Bang,+Bang,+Pow!

Bang, Bang, Pow! By: Robin & Emma

 It was a windy, boring, stormy Friday, Friday the 13 th  to be exact, when I was passing an apartment complex and I heard, “Bang, Bang, Pow, Aahhhhh!” I hurried into the room, where I saw the crime scene. There was blood everywhere including the bed and curtains, a gun on the floor. The window was open and when I peeked out, I almost up-chucked my egg, ham, and bacon breakfast burrito. I was looking at the apartment complex pool and it looked like Wahoo Punch. There was a young woman, about 24 years old, face down in the pool with a knife in her back. Blood was gushing out of the wound. When the rest of my team got to the room, I found out that the victim's name was Sheila Tack.  I felt my hip vibrating and almost screamed, but then I realized that I had an incoming call on my phone. I quietly stepped out of the room and answered it.  “The doc is in, Ann L. Eyez on the phone, how can I help you?”  “Yes this is Anita Life, manager of Red Rum Apartment Complex. I am calling to report a death in my building, nothing out of the ordinary. I heard two gun shots and a scream coming from apartment D13.”  “Really?” exclaimed Ann sarcastically. “I’ll get right on it! What time will I meet you there?”  “I’ll be there in five minutes at the latest.”  My boss, Arthur Itess, told me that I needed to walk around the crime scene and see if I could find any clues that would help the case. When I walked in the hallway, I noticed that the door was opened with excessive force. It was chipped and there was a big gaping hole where the lock should have been. I jumped back when I heard even more screaming coming from the elevator. I sprinted down the hall and found a mans body wedged in the elevator doors. I checked the pulse, and when I did, the body flinched and the man laughed.  “Hey buddy!, don’t tickle me like that.” said Duane Pipes, my stupid partner in crime.  “What are you doing in between the doors, you idiot?”  “Umm, what does it look like, I'm looking for clues like the boss said.” Duane said getting up.  “Yeah, I don't think your going to find anything down there!” I told him with disgust.  While Duane was getting up from the elevator floor, I noticed that the security camera was smashed in. When Anita got to the crime scene I asked her if I could see the elevator security tapes from this morning at around 8:00. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “What camera? I haven't even installed it in the elevator yet.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I was heading to Lou Nattic's house, said to be Shelia’s boyfriend. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Hello, is this Lou Nattic’s house, may I come in?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Yeah sure, I just finished dinner,” Lou mumbled. “Who are you?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I am Ann L. Eyez detective for the F.B.I. There was a crime down at the Red Rum Apartment Complex. A girl named Shelia Tack was murdered there. I heard that she was your girlfriend. Is that correct? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">His eyes began to fill with water. I went into the T.V. room to give him some privacy. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I stopped and stared at some boxes in the corner. They had a picture of a security camera on them. I knew I had seen that camera before, but where? Lou entered the room a few minutes later with his eyes puffy and red. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m sorry, but I have to ask what are you doing with security cameras? I saw the exact same type at Red Rum,” I said while still staring at them <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh that? That’s nothing! Don’t worry about it,” he said very fast. “Well I better head to bed. I hope you find who the murderer is.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I walked out the door slowly knowing he seemed very suspicious. I went home and climbed into bed. Before I knew it, it was already morning. I woke to the sound of the phone ringing. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ann get here fast we need you and we think we found who the murderer is,” Duane yelled. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Fine I’ll be over in 20 minutes.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I went over there as fast as I could. I was wondering how Duane found the murderer so quickly. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Look, this is Mr. E. Mann and he was a roommate with Shelia Tack. He said he wasn’t even near when this happened and had no idea what was going on until I told him. That’s exactly something someone would say if they knew what happened and did it,” Duane said very proudly. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Or someone who didn’t know what was going on and wasn’t there at the time. Let me ask him a few questions and work from there,” I said. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Okay Mr. E. Mann, you were a roommate with Shelia. Did you know that she had a boyfriend?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh yes, I did indeed. I was just rooming with her because I couldn’t afford a Red Rum apartment, but I made a deal with Anita. She said that I could move in with someone and only pay half price. Shelia volunteered and I moved in as soon as possible. Only six months later Shelia was killed and now I probably have to pay for a full room,” Mr. Mann exclaimed. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I see. Now, how often are you gone?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m only here two to three days a week.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Where are you the rest of the time?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Well, I really, you see, it’s not...” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Answer my question Mr. Mann. Where are you the rest of the week?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“My wife,” he said in shame. “I tell her that I go on business trips, but I just want to get out of the house with all the loud kids and nagging wife.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yes, thank you very much Mr. E. Mann.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I went over to the Mann's house and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Mann answered the door. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh Detective Ann, what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you.” asked Mrs. E Mann suspiciously. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“How do you know my name, I've never even met you before?” I said looking at her <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Your boss told me that you that someone named Ann. L. Eyez was coming over, is that you?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Why yes, yes I am.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Please come in,” she demanded, “don't we need to discuss the murder of Shelia Tack?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We entered the living room and sat down on her leather couch. Mrs. E. Mann was wearing bright red lipstick. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“So can you tell me, how often does your husband go on trips?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Two or three days a week for business trips, why?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I'm sorry to tell you this but, my boss believes that your husband was leading a double life that you didn't know about.” I told her with a wince, knowing that she might hit me for telling her that. