One Perfect Murder

Dead Man In A Locked Room

It was raining cats and dog in the middle of the night. I was awaken by the gusting of the wind and slamming of the tree branches on my window. I just yawned and went decided to go back to catch more sleep but I was denied when my window broke and rain entered my bedroom.

"Crap!" I hastily got up and tried to do damage control but it was futile. The wind was stronger then the lock on my window of my crappy apartment. "This suck!"

Using my quick thinking, even before my brain fully functioned, I used the tie on my curtain. tied my window and hoped that it will last through the storm.

I went to get a mop near the kitchen and dried the mess. I don't really want to slip and hurt myself.

I sighed and sat down on my old but comfy couch. Sleep won't be coming back any sooner. The red LED by the bedside stated that it was only half past four in the morning.

Great! Only two hours of sleep.

I looked around my studio type apartment and saw nothing that can get my interest. My cable subscription was cancelled months ago since I don't even use it. There's no newspapers nor magazines to read. However, I got a full bookcase of untouched books that was given to me by my friend which I still haven't touched. She knew well that I don't have time reading due to my nature of work but she kept on giving me.

"I think now's the time to start reading those." I stood up and went to the bookcase. As I scrolled through the title, I can't help but feel a little annoyed as I don't find anything in particular to be interesting. "Let's see... Harry Potter... nopes! Too old for that.... Lords of the rings... nopes... not interested... Twilight? Goodness! I fell asleep watching this... why would Lexi give me this?" I sighed in defeat and went back to my couch.

Running was out of option because of the storm and my apartment does not have a gym. "Gym!" There's one place that I knew had a twenty four hour gym.

I put on my hood as I was about to leave my car. It will just be around twenty feet from the entrance and I'm too lazy to get my umbrella.

"Hey! You're early detective." The night shift officer greeted me.

"Yeah! Some case." Truth to be told, my last case was closed and I have been given a time off, but downtime doesn't really fit me. I'm done with my paperwork and there's not new development on my cold cases.

I went directly to the gym and I wasn't surprised to find it dark and empty. It's barely five in a morning. "At least I'm going to have some quiet time."

After about thirty minutes into the mill, my phone vibrated. "Altman!" It was dispatch. "I'm on my way." A new case. I'm both delighted and saddened every time I was given a case. Delighted because of the mystery and thrill but saddened because someone's special one was dead.

I was a homicide detective for a three years now and the feeling remained the same. At least I won't have to deal with live victims unlike those in vice, robbery and SVU... specially SVU. I could never handle victims well that's why I pushed to be transferred out. Luckily, there was an opening in homicide due to retirement.

I stopped my car in front of a large gate. Several police cars were also parked at the scene. Yellow tape provide boundary between authority and paparazzi. By the size of this mansion, I'd say that the victim was loaded.

"Hey Altman!" A uniformed officer greeted me. He then held the yellow tape so I can enter with ease.

"Hey!" I acknowledge and thanked him for his effort. "Have you seen Jiggs?" It was my partner.

"Not yet. You are the first detective on the scene." Did he said first? Does this mean someone else's coming?

"What do you mean first? Are you expecting someone else?" I asked.