EXT. REBEKAH SMITH'S HOUSE - THE NEXT DAY
Detective Chris's car pulls up outside the driveway of Rebekah Smith's house. Police cars are parked everywhere. Policemen roam the building, talking and going in and out of the house.
The detective exits the car. His clothes are wrinkled and tufts of hair stick up all over his head. Closing the door behind him, he looks up at the house. His shoulders slump at the sight.
One portly man, OFFICER BARNUM (48), sees the new arrival and approaches the car. Detective Chris attempts to smooth his shirt and comb his fingers through his hair.
Officer Barnum smirks at him.
OFFICER BARNUM
(condescendingly)
You look like you just rolled out of bed, detective!
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(flustered)
I was rushing. Now what's going on?
Officer Barnum points towards the house.
OFFICER BARNUM
Break in and a dead body. Don't know what's going on with your lawyer friend, but strange things keep happening around her.
Detective Chris grunts and walks past the officer, heading for the house. Officer Barnum scowls at his back and follows him.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Anything stolen?
OFFICER BARNUM
Nope. Most everything was left in place.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Have they identified the corpse?
OFFICER BARNUM
Ms. Smith's maid, Maria Cortez. somebody stabbed her in the head, real good.
The two enter the house.
INT. REBEKAH SMITH'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
More police officers are walking around the house. One is kneeling in the living room, where the body of Maria Cortez lies.
Detective Chris looks down at the busted door. He arches one eyebrow.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Just like back at the office...
OFFICER BARNUM
'Scuse me?
The detective points at the fallen door.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
The door. It was busted open, just like at the law firm.
OFFICER BARNUM
(sighing)
I told you there was a burglary.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Not the point.
Officer Barnum crosses his arms.
OFFICER BARNUM
Then what is the point, detective?
Detective Chris waves him off. He walks over to the corpse and nods to the woman kneeling over it. DR. LIDIA DAVIS (31), smiles back at him. She stands and holds out her elbow.
LIDIA DAVIS
Nice to see you, detective.
The detective bumps her elbow with his.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Same to you Dr. Davis. What have we got?
Dr. Davis kneels back down. She gently takes the corpse's chin in hand and tilts the head toward Detective Chris and Officer Barnum.
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She points toward the gash.
LIDIA DAVIS
A two-inch long, three inch wide hole on the left side of the head. Just from my observations, I'd say the blade breached the skull with barely any resistance and pierced the brain quickly.
She looks up at Detective Chris.
LIDIA DAVIS
Ms. Cortez died almost instantly.
Detective Chris nodded.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Tentatively crossing out crime of passion. A quick and easy death doesn’t sound like an angry murderer’s deal. How long's she been dead?
LIDIA DAVIS
Body's still got a little warmth, so I'd say 9-10 hours.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
So she was killed around 11 o'clock?
LIDIA DAVIS
Possibly 10.
The detective shakes his head.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Too early. The report about Shalissa Roberts was filed at 9:38. Bob - the janitor who reported it - was physically fit despite being at least 40, so he could've ran here fairly quickly. Maybe 8-9 minutes, she must've died at about 9:30.
OFFICER BARNUM
(confused)
So?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
So, Ms. Smith's house is about 10 miles out from her law firm. The average person takes 1 hour, 1 hour 30 minutes to run that long. If the killer ran from the firm to the house, they would've arrived at about 11.
OFFICER BARNUM
You think the killers are related?
LIDIA DAVIS
It's possible. They both died due to similar wounds. Whoever did this was skilled enough to get the job done quickly and thoroughly.
Officer Barnum nods.
OFFICER BARNUM
What if the killer had a ride? Wouldn't that mean he got here faster?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
That's...true.
OFFICER BARNUM
So-
LIDIA DAVIS
Hold on. Let him think.
Officer Barnum frowns but stops talking.
Detective Chris takes a few steps back from the two. He turns in a slow circle.
His foot brushes against the black-and-white striped cane on the floor. He looks down at it, then back at the body. The detective walks towards the cane and steps over it.
Passing the counter, he sees the bowl of knocked over fruit. He looks past them, staring at the light in the hallway. It's the only light on in the front part of the house.
The detective walks back towards the cane and studies the counter. He sees a scuff mark on the floor and snaps his fingers.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(excited)
I've got it!
OFFICER BARNUM
(skeptical)
What?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
I've got a theory about what happened.
The few police officers left in the house halt their hushed conversations. They all look toward Detective Chris.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Ms. Smith's car was left at her firm. She ran here from the firm, on foot. Whoever attacked her and her client must've driven here, waiting for her. They waited for her to enter the house, then broke down the door. The noise must've shocked her while she was at the counter.
He places himself before the counter, facing it. Making sure his feet line up with the scuff mark, he turns abruptly.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
They rush her and she tries to reach for something to fight them off. She accidentally knocks over the bowl and then they grab her, possibly knocking her out to make her more amiable. The noise alerts Ms. Cortez, who turns on the light-
He points at the hallway.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
-and comes out with the cane. They fight the maid, kill her, and leave her body here. Then they take Ms. Smith and drive off!
OFFICER BARNUM
(skeptical)
Ehh...
DETECTIVE CHRIS
What? You don't think it's plausible? What am I missing?
OFFICER BARNUM
Why take Smith?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Well, that's just what we have to figure out, right? We can-
The detective's phone rings, cutting him off. Frowning, he pulls his phone out and answers it.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
This is Chris...Another murder at station 4? I'm at...yeah, no, okay, I can...Be there in a few. Bye.
Detective Chris ends the call and puts away his phone. He looks up at Officer Barnum.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Can you handle things here? I've got to get to Human City A Train Station #4.
OFFICER BARNUM
Another murder?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Unfortunately.
OFFICER BARNUM
(grimacing)
What is happening to this city...?
(to Detective Chris)
Yeah...Yeah, I can. Get to the station.
Detective Chris nods at him and waves goodbye to Dr. Davis. She inclines her head.
LIDIA DAVIS
Good luck.
The detective exits the house in a hurry.