THE CRIMINAL FILES ~ Mona Lisa's Murder

P R O L O G U E

/What's this? What's this? There's color everywhere. What's this? There's white things in the air. What's this? I can't believe my eyes, I must be dreaming, wake up, Jack, this isn't fair! What's this? What's this? What's this? There's something very wrong. What's this? There's people singing songs. What's this? The streets are lined with little creatures laughing - everybody seems so happy. Have I possibly gone daffy? What is this? What's this?/ ~ Danny Elfman *From the motion picture "Nightmare Before Christmas"* {What's This?}

Placing her black hair in a bun, she looked at her contoured cheekbones and neck. Pleased with her costume, she turned around and walked out of the bathroom clutching a tattered scroll.

She had placed a tea bag on the paper giving it a weathered look to it. In the middle - in large, black cursive were the words; "Allie Did It". Around the scroll was a thin red ribbon tied off in a bow on the front. She slipped it into a small satchel and opened the door to where her husband was.

She told him to get ready before they revealed the body for the guests.

Her and her husband; Brandon, had planned out a whole "Murder Mystery Christmas party". The guests were fond of the idea, being as that it was something new. Each one had to were older styled clothing; dresses, corsets, suits etc.

Brandon was playing the role of the murder victim. Allie, which was her best friend - was the murderer. At the beginning of the party each person was given a clue and their character. Allie, was Carmen's character. The party had been going on for a few hours and everyone was pretty far into the game. So, it was time to reveal the body with the answer to the mystery.

Rounding a corner she walked over to the dressing room and opened the door. Her husband was finishing gelling his hair up and applying white powder to his face to give off that whole 'I'm pasty white, so I'm dead' feel.

She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, planting a kiss to the side of his face. "You ready?" She cooed. He gave her a smile in the mirror, turned to her and kissed her.

"You bet." She got up, handed him the satchel and left.

Reaching the ballroom, she shoved the doors open and glided over to one of the groups to chat with. A few minutes had passed before everyone heard the body guards she hired shouting at each other, carrying Brandon in on something close to a stretcher - but more golden. Everyone was quiet.

Missy smiled to herself. She shook her head, resuming back into character. Walking past the crowds of people she climbed up a step or two before reaching a landing where the stretcher was placed. She cleared her throat, tapping the side of her fork to her wine glass. All eyes were on her and the black cloth covered body. Taking a deep breath in, she readied herself to put on her best fake-scared face.

Taking the edge of the cloth she slowly discarded it revealing her husband's face inch by inch.

Laying the cloth flat on his stomach she looked back to her guests, her head held high. "The moment, we've all been waiting for." She opened up the satchel, took out the scroll and began to unravel it. But the paper was stained in red. Really funny, Brandon. She thought. She unraveled it completely, looking to the scared face of the one guard. "What's wrong?" She asked quietly, leaning over. He pointed to the granite floor and the crimson fluid that began to run down the steps. Her breath hitched in her throat. She took off the cloth completely her jaw opening wide.

A few people gasped, some clapped knowing this was all part of the show. She gave a slight bow, and tapped her husband on the shoulder. "Honey, you can get up now." No response. "Honey?" No response. She looked back to the confused crowd. Did he seriously fall asleep? "Honey!" His body fell off the stretcher, but his head rolled away into the crowd of people.

Screams escaped most of the guests. A few made retching sounds while the others darted away. She fell to her knees her cries becoming louder. She looked down at her husband's decapitated body that lay helplessly on the ground. And all she could do was cry.