I walked down the chilly stone corridor. The silent metal hall was lined with windowless doors marked with numbers engraved on the door. I was headed to room ‘0976’ as per Adam’s orders. The room with Agatha Lotusburg’s body. I approached the door and heard mumbled yelling inside. I pushed open the door.

“Unacceptable! Unacceptable” a sharp voice rang out as I peeked into the room.

“I told you, sir!” Another voice squeaked. Only authorized personnel are allowed to examine her body at the moment!”

“Silence! My genius trumps any authority of you puny scientists!”

I was met with the back of Detective Price’s figure; His hands plastered on his hips.

“I’m sorry sir it’s a no!” A young dark-colored man draped in a white lab coat stood firmly, but nervously in front of a nearby door. “If you want to see the body you must get permission from Chief Ironheel or the head forensic scientist. As u aren’t a forensic scientist yourself. No workarounds.”

“Out of my way ratbag!” Pigeon hissed. “This crime will never be solved until I alone solve it, so make yourself useful.”

The man looked past Price and saw me.

“You too! Out!” He shot a long lanky index finger in my direction.

“Don’t mind me, sir, I’m a forensics scientist. I’m here on behalf of Adam Clarke.

He rolled his eyes up as he thought. “Clarke… Clarke… Ah, the detective! In that case, I suppose you have a badge then?” He lowered his finger and instead outstretched his entire hand as I approached. I pulled my badge out of my coat and handed it to him. His head tilted as he looked it over.

“Alright, then Ms. Mayla go right in. If any trouble arises feel free to call for me. I’m Doctor Abara.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” I nodded as I walked to the now unblocked door until I was pulled back by my shoulder.

“Wait wait wait!” Price moaned as he grasped my shoulder. “That’s not fair at all!”

“Please leave Detective else I’ll have to kick you out,” Abara warned.

“What’s this all about?” I asked, looking back at Pigeon’s sorrowful face and then back at Abara’s stern one.

“He is throwing away the chance to solve the case, that’s what!” Pigeon huffed.

“I already told you!” The doctor shouted. “Authorized personal only. You can’t waltz into morgues and look at bodies whenever you please.”

“Hm! It seems social etiquette is more important to you than finding the killer.”

I sighed to myself as the two bickered back in forth until I thought of a compromise to shut them both up.

“Well, what if he goes in with me,” I suggested. “I can make sure he stays out of trouble!”

“A mere apprentice such as you?” Abara huffed as he placed a hand on his forehead. “I mean no offense really, but these are direct and strict orders from above. If I let two inexperienced personnel tamper with the body my boss would have my head. It’s bad enough to have to let you in but if Detective Clarke says so…”

“I apologize for any inconvenience.” I lowered my head. “But I can assure you there will be no issue. It’ll be like nobody was even in there.”

Abara pulled on his tie with a tense expression. “Ugh, everyone is so bothersome.” He looked back at the door with a troubled expression. “Fine. But make it quick. I guess if you really think you can solve the crime it won’t hurt.”

“Ha!” Price stood up and threw out his arms in triumph. “It seems you finally came to your senses! Let us go, Mia!”

“It’s Mayla!” I hurried after him.

We found ourselves standing at the entrance of the room, struck by the bone-chilling cold that seemed to permeate the air, even colder than the previous room. Perhaps it was to preserve the bodies.. To our left and right, imposing black iron lockers lined the walls, casting eerie shadows in the dim light. In the center of the room, a stark white stretcher lay under the harsh glare of an overhead electric light. Lotusburg’s figure, shrouded in a pristine white sheet, rested upon the stretcher, its form ominously still.

We approached body before I stopped to ask Pigeon the question that’s been itching my mind.

“So, I take it as you found some new evidence?” I turned around to face him. A big smirk was etched into his face.

“That I do, dear girl! I will solve this case in no time!” He announced proudly.

“Really?” I scoffed. “I find that hardly likely, no offense.”

“Ha!” He laughed out again as he stuck an accusing finger in my face. “I would quiet down if I were you. Being in such a compromising position and all!”

“Compromising position? What are you talking about?”

“I’m glad you asked!” He dug into his trouser pocket and pulled out a small yellow paper file.

“What’s that?”

“A brooch! But you already know that don’t you?” He opened the file and brought out a diamond blood-covered brooch. He swung it between his fingertips.

“What?” I asked carefully. “What’s this have to do with me?”

“Why, isn’t it obvious?” He guffawed as he put it back in the file. “It’s yours!”

“Huh?”

“Brooches are commonly worn by Victorian women you see. I found this specific brooch in the crime scene covered in blood. Who’s the only woman who investigated the crime? You!” She shook his head as she chuckled, then looked at me. “You should confess to your crime now! Maybe you’d get a lighter sentence, you killer!”

