Academy Murders: Thanks in Return

Back on the ground, (ankle monitor included) Kim looked at the scene where Susan died. It was just a few feet from her cell. She heard the calls, “Let me out of here, too!” “You’re not special!”

Kim whisked those calls away like a flea buzzing in her ear. Standing next to her was a CO and the commander of the prison.

As she dropped to her her haunches, she studied the difference between the dual cell and the holding cell where she stayed prior to this investigation.

“There’s a pole there. Metal, but it is festooned to the concrete wall. The contusions on the back of her neck comply with this metal bar.”

The corrections officer and warden looked at each other, marveling at the detective’s prowess. Kim kept moving.

“Her head was knocked against this slab of concrete. It was the back as well.”

“Since you didn’t have a plan to do this,” the warden said, “should we believe that you actually had nothing to do with this?”

A strong sense of pride rested on Kim. She said, “If I did it, I wouldn’t have been this sloppy.” She smirked. Then she became graven. She inspected the area again. At last she turned and left the cell. The warden and the CO both followed Kim like birds flanking her wings. She brought with her enough notes in her head to fill a Bible. When she reached the Warden Baskin Cullinson’s office CO Galdo Rossini departed like a cloud funneling through the sky.

Warden Cullinson invited Kim into his office.

“So, you are absolutely confident that her cellmate did this.”

“Well, it wasn’t me.”

“That’s why you’re sitting across from me not asking for parole. We’ve tried an experiment with you. I want to say it’s working. You were an excellent cop and you wanted to be a Special Agent. That could still be on the table given the fact that you may release yourself from your own cage. You’ve demonstrated the fact that there is a correlation between the walls and the metal pole. Look, I think you know your stuff and that you have a great understanding of the spaces.”

Kim shook her head slowly. A butterfly landed on a tree outside. The beauty that people find in this flying insect she found with her two spiders from her cell. She closed her eyes for a moment.

“Miss Jergensen….”

“Excuse me. I just need some more sleep. But I want to clear my name on this one. I’m more focused on the fact that there is a way for us to solve this. I’m on my way.”

“I want you to continue to speak that way. It promotes something more that builds upon why you are here. I am rooting for you.”

“I’m glad to have the warden cheerlead for a woman who currently has an ankle monitor on her leg.”

“Well, it’s genuine. With the work that you continue to do, you’ll not only free yourself but also show that you can aid others. That’s what it is all about. You help the family and do not look for any thanks in return. That was part of your ethos as a detective. With you showing your altruism, you can do that.”

Kim dug her nails underneath the chair. She gritted her teeth. When she finally spoke she exploded the conversation.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me making sure this family knows the killer of their loved one. It’ll be the most selfish thing I could do.”

“Whatever you say, let’s just solve this murder.”

“Let’s.”