SPINS

Chapter Seven

Harrison, Jack, and I sat around my conference table. However, before we started our discussion, I decided to feed Deepy because I couldn’t stand his beseeching eyes.

“Okay, I have lots of questions, but tell me what you’ve found so far.” They might already have answers to some of my questions.

“Once again we have a scene that is awash in evidence. To be precise, we have two scenes and a line between them,” replied Harrison.

Of course, his statement broke us up as one of the murdered aliens during our previous incident had been found in a washroom at Revolutions, the bowling alley. The evidence in the bathroom had overwhelmed us.

“I find it interesting that this victim is Tristorian, just like the one last time at Revolutions,” commented Jack.

“I did notice that detail. Significant, you think?” I hoped not, as I had received honorary Tristorian citizenship at the end of the previous case, and they were now my family.

“Who knows? There are too many red herrings at this point—especially since it’s an aquarium.” Again Harrison cracked us up.

“Okay, guys, we need to focus, or I’ll never get anything done.” I paused to wipe my eyes. “Of course I can’t stop laughing, and it’s your fault, Harrison.”

“Sorry, sorry. We’re still waiting for results from the sweepers. The lab has a lot to process. So I’ve been thinking up questions to try and tie everything together after we get the details.”

“Sounds good. Spew away.”

“First off, why was the body dragged from the storeroom to the viewing gallery? That was no easy task. So, unless there were two perpetrators involved, our person of interest must possess a fair amount of muscle, even if there were two perpetrators.”

“Another Tristorian perhaps?” asked Jack. “The other races are not as muscular or as large as Tristorians. Perhaps a large human? I don’t know. And why would a Tristorian kill another Tristorian, especially on a foreign planet?”

“Maybe because they thought it would be easier to get away with?” asked Harrison.

“All good questions. What’s next on your list, Harrison?”

“This one you won’t like. Is Chrissy involved? And why would she be? I know she was implicated in our last alien murder, but she had nothing to do with it. Is this another example of the same thing?”

“Don’t worry about my feelings for her. If Chrissy’s involved, then she’s involved. However, for what it’s worth, my gut feeling says she isn’t. What we need to do is interview her again. She may have seen something or heard something she didn’t realize was important. So, somebody get her in here this afternoon, and we’ll ask different questions.” I shook my head at the interrelatedness of everything. “Once again, Harrison, next question.”

“Do you know if testing of alien base configuration, or DNA, for want of a better word, has improved since our last alien murder? You remember how tricky it all was.” Harrison shook his head at the complexity we’d experienced.

“I’ll talk to Raj. He probably knows more than we do. Next question, Harrison.”

“Do you think your mother’s poisoning is connected to our homicide?”

His question punched me back in my seat. “I don’t know. Do you think so?” My mind whirled. This probability was too close to home, and I hadn’t even thought of it.

“Possibly yes, possibly no. However, it’s something we should keep in mind,” Harrison added, with a gentle voice.

“I have many more questions,” he added, “but they should wait until we receive the majority of the sweeper results. The questions may turn out to be of no significance. However, one last note of interest, we did receive the results of the testing on Chrissy’s clothes and shoes. For some reason, her items were put at the head of the queue.”

“Interesting. Do tell.” Why would the lab do that?

“Her clothes were free of splashes or marks of blood. Her shoes, however, did have traces of Tristorian blood on the bottoms. I would imagine she walked into the blood splatter.”

“Doesn’t sound too ominous, but we do need to talk to Chrissy again. Let me know if you have a problem getting her in here. I can always put the squeeze on.”

“Oh, she likes me,” said Harrison. “I imagine I won’t have too much difficulty.”

I turned to Jack and I took in two macho guys grinning at each other. I told Jack to restrain himself. What a couple of turkeys!

“So it seems we have our work cut out for us. Let me know when you’ve arranged a time with Chrissy, so I can add the meeting to my schedule. In the meantime, I need to process your wonderful information, and also stuff from the BPC. Life’s not simple.”

“Anything we should know about?” asked Harrison.

“I don’t think so. Today’s meeting was more about information exchange, and mostly on my part. The future—who knows.”

“Okay guys, disappear. I need to think.” I belatedly realized I’d been abrupt, but my mind was chock full of details swirling about with no connections.