I was dumbfounded.

“First of all, you idiot we looked at the crime scene together remember? Along with Detective Clarke and Hans. If I dropped a brooch everyone would have seen it. Plus I don’t even wear brooches. Even if I did drop it during the investigation, it doesn’t mean I killed her. Where did you find it anyway?”

“That is the interesting part. It was where the body was! Right on the floor! But as you say we all investigated the crime scene together. Maybe you would have missed such a thing but I wouldn’t have! Nor the great detectives! I visited the crime scene later with some officers. The outline was still there as we visited it before, but right in the middle was this brooch!!”

“So it was placed there after the crime and after we investigated it.. But why?” I mused. “Who’s blood is it anyway?”

“You ask too many questions! That is what I’m here to solve. I wanted to see the body to see if it matched the one the victim wore. I’m also here to retrieve a blood sample to see if it matches the victims. But that troublesome scientist! Anyhow, let’s get started!”

He waltzed to a nearby locker and opened it. Inside was the lady’s dress on a hanger covered with a plastic bag. He looked over his shoulder and when he realized I wasn’t behind them he huffed and yelled after me.

“What? Are you going to stand there and do nothing? You are a forensic scientist yes? Get some gloves on and come over here.” He motioned to a box of rubber gloves on a nearby countertop.

I adjusted the gloves on my hands as I walked over to the man. He held the clothes by the hanger.

“Now, pull out the dress,” He instructed “She wore the brooches on her lapel. All we have to do is see if it’s a match.”

I took out the dress. A silk indigo gown with black ribbons and straps. Black feathers. ran around the collar and train dress It would have been the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen if it wasn’t for the dramatic blood stain running down the back of the dress.

“Well?” He questioned impatiently.

I found my way to the lapels of the dress, also covered in feathers. Clipped on the left was a small brooch. I looked closer. It was a sliver rose-shaped frame with a sapphire in the middle. Golden ovals were on each side giving it the appearance of a flower.

“It’s not the same one,” I told him.

“Ah?” He pushed me aside and looked for himself. “Blasphemy! Then whose is it?”

“It could still be hers,” I suggested. “Maybe she has different ones. We still need a blood sample.”

“Yes. quite so.” He sighed. “Alright then!” He let out regaining his composure. “As you are the scientist you will take the blood sample!” He walked over to the sheet-covered body and motioned towards it.

“Uh, I don’t know how to do that,” I mumbled.

“You what?” His cerulean eyes lit up in genuine surprise. “You're completely useless! What are we to do then?”

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“You’re one to talk!” I retorted as I stomped my foot. “I’ve had to correct you on everything so far. But Doctor Abara said we could come to him with any questions. We can just ask him for help.”

Pigeon was silent for a few moments until he rolled his eyes and put his arms up in a shrug.

“You do it. I don’t want to talk to him.”

I slowly opened the door and saw the doctor leaning against the wall, deep in thought.

“Um, doctor?” I asked hesitantly.

He turned to me with an irritated expression. “What? You two almost done?”

“Almost,” I replied, shuffling my feet. “But I was wondering if you could take a blood sample of the body for us?”

“Why? There’s no need.” He pushed off the wall and approached the door. “Our first order of business was to take a sample and test to make sure it matched the blood on the murder weapon. It did. What else do you need it for?”

“Well, Detective Price found a bloody brooch at the crime scene and wants to see if the blood matches.”

“Hmm, I guess I could test the brooch for you. But no testing the samples unless I say!”

Pigeon and I looked over Abara’s shoulder. He was wearing goggles and gloves and holding up the brooch. On the counter on his left was a small piece of paper with the results from Agatha Lotusburg’s blood test.

“Listen well you!” He commanded me. “This is important stuff for a forensic scientist and I’ll only explain it once, ok?”

I nodded.

“Ok,” He held up a small brush to the syringe. “The method we use to analyze blood is called blood typing. Unfortunately, it does not show us who the blood exactly belongs to, only the type. It gives up the blood type out of four options: A, B, AB, and O. So it only narrows down to suspects with the same type. That being said it’s perfect for proving a person innocent, or if something is not a match. If two pieces of evidence have different blood types then it is a hundred percent not blood from the same person. To summarize, if this brooch matches the blood type of Miss Lotusburg then there is a possibility it is her blood. If it does not match her blood type then it is a fact that it isn’t hers. Got it?”

He lowered the brush on the brooch and brushed it slightly until the tip was slightly red. Then, he placed it in a small glass vile.

