Case Files of Detective Kenneth Cohl

Case File Three: Almond Scented Death

A few days after the incident at the theater, at a local restaurant where the lights were getting a little dimmer, the aroma of steak and ribs filled the building. Kenneth was seated with his girlfriend Carmen. He was still talking about the cases he had solved in the last week and how he was all over the television and his picture even in the paper.

"I wish you wouldn't go on and on about things like that." Carmen told him.

"Why, it's an awesome story, I actually caught a real life murderer, twice!"

"But what if the guy at the college had another weapon on him you didn't know about, what if something happened to you?"

"Nothing did happen, and nothing will ever happen to me, I'll be sure about that."

"Just promise me you will..."

Carmen got cut off by the loud scream in the restaurant. Kenneth shot up out of his chair and began running towards the sound. Before he got too far he looked back and Carmen nodded to him that it was ok for him to go. He arrived to a booth where a woman maybe in her mid thirties was seated; she had her hair up with spots of glitter, big pearl earrings, and a blue dress on, she was covering her face weeping. Across from her was a man who was face down in his food. Restaurant employees started to touch the body until Kenneth warned them against doing such actions. He told one to call the police and asked the other to bring him a pair of gloves. Once he received the gloves he put them on and began examining the body. He lifted the man up to have him leaning back in the seat. After he did that, he judged the man to be in his forties, he was bald, gray mustache, well dressed in a blue suit. As he started to move away he noticed that the victim's lips had turned purple. He looked around the table and began sniffing around the victim's face and around his food and drinks, then towards the women seated with the deceased.

"Ma'am, are you the only person that was sitting with this gentlemen?"

"Yes, that's my husband, Anthony Slater; my name is Samantha."

"Ok, did anyone else come up to the table?"

"Yes, there was the waiter who brought us our drinks and took our order, there was a second waiter who brought us the food, oh and my husband had two employees from his art company come by to visit for a moment."

"Just a few more questions ma'am, you're being very helpful, is this the same drink and meal that was first brought to your husband?"

"Yes he never got a refill on his water, and he always takes forever to eat, his food has been out here for about thirty minutes."

"Good, just one last question, about how long ago did the two employees come to see your husband?"

"It was just about ten minutes ago."

"Alright, now I just have one favor, can you show me these two employees that came to visit your husband?"

"Ok, but who are you exactly?"

"My name is Kenneth Cohl ma'am, I'm a detective, and I'll find out just who it was that killed your husband."

Kenneth got two waiters as he followed Mrs. Slater to a table with two gentlemen, both in their late twenties. One named Ryan Smith, short and slender with long hair and the other Brian Dupree, tall and large with very short hair, both men work as artists under Mr. Slater in his company.

"Hey Mrs. Slater, is everything ok?" Brian asked.

"Actually guys, your boss was just found dead face down in his food." Kenneth told both of them.

"No way." Ryan said under his voice, burying his face into both hands, it sounded like he was ready to cry.

Brian didn't say a word as he covered his eyes with his right hand.