I settled at my desk and stared at Deepy. He didn’t provide any answers but he comforted me. Perhaps I needed a dog, or cat, or something else, of my own? Although, I didn’t know how well an animal would go over with my superiors. And considering the number of detectives I oversaw, I didn’t want to start a doggy-daycare in the office, and it wouldn’t be allowed anyway.

After Harrison and Jack disappeared, I started on my murder book. I always made notes in a binder to try and tie evidence together.

My murder book worked for each homicide as I always seemed to find questions to ask of my detectives. Not a pretty book, but one that helped me think.

I puttered about until Dino burst into my office. “Detective Sergeant, please update me on the happenings. I have been immersed in various diplomatic happenings and I have not had time to be your assistant. Please forgive me.”

“Of course, Dino. Well, to start I spent time at the hospital with my mother yesterday and also today.”

“What happened? Has something new happened? I visited her yesterday, and she was fine but tired.” Dino appeared genuinely concerned. Dino and Mom had bonded over the recent months.

“Nothing new happened. She still needs to rest, but will probably be going home tomorrow.” I certainly hoped so. Mom would not tolerant much more time in a hospital—especially one with an ER doctor she detested.

I gave Dino a summary of our meetings today, and let him know Chrissy would most likely be appearing this afternoon.

“I do not believe Chrissy is capable of murder or other subterfuge,” commented Dino.

“We don’t either, Dino, but we need to follow proper procedures, as you already understand, and she may have clues she doesn’t realize.”

I continued to update Dino with details on all my meetings. In particular, details of the BPC meeting occupied our minds. “Dino, why is the complete BPC here on Earth?”

“As far as I understand their logistics, they appear when a non-resident is killed. By that I mean, they arrive to oversee the investigation of a non-native. So the death of a Tristorian on Earth fits within their procedures.”

“They got here awfully fast, Dino.” He shrugged. “However, my real question is why have I not been called to be on the committee on other planets. After all, I am also a member of the committee. And surely there have been non-native deaths on other planets. This situation confuses me. Am I a second-class member of this committee?”

“Second-class?”

“Lower-class.” The words were difficult to utter.

“I have been thinking about your situation since I discovered the BPC was on Earth. I do not think you are a lower-class member of the BPC. However, I am missing information and will discuss the situation with numerous ambassadors and also the committee. You will be the first to know my findings. Do not let your concern throw off your investigation. I believe the BPC is in its infancy, and they are finding their way. Perhaps you should guide them.” Dino smiled.

“Sound advice, Dino. Thank you.” The Rheinon ambassador appeared to be on my side.

“Sarge, Chrissy’s here,” announced Harrison.

“Good. Dino, please join us while we talk with her.” Jack had arranged for a conference room so we traipsed there.

“Chrissy, thanks for coming in. We want to talk to you about your finding of the Tristorian body. We don’t think you murdered the Tristorian, but you might remember something that’ll help us with our investigation. I know you’re excellent with details—any good bowler has to be—but I think you’re personally exceptionally observant. Will you help us?” I asked.

“Of course, Tari. The Tristorian was on their bowling team, so they’re at a disadvantage, just like last time. I will do anything to help them even though they are our competitors. What do you want to know?”

Harrison took Chrissy through the details of her discovery that evening. She revealed nothing we didn’t already know.

Chrissy saw nothing, heard nothing. However, there was another sense we hadn’t discussed. “My friend, you’re very observant when it comes to aromas, scents, and such. Did you notice anything after you stumbled upon the Tristorian? Any smell that seemed out of place?”

“Well, actually, yes. I noticed a raspberry smell. Raspberries are my favorite fruit.” Chrissy smiled at her memory.

“Was it strong, or just a whiff? I take it you noticed it in the storage room.” I needed to pin down her details.

“Kind of a rotting raspberry smell. I like raspberries at all stages of ripeness, though. I noticed only a whiff of rotting raspberry after I came upon the Tristorian. Is this significant?”

“It might be, although it’s too early to tell. Now, with your great nose, and I don’t mean the size of it.” We all laughed, which was the result I had desired.