“The way we test is using antigens and antibodies. Each blood type has its own antibodies and antigens that can’t mix with others. Other than type O and AB. Type O has no antigens but type anti-A and anti-B antibodies. AB has both type A and B antigens but no antibodies For example. If we have a sample with A-type blood and introduce B-type antibodies, the red blood cells in the type A sample will kill those in the type B sample, meaning they aren’t compatible. If there is no reaction they are the same type. So, if the blood on this brooch reacts the same way as Lotusburg’s blood did then it’s the same type. If it doesn’t then it’s not the same type and from a different person. Her type is A so if the sample isn’t also A then it’s from another person.”

“Got it, sir.”

Abara took the vial and exited the room.

“I’ll be back. This shouldn’t take long.”

Me and Pigeon were left alone in the room. The awkward silence was getting to me.

“So,” I began. “If it was her blood that would imply evidence was being withheld by someone but then later returned to the scene of the crime. But why take something as small as a brooch and not the murder weapon? And why return it at all?”

“Quite right.” He responded with a sigh. “And if it isn’t her blood that means someone decided to drop a brooch with a stranger's blood in the middle of the crime scene. Perhaps to frame someone or perhaps to throw us of course. Either way, things aren’t looking good for us.”

“No, they aren’t. But this points to Miss Yoshida’s innocence! She is in a prison cell meaning she couldn’t have placed this brooch. But that also means there is a killer on the loose in which we have no leads.”

Things weren’t looking too good at all. Didn’t Adam tell me this was an open-and-shut case? How wrong he was. Things were getting muddier and muddier. And Monica. Monica wants me to retrieve the murder weapon for her. But it’s inconceivable for her to be the killer so why? What’s her connection in all this?

Another question crossed my mind. The strange files on Agatha’s Lotusburg’s sister: Alice. Two separate files with two separate times of death and cause od death. Why on earth would Adam have them? Could it be related to this case? It happened ten years ago. Perhaps I could ask Detective Hans about it but… He’s shadier than Adam! Unless…

“Say, Pigeon.” I turned to the young man. He was bent over, hands on knees, goggles over his eyes. staring at the unsheathed body. Her pale figure lay nude on the stretcher. The bald, bloody spot on her head was stuck out like a sore thumb. He turned to me with enthusiasm.

“What, Maya, what! I’m so close to solving this crime. Can’t leave me be?”

He regained his energy fast.

I sighed. “Whatever. I was wondering if Detective Hans has told you about any of his past cases. He’s your mentor isn’t he?”

He shot me a huge grin as he lifted his goggles off his eyes, perching them on top of his feathery blond hair.

“He is great, isn’t he? Heads above you especially. But no, he never talks about his past. But I am sure it is full of fabulous adventures!”

“Right. Well, what do you know about any past cases?”

“Well, I-” He stopped in his tracks, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “ You seem awfully interested in this. Why?”

“Why, uh well,” I stuttered over my words trying to think of an excuse. “I’m trying to go into detective work instead of being a forensic scientist. So I want to know about some of the most famous cases to figure out what I’m getting myself into.”

He eyed me for a few moments until dropped his goggles back on his eyes as he gazed deeply into my soul.

“Interesting. I am certain you are lying. But why? You should tell me the truth sometime.”

He paced around a bit with his hand on his chin. “Ah, I thought of one! The most interesting one! The catch is it is only word of mouth. Rumors and whispers I’ve heard throughout my career so I can’t personally vouch for its authenticity, however, it is by far the most interesting. It happened ten years ago I believe.”

Ten years ago? This oughta be good.

“Apparently a few years ago there was a series of murders going on in the shopping district. ‘Stumped the police for months. But somehow three rookie detectives were able to solve the case! Coincidentally it was Detective Clarke, Detective Hans, and a woman named Detective Moore.”

Moore? Could that be Monica?”

Pigeon stopped pacing the room and leaned in my face and whispered.

“And this is where things get dicey. Last time I heard a bobby tell this part of the story, Chief threw a proper fit! So say to no one that I told you this!”

“Uh, sure.”

He backed up and closed his eyes, running through his thoughts.

“Apparently they were able to find one suspect. A man of the name of Mickey Andrews was said to be the only one who could have committed the crimes. As such he was promptly arrested. After a short trial, he was given the death penalty.”

“Death penalty?” I ejaculated. “Then how did I never hear of it? It would have been in the papers or something!”

