Verdict at Police Precinct 23

“We had a search warrant approved. The suspect is in ICU. And we still got NOTHING!?”

Inspector May slammed her tablet onto her desk. Even with a hard case, a new crack was added onto the screen and the photo stands on the tabletop tumbled over. She paced in a circle behind her office desk, shoving aside her chair and rubbing her face.

Sergeant Leo and Constable had returned from the forensic office, standing in front of her. McLamb flinched when the chair was shoved over, making him swallow a lump in his throat. Leo on the other hand ignored it, busy tapping a fist to his forehead to beat the headache out.

“Even I don’t get it Madam.” Leo mumbled. “This man has the motive, the means, and perhaps the opportunity but we checked everywhere. Bathroom, closet, bedroom, storage, even the kitchen.” The sergeant waved his tablet, showing the files he received, “None of them showed any signs of murder or dismembering a corpse. Not even so much as arterial splatter in the corners or ceiling. All the knives in his kitchen are accounted for, no human blood. Forensics confirmed, the Tuckers’ apartment is not the first scene of the crime. Sarah was killed somewhere else.”

McLamb stepped up, gripping onto his tablet tightly, “W-we also searched his furniture company, did a full sweep from top to bottom. Other than old blood on some equipment of employees losing fingers, nothing that indicated Frank Tucker used his company to dismember the body.”

“This isn’t a sci-fi horror. There is no way you can cleanly chop up a body without the right tools and not leave a trace!” Inspector May shook her head. “And who suggested the body was cut up in the bathroom? Who!?”

McLamb froze. Just as he honestly made a motion to raise his arm, Leo quietly pushed his hand back down to say, “Jackson.”

Inspector May cringed, pinching her nose bridge. “I will make him eat his badge for breakfast.” She then kicked her chair to turn it around and plopped right into the seat. Dragging herself to her desk, she balanced her elbows on the table so she could rest her forehead on her folded hands. “Twitter, Facebook, and even the true crime community on YouTube have locked in the murderer is the Splitter. I talked to the crown prosecutor, she said if we don’t find any damning evidence that only Frank Tucker could have committed Sarah Tucker’s murder, the jury won’t buy it and give him the benefit of a doubt.”

She then tapped a tired finger on her office phone. “The situation with the real Splitter hasn’t improved. The other team at Precinct 18 still don’t have a lead. The public has been breathing down the Commissioner’s neck. Worse case scenario, he’ll ask us to forget about Frank Tucker and conduct a joint investigation with the other team.”

Leo gave the inspector a moment before he stepped forward. “Out of all the potential suspects, I believe Frank Tucker stood to gain the most. Man has been in debt, wife has an insurance policy. Kill her and get the money. Rich man with new woman.”

“You say that, but this Dr. Malcolm has the means.” Inspector May returned a shrug with her hands. “Surgeon. And does Orthopaedics. Can sever a leg in a blink of an eye with little to no scars.”

“Dr. Malcolm had no motive,” nodded McLamb. “True to his words he kept his distance from Sarah since they broke up. Even the staff noticed them being business like, not like before. And he felt more guilt in having an affair with a married woman.”

“Sarah played the doctor like a fiddle to lure her husband back. Once his use was over, the good doctor was cast aside like an abandoned puppy in a cardboard box. I think that’s motivation enough for spiteful murder. He’s on the list until further notice.” The inspector rubbed the tip of her steepled hand across her nose bridge. “What about the mistress, Felicia Harvey?”

“After Jenny and Jackson interviewed her, it was clear she disliked Sarah,” McLamb reported. “As for motive, most likely jealous. Other than having Frank Tucker for herself, she wouldn’t benefit much from Sarah’s death.” The Constable bobbed his head left and right with a shrug. “At most, the insurance money she set up for Sarah might benefit her, but then again given how Frank was already in debt because of this affair, I don’t think it will last. And like you mentioned, inspector, why go through all the trouble to make it look like a serial killer murder.”

“Frank Tucker is the key to this.” Leo tapped his knuckle onto the inspector’s desk. “Ever since he came to identify his wife, it has been bugging me the way he looked at her. The question of why the head and pelvis is still missing? Why was only the thumb the only thing we could truly identify her corpse? Once we find the answer to any of these, we can definitely pin the murder on him.”

Inspector May rubbed her nose with her steeple hands. After a few tired nods, she stopped and let out a deep sigh. “You all have 48 hours. Frank Tucker is in custody at the hospital, but he won’t be available for questioning until tomorrow morning. If none of you can find any solid evidence before the timer is up, Frank Tucker has to go scot free...and we will officially start joint operations with Precinct 18 to catch the Splitter.”

Leo and McLamb wanted to protest. All the inspector had to do was raise her hand to shut them down.

“Commissioner’s orders.”