The Hunt

Two

"Did he have something important in the laptop?"

"Don't know, things about his job more likely. He dealt with museums all along the world and sometimes he has to talk with people with different time zones." Jessica looked tired and I thought we would get no more information from her, at least for the time given.

"This will be all for now, Ms Thomas. Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?" 

"Yes, yes. I think so. I called a friend of mine after calling 911, she said she would come pick me. Probably she's waiting outside in the street."

"Fine. Now, I will go with you so that you can take some clothes, but I will need you to put these gloves on." Mark handed her a pair of medical gloves "And one more thing before you go, we're going to need to have your fingerprints taken."

"My ...? Oh, I understand. "

"Thanks Ms Thomas. We will probably talk to you again, could you go to Metropolitan Police Department tomorrow, let's say at noon?" 

"Yeah, I will be there. And," she stopped for a moment before leaving the apartment "thanks so much Detectives." 

"Take care, Ms Thomas." We walked her to the door and then went back inside. Some scientific police detectives were examining the whole apartment in case a clue or a trace appeared "Anything interesting here, guys?" 

Derek Harris, the leader of the group, denied with the head "Nothing at all. They cleaned all possible fingerprints, the only ones must belong to the victim or his girlfriend. And apparently there's no violence in the body either, he knew his murderer."

"He probably had another relationship, that could be a motive to kill him." Mark said.

"That makes sense, we'll have to press the girl a bit further. And let's see what her friends have to say."

"Detectives!"Derek called us from the bathroom "There's some blood here, in that corner." He pointed under the washbasin " It's quite new, it doesn't look like it's from shaving. "

We took a look at the small amount of blood. It was just some spills, but luckily it could help us getting some DNA .

"Well, I think we're done here. Hope the judge comes soon and we can go home." Mark took a cigarette out of his pocket and gave some hits on it "This murder makes no sense, if someone does. A plain man with no enemies, working at a Museum, who would want to kill him?" 

"You're specially bitter today, Mark.  This job of ours isn't a rose garden, but someone has to keep streets clean and safe."

"I know, but I'm growing tired of it. Don't know, I'm thinking of quitting the Police." Mark gave a long hit on his cigarette "Kellie has an interesting job offer in New York, and we're considering moving there."

"Oh." I was taken completely by surprise with Mark's revelation. We had been partners for almost seven years, since I had been promoted to Detective, and he had always been committed to his job. "What kind of job is it?"

"It's for the New York Times, and honestly she'd be crazy if she doesn't take it. You know how much she misses that apple." 

I couldn't but laugh "Yeah, she wears it in her heart. But this year we have elections, so staying here could be interesting for her too."

"That's the only thing that holds her back. But with some luck, there will be no changes in 1600 Pennsylvania,  so... That must be the judge, he's finally here." Mark threw his cigarette and walked to a car that had just arrived.

A woman in her late forties went out of the car and greeted us "My name is Charlotte Greenwood, I was just called a while ago. " She turned around to look a younger woman who was still parking the car "That's my secretary, Marion Corrigan. What can you tell me about the body?" The judge seemed impatient to do her duties, and I wasn't too interested in staying there much longer.

"Martin Bennett, thirty six, divorced and in a new relationship. He was found by his current girlfriend when she came home from work. We have no evidences yet, but it looks like he was poisoned. The girlfriend is a coworker named Jessica Thomas, she only misses the victim's laptop." Mark gave the judge the only information we had so far.

"That's not too much for a start. I noticed there were some surveillance cameras, I will give you a warrant  to get them." She signed something and handed it to us "And this one is for his professional computer. He worked at the National Gallery, right? I know the Director, if you should have any trouble with him just mention me. Now, if you tell me where the body is, I will allow the coroner to take it to the morgue."