“I’m getting to that!” He snapped. “It was never carried through. A few days before his scheduled execution, another person was killed in the shopping district. The same way the others were killed. So everyone was terrified they put the wrong man again. His execution was put on hold and there was a retrial. This completely overturned the prosecutor’s case of him being the only one who could have done it, as long as him being in prison when the murder was carried out. However, since he already admitted to previous crimes the suggestion was thrown out that it could have been a new perpetrator. Because of this, a special verdict was being passed: Mickey Andrews was guilty until proven innocent and innocent of the new crime. His death penalty was overruled and was to be held in his cell until the new perpetrator was found. But…”

He placed his index finger over his mouth. “This is the part you must not repeat to anyone.”

“Ok fine, but what happened?”

“Before the verdict could be properly announced it was revealed false evidence was made and presented in court.”

“False evidence? But why?”

“The false evidence was presented by the prosecution and prepared by the former chief of the police: Chief Enfield and her protege Adam Clarke. Along with an unknown third party.”

“Adam?” I roared. “He wouldn’t have done that! No way!”

Pigeon shrugged. “I told you this is just what I've heard. But because of this, the verdict was thrown away and they were forced to release Andrews and because of the double jeopardy law, he could never be retried for the murders again.”

“Ridiculous!” I cried.

“Quite true. Furthermore, presenting false evidence is a felon. The prosecutor was fired, and Enfield’s title was revoked, and Detective Clarke was put on indefinite leave. Apparently, the new chief, Chief Ironheel, and Clarke’s partner Detective Hans were able to pull a few strings to avoid jail time.”

“‘Pull a few strings?’ That sounds illegal!”

“It is!” He guffawed. “But who’s going to enforce it? It’s the chief after all! Is he going to arrest himself?” His tone became serious. “The truth is, there are many holes in the law and court system. Mickey Andrews should have never been let go. And the prosecutor, chief, and Detective Clarke should have received jail time. Unfortunately, it gets worse.

They never found the one who committed the new crimes. They kept going on and on and Andrews was a free man and couldn’t be retried. Until months later, he was murdered. And the crimes stopped.”

“What? So maybe he really did do it!”

“But remember one crime happened when he was in jail. Even if he did commit the rest, there is one suspect unaccounted for. A killer who was never caught.”

“This is insane…” I placed my hands over my mouth. False evidence. Could that have been the file I found? Should I tell Pigeon about it? But there was a bigger question on my mind.

“But then… Who killed Andrews?”

Pigeon was silent for a few moments, thinking over his next few words carefully. “The rumor is that it was Detective Clarke and Hans and Ironheel worked to cover it up.” He must have seen the look of pure confusion on my face because he quickly added on. “But again this is all speculation. Nothing concrete. However, it is said Detective Moore caught wind of this and confronted them and they tried to kill her too.”

“No way!” I cried out. “Murdering a killer is bad, but there is no way they would have killed their friend!”

“Well, technically they didn’t. If it really was them they failed. She collapsed on a job and was taken to a hospital. They found poison in her system. The same poison used to kill Andrews. A rare poison at that. So even if it wasn’t Clarke and Hans, it is likely the same person who killed Andrews tried to kill Moore.”

“I can’t believe it….”

“Nor I. But luckily they found the poison soon enough and was able to save her life, though she was in a coma several months. I’m not sure what happened to her after that but because she was in a coma, she was never able to testify on who did it. Even though rumors were flying around Clarke and Hans, there was no base for the accusation so nothing happened.”

“But how!” I exclaimed. “Adam wasn’t even part of the force when this happened. Even if he wanted to there was no way he could have obtained the Yard’s help.”

“Ah yes. There is a seperate rumor about this. Not really related to the case but adds context on what happened.” He bent down towards me again. “If you tell Detective Hans I told you this he’d kill me! But the rumor is that him and Detective Adam were really close. Like really close.”

Oh. I knew all about this already.

“A-anyway. Chief Ironheel also knew Adam as a child. Even after the controversy, Detective Clarke was pretty influential in Scotland Yard. If any of this is true that is.”

“But why? Why would they do all this? If Andrews really was guilty then why would they need false evidence? And why would Andrews want to kill all those people in the first place?”

“That I do not know.” He responded as he made his way back to the body. “After all I’ve heard the one thing I’m missing is the motive. So much trouble and pain to go through. But for what reason? Anyhow, It’s not like it matters anymore. Let’s focus on the case on hand. But why did you want to know?”

Should I tell him? What if he goes and tells Cecil about what I discovered. But again, he trusted me enough to tell me all this which could certainly get him in trouble. So should I repay him by telling him what I know? Before I could figure out what to do, the door behind us opened.

“I finished the analysis,” Abara announced as he entered the room with a small piece of paper in hand.

Pigeon turned around to face him. “Well?”

Abara handed him the paper. “I’m not sure if this is the results you are wanting, but the blood type on the brooch is O. Meaning it’s not the same person.”