Plots and Ploys

Chapter 2

It took the two new detectives only a few minutes to look over the case file.....because it only consisted of a statement of death and a few pictures of the crime scene, no fingerprints or locational leads, just a few pictures and the cause of death... strychnine poison.

"Why did we agree to this again?! This is practically impossible! Someone forced him to ingest the poison and then without leaving even a fingerprint they left him in a random alleyway. How are we supposed to solve anything with this?!!" Katie yelled, waving her fist in frustration.

"The pictures just shows his dead corpse. It's just a dead corpse..." Gabrielle said scanning the images again. "Wait.... he has a tatoo."

Katie rolled her eyes. "Lots of people have tattoos," she scoffed walking around the desk to look at the pictures too over Gabrielle's shoulder.

"True.. but look its barbed wire around his arm with a cross," Gabrielle replied as if that explained everything.

"And....that means...?"

"Its the gang symbol of the Barbarians. They practically run this city, at least the criminal activity. The Serpentines and Blood Clowns struggle to keep up, even when they work together," Gabrielle explained.

Katie laughed. "Your strange obsession with mafias and gangs finally came in handy."

"Don't worry. I'm sure you're love of Roman torture techniques and strange Egyptian gods will come in handy too....someday," Gabrielle replied still scanning the image for anymore clues.

"Ew look at his neck! It's all scratched up," Katie gagged.

"Hmmm they almost look like barb wire marks too... oh my gosh...he was killed off by one of his fellow gang members..... damn," Gabrielle replied. "That's rough."

"So case solved," Katie said walking back to her seat.

"No. We don't know who ordered him to be killed," Gabrielle sighed.

"The gang boss probably?"

"Yeah, but no one knows his real identity...." Gabrielle huffed.

"Someone has to," Katie replied.

"He does have a few weaknesses... drugs, weapons, and women. Maybe we could start by finding his drug dealer or a weapons merchant or one of his misses," Gabrielle suggested.

"Sounds like a lead to me," Katie smiled.

"You do realize we'll be walking straight into danger, right?" Gabrielle warned packing a few things in her bag.

"And?" Katie laughed packing up as well.

"Just making sure you knew," Gabrielle replied slinging her bag over her shoulder before walking towards the door.

"So where are we off to first?" Katea asked happily skipping behind her. The whole office just starred at her in confusion, but who could blame them? A young detective skipping off to a practical death sentence was a strange sight.

"You ever been to a night club?"

Katie's eyes went wide.

"I'll take that as a 'no' then."