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At this moment Mrs. E. Mann burst into tears and fell onto the floor. I didn't know what to do, so I asked her if I could go in her husband’s room and look for some clues about his other life. After she said yes with a sob, I went upstairs and looking for their room. Once I found the master bedroom I rummaged through Mr. E. Mann's dresser. There was barely anything in it because all of his clothes were packed for his “business trip.” Just a few clothes and a ring. I picked up the ring and looked at it. It was all rusted and look ancient. I saw one exactly like it at the crime scene. I put it in my pocket and left the room.I headed downstairs where Mrs. Mann just stopped crying. I asked her what she does on a normal day. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Well, it always seems like I’ve been taking care of paperwork and bills with my right hand and taking care of the kids with the left. It’s a mess,” she said sounding stressed. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Thanks so much for letting me come in your house and ask some questions. Sorry to bring you the bad news. Do you mind writing down your phone number just in case I need to get in touch? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh no problem, it’s fine!” she said while writing the number down. “Hope your investigation goes well.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I left the house feeling like I had accomplished nothing. Once I got back to the station, Arthur told me that at the lab the coroner noticed that Shelia Tack was wearing the brightest red lipstick. I told him that I would come over to check it out. When I got to the lab and studied the woman. I noticed that the lipstick was the same kind that Mrs. Mann wore. I had a felling that Shelia didn’t put that on herself. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I decided to invite Lou, Mr. and Mrs. E. Mann to the restaurant in the apartment complex for dinner. They all got there at precisely 6:37. We ate chicken and pulled pork with a side of wedge salad. About a half an hour into the dinner, I noticed that Mrs. E. Mann was eating with her left hand. I remembered watching her write with her right hand. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Mrs. E. Mann, by any chance are you ambidextrous?” I questioned. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“No, I’m not I’m just left...” her eyes got big. “I mean yes I am!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Well what is it then?” I asked her, getting closer. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mrs. E. Mann started backing away from the table, and accusing the rest of us of pestering her. While she was headed to the doorway Mr. E. Mann got up and told me that his wife was left handed and did almost everything with that hand. I then thought of the knife and how Aurthur Itess said it had a left handed grip. When I looked up, Mrs. E. Mann was gone. After she had disappeared, I asked everyone else if they were right or left handed. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Right.” exclaimed Lou. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m right,” said Mr. E. Mann with poise. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I looked at both of their plates, they both were eating with their right hands so I knew they were telling the truth.We finished our dinner and all headed home. I thought to myself “Ann L. Eyez, I think you’ve got it!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In the morning my friend, who is a police, Ali Bye, and I headed over to the Mann’s to talk to Mrs. E. Mann again. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hi, Mrs. E. Mann?” Ali said while Mrs. Mann was opening the door. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yes...” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I need a few questions to ask you.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Have a seat,” she said when her face got white. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We sat down on the perfectly white couch. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“We have the when, where, how, and now we have the who, but why?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What are you guys talking about?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“The murder of Shelia Tack you faker!” I yelled. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Why do you think it’s me?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“One, you said you were right handed, but really you’re left. You tried to hide that because you knew the knife’s grip was left handed. You didn’t want us to think it was you. Two, I could tell you knew that Mr. E. Mann leaded a double life because you perked right back up after I came downstairs. Three, your lipstick was on Shelia and it didn’t look like she put it on herself. It looked like it was forced. Four, you accused everybody of pestering you, you don’t find that a bit odd?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Fine, fine! It was me! I was upset when I found out my husband was living two different lives. I thought that Shelia was encouraging him to divorce me so I killed her to get back at him and Shelia. I wanted her to try on the lipstick so when she was looking away I could shoot her and stab her in the back, just like the way my husband did to me. But she refused, so I forced it on her and then shot her. You happy?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You’re under arrest for the murder of Shelia Tack,” said Ali taking her handcuffs from her belt loop and reading Mrs. E. Mann her rights, “Any thing you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ali put her in her car and drove off. I went back to the station to tell the team everything. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “There is still one thing I don’t get,” Duane said stupidly. “Why did Lou not want you to know about the cameras and why did Mr. E. Mann have that ring?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I thought about it. Those weren’t actually bad questions. They really made sense. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “You know, I don’t know. I’ll head on over and find out.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I first headed over to Lou’s house. He was sitting in his front yard. I stepped out of my car and asked him why he had placed all of those cameras around his girlfriends apartment complex. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I put those up so I could watch what Shelia was doing and if she was seeing any one else. She told me that Mr. Mann was just staying with her to pay half price, but I didn’t believe her,” he started tearing up. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> After I had a little chat with Lou about the cameras, I headed over to were Mr. E. Mann’s house. When I knocked on the door of his house, he answered right away. As I walked in the house I saw so many kids toys, I could tell he was dealing with some hectic kids. He told me that I could go into the kitchen and grab a drink while he was putting the boys in their room.When he came back in, I asked him why the ring was in his dresser. I showed him the ring. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I have been looking for that! How long have you had that?” he asked. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I just found it a few days ago. May I ask what it means?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yes, it is a ring that I and my wife both had. It's very old. We used to wear it everyday, but we just sort of stopped. I have no idea where her's went. May I have it back?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Here,” I said giving it to him. “I think she put her ring on Shelia Tack so it looked like you did it. What an awful thing to do” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yes, I know. Well thanks for giving this to me, it means a lot.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I got in my car and I realized I answered all of the questions I needed answered. I felt proud. Ann. L. Eyez has once again solved a mystery!