I took Cleetus to a cell so he could be questioned. However, to my disappointment, he's as silent as a rat. But the thing about rats is if they keep sniffing long enough... they'll sniff their way into that cheese.
Hugh: So you don't wanna cooperate. That's fine. Your silence brings me more answers than you think.
Cleetus looks at me, disturbed. Then he promptly looks away.
Cleetus: I don't know anything man.
Hugh: Really? So you just cried all over a crime scene for no reason? Ok, y'know that actually makes sense.
Cleetus: What are you talking about?
Hugh: Well, you must've been traumatized by the crime. I'm betting you knew the victim. It made you sad to see him get hurt like that.
Cleetus: What? That makes no sense. If I was crying over the victim I would've reported the crime to you guys instead of lying.
Hugh: Ah, so you admit lying to me.
Cleetus: There was already proof that I did. Me saying that literally changes nothing. I'm done talking to you.
Hugh: Yeah.. alright. I don't trust a LIAR though. I think you really did know the victim.
Cleetus stays silent and judgmental.
Hugh: I'll just have to let your family know about the unfortunate situation your friend got into and put you in jail for.. well.. 3 years I suppose.
Cleetus: WHAT?! It's not the stupid victim that I know! Don't involve my family. And you can't imprison me for 3 years!! I didn't do anything.
Hugh: I'm sorry, it's not the victim you know? So that means.. you knew the criminal. Thanks for letting me know.
Cleetus: No hold on! I- I don't know either one of them! You're making assumptions!!
I walk away from Cleetus. That rat did his job perfectly. Now I have links to the criminal and the victim. I go back to my desk and do a background check on Cleetus. I should be able to find everyone he knows.
My boss then walks up to me.
Boss Donna: How's the investigation going?
Hugh: Perfectly. I'll be able to find the criminal and his victim soon.
Boss Donna: How?
Hugh: Well, I've just gotta run a quick face identification on the security footage to find the victim and my friend Cleetus knows the criminal.
Boss Donna: Good work! So who is it?
Hugh: The criminal? I don't know yet.
Boss Donna: What? But you said your guy Cleetus knows him.
Hugh: Yeah but he wouldn't give much information about it. I'm running a background check.
Donna palm her forehead.
Boss Donna: For fucks sake, a background check will only let you know his immediate family. What if the criminal is just some friend he knows? And even if it is a family member, how will you know which one?!
Hugh: Oh.. well I didn't really get that far into my plan.
Boss Donna: Hugh, you idiot. You better solve this case soon or I might have to demote you.
Hugh: WHAT?! You can't do that! I'm the best detective here!
Boss Donna: Sure, whatever you say.
She walks off, leaving me with more trouble than I needed.
So apparently this won't be as easy as I thought. And now I have a stupid deadline. How fantastic. My next move is to cancel the check on Cleetus and go back to my best clue. I pull up the footage and my facial recognition application. I find a clip where his face is most visible and let the system run. After about 10 minutes of the slow ass app running, I had it. Joe Janus. A 26 year old with a prior felony for petty theft. I had my victim, now I needed my criminal. Halfway to victory. Now that I had one guy, I need to have another talk with Cleetus.
YOU ARE READING
The Crime On Skedaddler Street
Mystery / Thriller"Not many people can solve the cases I do. In many ways I feel like a unicorn... Like a unicorn among unicorns. A unicorn overlord." Hugh Dunnit, New Yaft's best detective is put on the case when a disastrous crime committed by a criminal is commit...