“Let me rephrase. With your great sense of smell, did you notice anything else? I realize you were only in the storage room, but maybe you passed through other areas, earlier in the evening. Talking to Smith, perhaps.”

Chrissy took a moment to reflect. “You know, Smith didn’t cook anything at the Aquarium. He brought in the food already prepared and kept it warm with heated serving dishes and such. Of course, he had a few alien chefs to help out with their dishes. Some of the dishes were hot and some cold. And then …”

I interrupted. “Where are you going with this, Chrissy?” She could ramble at the best of times.

“Oh, sorry. In the preparation area, I smelled cinnamon and vanilla. Just traces, of course. However, that was because Tristorians and Itlans were there. Those are their natural smells.” She smiled. “In the storage room, I only smelled raspberry. I think that’s significant, don’t you?”

“Chrissy, you’re the best. Harrison, Jack, do you have any questions for our lovely witness. By the way, Chrissy, we love witnesses. You helped us so much.” I gave her a big grin.

Chrissy preened for a moment, and then after a couple of questions that revealed no new information, Jack said, “I think we’re done here. You have been a big help. Let me buy you a cool drink, and I’ll show you the way out.”

“Tari, you need to keep this guy. Jack’s pretty wonderful. Oh, by the way, our bowlers have put a new spin on their balls for this tournament. We got our idea from watching the Bremen. You really must watch a game or two to understand what I’m talking about.”

“I’ll do that, Chrissy, and very soon.” She’d just made me miss bowling all the more.

“Chrissy, the drink machine is this way,” interrupted Jack.

The two of them left, and I turned to Harrison. “So what do you think? Is she a complete ditz? A complete wacko?”

“Chrissy is anything but deranged. She’s in her own world, and it’s unique. It’s not one that we can criticize because we’re the logical ones. She gave us clues today, and she was quite helpful. Just because she travels a different path does not make her wrong.” A flush adorned Harrison’s face. “I’ll shut up now.”

“Harrison, you do know she’s involved with Smith?”

“Yes, I do. And you’re thinking the wrong thoughts. I like Chrissy as a friend. I can have female friends, you know. I thought she came off quite well during our interview.”

“I apologize, Harrison. She’s my good friend, and she did her best today and gave us tidbits to focus on. I’ll discuss them after Jack returns. Please forgive me for my insensitivity. I’m currently quite stressed, what with Mom and the BPC and who knows what else, eating at my brain.”

We laughed and settled at my conference table.

I had forgotten about Dino during the interview with Chrissy. He had occupied a corner of the interview room and not said a word. Most unusual.

He now stood in my doorway.

“Dino, join us, please. We’re going to discuss Chrissy’s interview after Jack returns from escorting her out.” I waved at my conference table.

Jack soon returned. “Chrissy was mollified with the drink I got her.” He laughed. “Just so everyone knows, Chrissy thinks she was a stupendous help.”

“She wasn’t bad. Does anyone know why hints of raspberry are important?” I was quite pleased with Chrissy’s interview.

A few moments passed while the rest of the group replayed the interview in their minds. “Does one of the alien species have that smell?” asked Harrison.

“You win the prize, whatever it is, Harrison. Bremen have a slightly rotten raspberry smell.” I glanced at Dino. “To humans, I mean. I noticed the phenomena during our first homicide.”

“I am not familiar with raspberries. However, Bremen exude a distinct odor. As do all races.”

I didn’t have the nerve to ask what humans smelled like to Rheinon.

“Because of Chrissy’s comments, I’m beginning to believe a Bremen or two were involved in the Tristorian’s murder. Who they are is another question. Hopefully, the lab results will give clues.”

I grinned. “So Chrissy was excellent. Be kind when she boasts about the situation. She needs encouragement, especially with the bowling tournament going on right now.”

“When do we expect results back from the lab?” I asked Harrison.

“Probably tomorrow, which would be excellent. They did promise to expedite their analyses, so here’s hoping.”

“In the meantime, does everyone have enough to do?” I glanced at Jack and Harrison and received nods from both of them.

“Tari, there is a banquet tonight at The Peak. You are all invited. It is a bowling banquet put on by the Rheinon, me actually, so I would love to have the three of you attend. Harrison, if you want to bring a partner that would be heavenly.”