The Kerosene Killer

April 19th

April 19th Sunday 8:00 AMHazel Falls PD

Myers entered the office, noticing Shepard was not at his desk yet. This was unusual; Shepard was always in before me, he thought to himself. Myers set his things down on his desk as Shepard popped his head into the office from the main hallway. "Warrants in, we are heading out to Jedediah's now." Shepard waved Myers into the hallway and continued towards the exit. Myers quickly sprung up and followed.

They arrived at Mr. Hayes's property. The two Detectives and several uniformed officers rummaged through the trailer, Shed, and surrounding grounds looking for any evidence that could pin the final nail into the coffin that is Jedediah's guilt.

Mrs. Hayes was furious; she was escorted into the back of an officer's cruiser while they searched the property due to non-cooperation and continued outbursts.

Shepard stood in the shed looking at the scattered images along the wall "We got Kerosene fuel, logs that match the same one used to bind Ashely, He lied about his alibi and drives a dark truck. I mean all signs point to this guy Shep." Myers said Standing behind Shepard while looking through wood bits and metal scraps littering the floor, Shepard still focused on the church scriptures that were posted on the walls.

"We don't have her clothes, That's what we need." Shepard said as a voice called out from the trailer. "we got something" an officer said as Myers and Shepard rushed into the trailer.

"what is it?" Shepard asked as the officer held up a large bag of cloudy crystals "Looks like ole' Jed's a tweaker after all." The officer said shaking the bag.

"Fuck!" Shepard said as disappointment washed over his hopeful face, the time was pushing 11 am now and they hadn't found anything more tying Jedediah to this crime, his hope had slipped away. "Let's go talk to him again." Shepard said as they left his property.

April 19th Sunday 11:30 AMHazel Falls interrogation room

"Mr. Shepard my client doesn't have to answer any more of your questions." Said Mr. Puckett, the county's publicly appointed defense attorney, as he wiped the lint off the sleeve of his brown suit. "I don't see the need for him to even be here, He has done nothing wrong, and this is clearly the desire of Hazel Fall's Sheriff and his continued discrimination of Mr. Hayes's family." He said adjusting his thick-brimmed aviator-style glasses.

"Uh huh, well this is my case, not the Sheriff's and I want you here because you're looking guilty Mr. Hayes, but I can't help you if you don't help yourself. As for not doing anything wrong, I'd reconsider that viewpoint because 10 grams of methamphetamine says otherwise." Shepard said as Jedediah laughed. "I knew Sheriff was an asshole but planting drugs feels a little beneath him"Shepard and Myers looked at each other confused. "That's what you're going with?" Shepard said leaning back in his chair.

"Now things can go easier if you just help us figure out what happened to Ashley." Myers said looking at Jedediah.

"My client doesn't know anything about the tragic events that led to Miss Abernathy's demise. Now If you have no more evidence, I'd like to take my client home." Mr. Puckett

"Your client isn't going anywhere Mr. Puckett, You are here because he asked for a lawyer, and in my experience only guilty people want lawyers." Shepard