Detective John Smith

Chapter 1

Detective John Smith, I arrive at Washington State University after getting called to a crime scene in the dorms late at night. Flashing blue lights litter the dark campus as I make my way inside Taylor Hall.

In one of the rooms, a group of shaken students point me to a body lying on the floor. Billy Thompson, a sophomore, stares lifelessly at the ceiling. It's clear he didn't just overdose - there are bruises on his neck.

I question the students who found him but they claim to have heard nothing unusual. That's hard to believe in these thin-walled dorms. Someone must know more than they're letting on.

Examining the crime scene, I notice Billy's phone is missing. Could it hold clues to who wanted him dead? And why remove it so precisely?

My main person of interest is Tommy Wilson, Billy's roommate. They apparently fought violently over money that night. But Tommy insists he just walked to get food and came back to this.

As I wrap up in the early hours, more questions swarm my head. A killer is on the loose on campus, and I have to figure out the truth before they strike again. The students aren't safe until I catch them...

I didn't get much sleep wondering who murdered Billy Thompson. In the light of day, I decide to do some digging into Tommy Wilson, still my prime suspect.

His alibi doesn't add up under scrutiny. Several witnesses say they saw Tommy and Billy arguing just before, and Tommy has a record of violence. Could his temper have gotten the best of him?

When I bring Tommy in for more questioning, he lawyered up. But I'm not giving up that easily. I notice his clothes are freshly laundered - too convenient. Did he try to wash the crime scene away?

Looking further into Billy's life, I learn he was dealing drugs on the side. Perhaps an exchange went wrong? I pay a visit to his supplier, Chad, but he clams up tight. There's clearly more intimidation needed to loosen tongues.

Just then, I get an urgent call to return to Taylor Hall. Another student is down - it looks like the killer has struck again. The stakes are rising rapidly as a darkness spreads on campus. I have to unravel this before another life is lost...

When I arrive back at Taylor Hall, it's chaos. Paramedics are wheeling out another body bag as students cry and film on their phones. I push through to find the new victim - Dan Williams, Billy's former roommate.

This can't be a coincidence. Dan must have known something to end up like this too. I question everyone present but no one saw or heard a thing. Again. It's like this killer is a ghost.

Back at the station, I pull Dan's file and discover he and Billy used to run the drug operation together. Until they had a massive falling out last year over a girl. Could this be tied to past debts or revenge?

I pay another visit to Chad, roughen him up some. Finally he cracks - says Billy and Dan weren't just dealing, they were skimming off the top for themselves. Made Chad very angry.

Putting it all together, the motive is clear. But which of their enemies is eliminating them so cleanly? I stake out Chad's known associates and spotted Tommy lurking outside, watching the building. Looks like my prime suspect is up to no good again...

It's time to set a trap. I'll have to get clever if I want to finally catch this calculating killer before the body count climbs higher.

I devise a plan to draw Tommy out into the open. Using Dan as bait, I leak details of an imaginary drug deal going down at the dorm that night. Then my team hides in wait.

Sure enough, Tommy shows up, weapon in hand. But he's not alone - Chad is with him! In a tense standoff, Chad admits they're working together, avenging Billy and Dan for ripping them off. I have my suspects at last.

But before I can arrest them, Chad makes a run for it. Tommy refuses to go down alone and attacks! In the struggle, my gun goes off. When the smoke clears, Tommy lies dead - but Chad escaped into the night.

I've wrapped one part of the case, but the poisonous roots of this operation run deeper. Chad is still out there, and won't stop until the final loose end is tied.

The next morning, I get an ominous call - Chad left a threat scribbled in Billy's old dorm: "You'll pay for this, Smith. I'm coming for you next."

It seems I've attracted the attention of an even more dangerous enemy. The hunt is far from over, and now my own life may be at risk...