CID Team Office in Precinct 23 - Part (1/2)

CID Team B’s office was a large square room right across from the Inspector’s office. Some of the windows inside gave a good view of the busy city streets. Bright florescent lights hanging from the ceiling kept tired eyes awake for the late hours. What was supposed to be a clean white wall was instead covered in various photos, documents, and classic yarn threads pinned all over. The floor was made with wood and concrete, hidden under the thin linoleum flooring with the colors of faux marble.

There were four workstations each armed with a standard issue PC tower, two 1080px monitors, a public phone with multiple speed dials, a multi-port charging station for phones and police tablets, and a waste basket that was too small for its line of duty.

Sergeant Leo approached one wall in the office that was not covered up in hordes of paper and pinned notes. Rather it was dark, had a slight reflection like a tinted window, and had finger smudges all over. The detective gave the wall a double tap with one hand, awakening it as a large touch screen platform. He used his hands to press large lettered buttons to write down his log in number and password. Once his access has been confirmed, it revealed a home screen and spilled out several digital folders into orderly fashion like a game of Solitaire.

Among the array he eyed the folder [CASE057: SARAH TUCKER] and tapped it with his palm. The folder expanded, opening up a collection of digital photos of the corpse and crime scenes, documents made by the investigation team, as well as new mini-notes that were updated real time by Constable Jenny and Jackson as they gathered info, appearing as small text messages in the corner.

“...Something isn’t right about this case.” Leo eyed the dismembered corpse. He checked any comments among them – no update on the head, hips, or any other fingers. He even brought up the photo of the thumb they found to double check. The detective placed his hands on his hips and spoke out loud. “New document. Title: Shangri-Lah Office, Re: Tucker’s Affair. Log as Leo.”

A new digital document was formed and it opened on another section of the wall. Leo walked in a slow stride, talking as he moved. “Frank Tucker has an affair, suggested to have been for some time – period. Currently having Jackson to look into the mistress and get her name and background – period. Frank Tucker’s business has been declining, spending too much money and time on mistress’s lifestyle – period. Could Sarah Tucker’s murder be related to love and finance – question mark? If we find more info on the mistress, could she be involved – question mark? Witness mentioned mistress was an insurance agent – semicolon – we found the life insurance policy for Sarah Tucker, payout is five million, all funds designated to husband Frank Tucker – period. Save File.”

Leo turned to the screen just as it finished documenting his words. He read it over, double checking and making any auto-correct changes. He took a moment to glance at the pictures of the dismembered corpse and at his own documents, brow furrowed as he muttered under his breath. “If this was all about the insurance, why hack up his wife into pieces? I get the smokescreen, but what are the odds we never find the head, or even the thumb? Has asthma, doubt he could survive long enough to kill let alone hack a body into seven clean pieces... But he does own a furniture company, cutting tools and equipment available perhaps?”

While Leo spoke to himself the microphone on the smart-wall picked up his words and continued to type his thoughts down on digital paper. It took him a while before he noticed and he brought up the on-screen keyboard to hit the backspace. “Delete. Delete. Delete!”

BANG!

Leo jolted from the office door suddenly flinging open. His hand slipped and he deleted half of his report. With a growl he hit the undo command to bring it all back and saved it before any sudden noises scared him again.

“McLamb!? What the h—I know you don’t have to knock at work, but what was that about!”

“L-Leo! Wheeeze! Y-You n-not gonna believe this but—wheeze!”

“For crying out loud greenhorn, the water cooler is over there! Drink, that’s an order go!”