ginger tea bag in steaming water, cooked some eggs and biscuits and took it on the go. He started his car and his foot pressed down hard against the gas pedal. Palav sped to the station as fast as he could, determined to find this killer today. He rushed inside to his office and was greeted by Paige. She was sitting in his chair, typing on his computer, but when her eyes met his, she gasped. “I-I’m sorry sir, I was adding the files to your computer that you need to look at.” He rolled his eyes. “Thanks Paige, I know how to do my job.” “N-no I didn’t mean it in that way, just please check all of these.” She got out of the chair to let Palav sit in it. “Yeah, ok.” Her heels click-clacked as she walked away. The files on the computer were similar to the ones he had already seen. I knew it. She can’t do anything right. Palav thought. He was about to turn off his computer until he saw something. On the very bottom of the file, an audio clip was attached. It was called “911night.mp3.” He clicked on it and heard the usual “911, what’s your emergency?” A voice made almost a humming noise in the back. Another high-pitched voice could be heard and at first, all that was audible were murmurs and crackling wind but then words were made out. “Help.” She whispered, “If I die. He did it. Brown hair. Blue eyes. My best friend is trying to kill me. Oh my gosh. Help me, please. Arrest Par-” and the clip ended with a piercing scream that left chills down his spine. Palav’s hands shook as he came to realize what he just found. He dialed Paige’s number on the phone. He barely whispered, “Come to my office now. We need to talk.” Within 5 minutes, Paige walked in. “I’m sorry, it won’t happen ag-” He stopped her. “No. You just helped me solve the case. Where did you get this?” Paige hid her smile but stammered, “Uh…I looked around the station and found it and thought it would help you.” Palav, still not looking up, said, “Thanks. It really did.” As Paige rushed out, he watched her through the hallways as she celebrated herself by dancing. He laughed to himself, Maybe I was wrong about her after all. Palav knew he had enough evidence to arrest Parker. Everything started to come together like a puzzle. The scarf he found, the footprints, and all the lies. The only question Palav still had was, why? Why would someone kill their own best friend with no motive? Palav stepped out of his office and walked over to the police department. “We have an arrest we need to get to.”
Chapter 17:
A pounding knock on Parker’s door was loud enough for Parker to hear from upstairs. He was home alone but guessed that it was the detective again, so he went downstairs and answered. “Detective pl-” Police smiled at him. “Wrong guy. Hands up and come out.” Parker’s eyes widened, but he started sneering. “He finally figured out. Thought I had dropped enough clues. I even left my footprints there.” An officer with the name tag, Quentin Lance, spoke out. “You are under arrest for the murder of Kate Salsburg. You have the right to remain silent. All words spoken can and will be used against you in the court of law.” The trial took place a week after his arrest. At the trial, many familiar faces could be seen in the crowd. Daisi and Roddie sat up front, and Micah and Melody sat right behind them. Even Elsa was seen in the back corner. The jury and the whole town had already heard about the case, and some even came to pay their respects to Kate and her parents. Parker’s lawyer even looked defeated towards the end, knowing how the case was going to turn out. “Parker Warner, after the jury’s decision and mine, you are convicted guilty of Kate Salsburg’s murder and convicted of 25 years.” Parker just smirked as he was taken away, showing no remorse, mouthing the words to Palav, “Tomorrow. Station. 11 AM.” The next morning, Palav woke up and headed to the jail. He hadn’t even had breakfast, he just needed to know what Parker needed to tell him. The one question still rang in his head as well, and Palav figured this was the perfect time to ask. Palav was greeted by the officer at the desk. He showed his badge and walked into the room. Parker came out in full prisoner apparel and chains. Palav’s voice shook as he asked, “What did you need to ask?” Parker smirked, “I figured you were wondering why I did it.” Palav thought to himself, He just read my mind. “Detective, you're easy to read and trick. I thought murder would be much harder to execute. It was easy peasy. I wanted to get caught, I was sick of waiting.” Palav interrupted, “But-” Parker continued, “Kate, my own best friend, was willing to tell the whole world my secret. My secret wasn’t even that bad, but it could ruin my perfect reputation. Truth is, I cheated my way through high school. I hacked the system, made me first on everything, just for that perfect scholarship. I told Kate on accident, and I know she told someone, but she was going to tell everyone. She stabbed me right in the back. So I cut her off, literally. I told her to come to my house and I told her I was going to comfort her, and I took her to an abandoned building, scared her, led her to the edge, and pushed her off. Simple.” He laughed. “You’re saying you killed her to protect your reputation? Murder for good reputation?” Parker grinned, “Well, when you say it like that it looks dumb. Just know I will get out of here on parole, and Palav…I only had one choice left.”
Epilogue: The gavel pounded declaring the official separation of Daisi and Roddie Salsburg. Following the end of their daughter’s investigation, the pair took their case to court to formally finalize their divorce. The two attempted to conceal their whereabouts by creating false alibis, and hide the fact the couple had been attending a meeting with their lawyers. According to Daisi, they did not want to reveal their plans in splitting, feeling the timing to announce their parting was inappropriate, for the reason being the unexpected tragedy. Their strained behavior around each other had been for the reason of divorce not of guilt. Currently, the divided partners are picking up the pieces of their shattered lives and creating a new path ahead of them.Elsa Kornilowicz continued to go to her personal trainer every week, coming back to school with the same red scratches, the students started to wonder about. She worked very hard to stay on top of her athletic commitments, but most of all she wanted to pursue wrestling. Elsa wanted to hide her passion for wrestling because it would make her seem like less of a proper woman. The scratches on her arms were side effects of her hard work and not signs of the struggle from Kate. Micah’s crush on Kate gradually grew smaller and smaller, in addition to that, he no longer felt embarrassed whenever her name was brought up. The shade of crimson red stopped appearing on his face when Kate was being discussed. Melody had known of this secret and tried to protect it, while making sure Micah was all right. The two twins had been planning to celebrate the victim’s upcoming birthday and attempted to hide the details in Micah’s pocket because the party was a surprise. However, all the information listed was connected to the party such as her friends and family. Paige became an official detective who worked for the Des Moines Police Department, after another year of training with Palav. She started going on more interrogations, gaining the confidence to voice the assumptions she had faith in, eventually earning her the privilege of being named an investigator. Her stutter vanished due to the assertiveness she acquired, and her nerves alleviated. In spite of the disagreements involved in the case of Kate Salsburg, Paige and Palav stayed in touch, becoming the best partners in the city. Palav Chaukh went on to solve many more cases with the newfound skills of his partner Paige. Learning to trust her more, he grasped the ability to not immediately brush away her gut instincts, coming to the realization that most of the time she was right, even though some of her assumptions were extreme. In addition to his numerous investigations, he became one of the best detectives that the DMPD had ever seen. Later in life, Palav found a wonderful girl named Pari and they lived a happy, married life together. As for Parker, his threat to get out of prison stayed as empty as the jar for his faithfulness to Kate. His jail days were long and tiresome, still, Parker didn’t mind that. Multiple attempts at escaping all ended in failure until the madman’s determination was worn out. His 25-year sentence multiplied into a life sentence, which he owed to the fact that when he was on parole, he committed attempted murder the very next day.
A death once presumed as suicide had been brought to justice. These individuals, for the most part, lived life normally and happily. This experience had brought them together and after the apprehension of Parker Warner, they forged a bond that could have never been created if it weren’t for the case of the Salsburg killing. Kate Salsburg’s death would always remain as a tragedy, but without the help of Palav Chaukh and his assistant Paige Shao, the case would have never been solved.
