Murder on West 50th street.

Chapter 3: That might come in handy.

We still didn't know who the victim was when we set foot in the precinct that afternoon, after our lunch. The analytics were supposed to go through the bag this morning so we should soon get the results and be able to investigate its contents. As we walked through the precinct, I couldn't help but notice that Eric was very quiet ever since he received the phone call earlier. It annoyed me not to know what he was thinking and hiding and it didn't help that everyone we walked passed had a defeated look on their faces. I shrugged it off and we kept walking towards my office. When I opened my office door, I saw that there was a file on my desk. I walked in and went straight to the file, intrigued. I looked around and realised that Eric wasn't there. "Where is he?" I asked myself.

I snapped out of my reverie when I remembered the un-opened case folder that sat in front of me, taunting me. I finally opened it after having noticed the name of the file "James Walters". I had to bite my tongue to contain the tears in my eyes. He was dead. My best friend was killed and I didn't know about it! I let the tears escape my eyes and they began rolling down my face one after the other. I was investigating HIS murder all along and didn't recognise him or any of his scars! I didn't even think about investigating where he was when he didn't answer my calls or messages! I just ignored the possibility that something may have happened to him! I am so stupid! I shut the yellow file closed and walked out of the office, tears still falling freely down my cheeks. I went straight to the forensics, wanting to make sure that they had made a mistake, that my best friend wasn't dead. I made my way through the labyrinth-like corridors, only stopping once I arrived at my destination. I knocked quietly and walked in, not waiting to be given the permission to enter the laboratory. There were so many people and yet, I felt so alone. My world was tumbling down around me and I felt myself falling with it.

I walked up to one of the forensics, full of questions.

"Please tell me it's not true. Please tell me it's not him." I asked; my face covered in tears.

He looked at me pitifully.

"We are not sure yet. There were only James' wallet and ID card in the bag so we don't know for sure but it is highly likely that it is him."

A new spark of hope lit me up from the inside, stopping the waterworks for a moment.

"So... it could just be that he was mugged and that they stole his ID and wallet?" Hope evident in my voice.

He nodded and smiled at me, a smile that did not reach his eyes. I danced around happily, probably looking like an idiot but I didn't care. My best friend could still be alive! I skipped out of the laboratory before being called back to the dimly lit room. I went back to see the forensic hand me a card in a clear air tight bag.

"This was in the bag. You and your partner might want to go and investigate."

I took the card and called Eric, telling him to meet me outside in five minutes.

I was waiting for Eric and turning the card over in my hands. It was a card of the Chrysler building, meaning that we would be going to one of the most famous buildings in New-York.

...

We rode in Eric's car. The silence in which we rode was awkward to say the least. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, making his knuckles white and every few minutes, he would look my way, as if to check if I was still there. I, on the other hand, was thinking about the case, trying to find the missing puzzle pieces. I still couldn't figure out who the man I was chasing was. Something touched my arm, pulling me out of my thoughts. Instinctively, I twisted what I had found to be a hand.

"Ow! Stop it!" Eric pleaded.

Wait, what? Eric is here? I looked around me and realised we were still in Eric's car but now, we were in front of the Chrysler building, no longer zooming past the tall buildings of New-York. I immediately let go of Eric's hand and apologised before getting out of the vehicle. The building definitely looked very posh and elegant, being made of glass and all. We walked in after Eric sent me a reproachful look. I stopped in my tracks as soon as I entered the building. It was amazing! It was beautiful! Everything seemed to be made of gold; the colours of the furniture so vibrant. The majority of the interior was in warm shades, ranging from ochre to red. Everything was a shining shimmering splendid mix of colours, elegance and class.

"Close your mouth before you catch flies," Eric warned me playfully.

I stopped gawking at the décor and glared at Eric while he laughed at my facial expression. I stomped my way off towards the security guards, earning a few curious looks along the way. I turned back to Eric who was chuckling behind me.

"I am going to go and question the security guards and see why the bag could possibly contain a card of the building while you investigate the perimeter." I ordered him.

He rolled his eyes and turned his back to me, walking away. I turned to face the security guard and showed him my badge.

"Excuse me but do you think I could take a look at the video surveillance tapes? My partner and I are investigating a murder that could be linked to this building."

He paled and nodded weakly, leading the way to the camera room.

He opened the door using a magnetic key card and ushered me inside. I looked at the room around me, the walls covered in computer screens, all showing a different area of the building. A movement on the screen on my right caught my attention and after closer inspection, I realised it was Eric, walking through a restricted level. He got close to one of the doors and looked around him furtively before entering the room slowly and carefully as to not attract any attention.

"What floor is that camera filming?"I asked the security guard, pointing at the screen I had been watching.

"Umm... it is filming the 30th floor."

"Thanks." I sped out of the room, ran into an elevator and was on my way to the 30th floor. Once the elevator dinged, I jumped out and carefully made my way towards the colourful door I had seen Eric enter. It was slightly ajar, allowing me to look through a small crack. , being as quiet as possible. Eric was standing on a chair, removing a vent. He set it aside as if it were as fragile as a piece of glass. By now, my heart was drumming in my ears and my hands were beginning to get moist. He pulled out a red piece of cloth and got off the chair. He opened the piece of cloth slowly and what I saw made me freeze to the spot. Two hands! TWO HANDS! I gasped audibly and Eric jumped back, startled. I just stared at the hands, not believing what I was seeing. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't having a nightmare while Eric just stood there, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of the water.

"What are those?" I asked in a squeaky voice.

"These? Umm... hands I guess... I was just about to come and get y-"

I cut him off.

"How did you find them? How did you know they were here?"

He gulped.

"I heard a noise from inside the room and came in but there was nobody here. I was about to leave when I heard a noise coming from the ventilation pipe and opened it up. I found them by accident, I promise!" He tried convincing me.

"Mentiroso! How could you have heard any noise if there is no one in here? Did the hand move by itself or are you just delusional?!" I wanted to scream but I kept my calm facade up.

"I believe you." Lie. "Let's get them back to the precinct before they deteriorate completely." I threw a disgusted look at the hands that had already started decomposing. Eric looked at me, shocked that I hadn't screamed at him. He then smiled at me and said "I'm glad you don't think it was me. I know it looks like it but I can assure you, it wasn't me."

Igave him a smile of my own, trying to convince him through my facial expressionthat I believed him. Did I really? Of course not, I am not that stupid!    

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Marie