Just so you know it does start off where he says "-and". I just had to put that in there because some of my friends were confused about that.
I hope you enjoy.
The case of the mystery meat.
"-and I found her body laying there when I came out to throw away the trash." Ryan Lee explained to Detective Kim Lanquist.
"What time did you come out to throw away the trash?" She asked, taking notes in her writing pad.
"Around 9:45. I had thought I heard a scream, but just assumed it was those darn unwanted cats. I usually send my dogs on 'em."
"Mhmm. Did you see Amy in the restaurant?" She asked suspiciously.
Somebody murdered the local reporter, Amy Gaertner, and she was going to get to the bottom of it.
Ryan thought for a second then answered, "Yes I think so. I remember because her date sat at the table waiting for her to come back from the restroom. I talked to him for a few minutes, but eventually I had to get back to work. He seemed pretty angry."
"Anything else?"
"I came back out and he was gone. It was about the time I heard what I thought was the cat." He finished.
Detective Lanquist continued to write what Ryan said.
"Did you happen to get the name of her date?"
"Actually yes. He told me to stop by his meat shop or his flower shop sometime." He explained as he handed her two small square business cards.
They exchanged 'farewells' and he walked off.
Eric Wade Eric Wade
Owner of Wade's flower shop Owner of Wade's meat shop
Sun.-Tues. 10:00 am-6:00pm Wed.-Sat. 10:00am-6:00pm.
123 Main St. 70390 124 Main St. 70390
"Here's all the clues we could find. Theres more on the body, but I figured you would like to look at it first." Chief Blanchard boomed with his loud stern voice as he handed Kim a zip lock bag.
"Thanks Chief."
"Just doin' ma' job!" He said loudly.
Kim smiled lightly and thanked the tall broad man.
She examined Amy's cold dead body, that lay next to the rustic dumpster, before it was taken away.
Amy's sea green eyes were wide open from shock and fear. They were full of answers, but remained untold.
A dog leash was wrapped around her long neck, and duct tape covered her mouth, and a black rose sat on her chest.
Kim hopped in her little Toyota and drove to Eric's flower shop. She decided to dig deeper into the investigation and contact him.
When she arrived she walked in and looked around. Flowers and other plants covered the shop. It was beautiful to say at the least.
She spotted a tall slender man watering some white morning glories.
"Hi how can I help you?" his masculine voice asked nicely.
"Are you Eric Wade?" Detective Lanquist asked.
"Yes ma'am, I sure am." He said with a smile.
"I was wondering if you know this woman?" She asked, holding up Amy's most recent picture alive. She was smiling and cuddling with a gerbil.
His face immediately turned sour and he nodded.
"Yeah I know her. I took her to dinner last night. She excused herself to the restroom and never came back. Had the nerve to stand me up!" He exclaimed bitterly.
Kim was utterly shocked by his hostile mood change.
"Mr. Wade, I am Detective Kim Lanquist. Amy didn't stand you up. She was murdered."
Eric's face dropped immediately.
"Wh-wh-what?" He stuttered.
I need any information you have on the murder. Did she talk about anyone who might want to hurt her?"
"No she just kept talking about how she was on the verge of a new story. Breaking news."
Kim eyed him hesitantly for a moment, then continued her questioning.
"Did she say anything about what it was? Did she act different than usual?"
"No she didn't say. And as for the second question, I only went out with her two times before last night. But she did order a vegetarian dish. She usually likes meat."
Kim wrote down everything and thought about the clues.
"Do you sell black roses?"
"Yes I do. In fact it's one of the most popular flowers I sell."
Kim studied the brunette suspiciously. He was definitely a suspect.
"May I see one?" She asked sweetly.
"Um sure." He handed Kim the black beautiful rose.
It matched the one that lay on Amy's body.
"What about a dog? Do you have a dog?" She asked thinking about the leash that choked Amy.
"I did, but he ran off a few days ago." He shifted uncomfortably.
The bell rang and a customer walked in.
"I'd appreciate it if you left Detective. I have a customer to tend to."
Kim sighed and proceeded to leave.
*Later that day*
Kim sat in Ryan Lee's Chinese restaurant. While eating some fried rice, she examined her notes and clues.
Inside the clue bag she noticed an obituary page. Two local ladies had died of food poisoning.
"Detective Lanquist?" Ryan's foreign voice sounded.
"Hello Ryan. Can I ask you a few more questions?"
"I don't understand why you think I know so much. It's not like I murdered the girl."
Kim stood up and looked him in the eye with her hands planted on the table.
"Do you have a dog?"
"No, I'm terribly allergic."
Kim studied him for a moment and a loud ruckus came from the back of the restaurant.
Ryan cursed under his breath and excused himself.
Kim stood, unsure what to do next. She threw some money on the table for the rice and decided to snoop.
She tried to enter the kitchen but it was locked.
So she proceeded to go outside and look where Amy's dead body once lay.
Kim studied around the rustic dumpster. She finally looked into the hunk of junk and noticed five empty bags of cat food.
'If he doesn't want the cats around then why does he feed them?' She wondered.
A corner or a notepad stuck out from the bottom of the dumpster. Kim picked it up and read the cover.
Property of Amy Gaertner
Intrigued by the new clue, she opened it and read it's logical contents.
It all made sense now! Kim knew who murdered Amy!
A strong masculine hand grasped her shoulder. She gasped and dropped the notepad.
"Nobody needs to know about the meat or Amy." The culprit whispered.
Okay so tell me in the comments who you think murdered Amy Gaertner. After I see a few answers I will post who the killer is and the story of why he did it.
