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Oh, they joys of the upper echelon society. Especially when overrun with police officers.Detective Gia Allegris usually cynical drawl was worsened by the fact that her lunch had been cut short by a call from the Carter Creek Police Department.Brett Malone rolled her eyes, used to hearing this tone from her partner. Gia, try to be nice. I know its not your default setting, but this should be a relatively simple case.

The street where the two detectives had parked their car was lined on either side with expansive estates owned by the corporate elite and trust fund benefactorsof Carter Creek. The neighborhood had manicured, vibrant green lawns, straightsidewalks that looked as if they were never trodden upon, and, now, swarms of blue-uniformed police officers scurrying about like ants. The most exclusive district in the city had been the location of a murder.One of the officers called out to them. Malone! Allegri! Come over here!Hey, Cliff, Gia greeted the man.He nodded to both detectives as they arrived in front of him. So like I said on the phone, the victim is Elise Ward, the owner of the house.Mhmm. Brett had done some phone research while Gia drove them to the crime scene.Thomas Ward was the owner and CEO of Ward Insurance, and his wife, Elise Ward, h

ad been left several million by her banker father.I kept my boys out, waiting for you two, Officer Cliff continued, We secured the house but didnt find anyone, then we cleared out and waited. Just a few still in there. These guys have a tendency to over-evaluate things and I dont want them to trample any evidence, or something.Brett Malone cast a sidelong glance at her partner. Dont worry, Gia is talented enough at trampling evidence all on her own, we wont need much help from your boys.As the moved past him, Officer Cliff furrowed his brow as he tried to figure ifDetective Malone was kidding, but they didnt stop to set him straight and marchedpast the other cops, into the Ward Mansion.Neither Elise nor Thomas Ward seemed to have any monetary concerns, and it showed in everything in their house from the exquisite architecture to the leather, teak, and crystal dcor. Brett pushed her light blonde hair back out of her face an

d tied it back with a band, looking around entryway of the house and the enormous display of wealth; Gia, who had distant yet wealthy family members, was less impressed.Yes, and it was all paid for with the souls of the middle class. Lets go.A police officer standing in a doorway on the right of the entry beckoned to thetwo detectives, showing them into a dim room. It must have been some form of study or office. The carpeted floor, expensive bookshelves, small brick fireplace,and couches that looked as if they had never been sat in didnt exactly communicate a sense of communal gathering. At the end of the room was a mahogany desk that must have been for Thomas Wards business matters. Two cops stood in front of it, and in the shadows of the desk lay a body.Brett and Gia grew more serious and approached the two other officers, keeping t

heir eyes on the late Elise Ward. Can we get some light in here? Gia asked, to noone in particular. One of the officers nodded and opened the thick curtains, allowing natural light to flood in through a pair of floor-to-ceiling windows.The victimher long body stretched out across the carpet behind the desk, her blonde hair splayed back behind her like a fanlay in a circle of darkened blood thathad soaked into the carpet around her. Her head was turned back, away from the mess as if she was still disgusted by it even in death.Brett knelt down by the body, her scrutinizing gaze sweeping it carefully; Giaslowly explored the desk.So, Nancy Drew, Gia Allegri muttered as she pushed her dark hair behind her ears and opened draws. Whatcha think? Was it Mr. Green in the study with the lead pipe?In response, Brett shot her partner of 6 years a withering glance. Actually, it was a gunshot. One, to the chest. Glad to know I rightfully earned higher grades

than you in college.Well at least I was more popular. Gia, however, shot her old friend a grin, perhaps for the sake of the officers; they stood watching the two detectives with conf

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usion.Everyone always did.The investigation did not take long, given the simplicity of the crime scene andthe work that the three officers had already done for the detectives. Elise Ward had been standing by the desk at the end of the room, near a door that lead toone of the living rooms of the house. Her murderer had stood at the opposite end of the room, near the fireplace and the entry the detectives had come in throu

gh, and shot Elise Ward once in the chest. The weapon of choice was a hunting rifle, seized from the mantle above the fireplace.The unknown assailant had even been so kind to leave the gun behind, with the single shell lying a few feet away. It looked to be clean from fingerprints, however.A quick but exhaustive search revealed nothing more: nothing looked like it didntbelong, there were no shoeprints, no quickly scribbled notes by the victim thatwould have revealed the identity of her killer.Gia shrugged. Well, we should get to suspects. What do we got?The officer who spoke read from a small notepad. Apparently, the neighborhood hasbeen a target of a rash of burglaries. Expensive stuff, up here. One has happened every couple weeks, despite the terror and alarm systems of the residents. Co

uld be a burglar that the victim surprised.Okay. What about the person who called the police?A neighbor, one of the officers spoke up, Shes outside right now.Great. Who else?A different officer, who had entered the room just a few minutes ago, waved a hand to get their attention. We have the butler here, a Mr. Lawrence Day. He was out running errands for Elise Ward; he wasnt here when she was killed. She was alone in the house.Of course she was. Gia met eyes with Brett. You take him, Detective Brietta. Ill getthe neighbor.Five minutes later, Gia was desperately pleading with her partner. Okay, please just take the neighbor. You know I cant handle people like her, Ill take the butler. Come on. Were friends, have my back on this.

No. Brett was firm but a smile tugged on the corners of her mouth. I told you I hate being called Brietta. Maybe if we were such good friends, you would have paidattention.Gia looked betrayed. I dont understand why I remain partners with you.Youre not the only one. Now, Im sure Mrs. DiAngelo is dying to talk to someone as sympathetic as you are. Brett shook off her partner and turned back into the houseto interrogate the butler, leaving Detective Allegri to meet, with reluctance,their witness.Identified as Vera DiAngelo, the womans ostentatious display of fashion was bested only by the award-winning look of devastation on her face, despite the fact that the contingent of officers around her looked quite calm. If not a little annoyed. She clutched a small, fluffy white dog to her side, and continued to pet and it even though she looked as if she had forgotten the poor animal. Gia grit her teeth; people like Mrs. Vera DiAngelo did nothing to improve her cynical viewof the world in general.She approached. Hi, Mrs. DiAngelo. Im detective Allegri, and it would be great ifwe could sit down and talk about what you saw here today. She offered her most compassionate smile.It was awful! Mrs. DiAngelo launched into her story with such force that Gia wished she would have insisted on sitting down. I was just walking Lily here, and as Ipassed by the house, I glanced into the window! Andandhe had a gun!The other officers, seeing that Mrs. DiAngelos distraught attention was now on the unfortunate Gia, began to shrink away. Gia reminded herself to glare at them later, and returned to Mrs. DiAngelo.You saw this in the windows of the Ward house? she asked, nodding.

Of course! He had the gun, and I saw in another window poor, poor Elise running from him.Running from whom? Who had the gun?

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Veras voice dropped. It was Thomas Ward! He had a gun, a long gun, and he was walking towards her. I didnt know what to do, I didnt yell, and then he disappeared from the window pane and I couldnt see him anymore. And then I heard the shot, andthe screamOh, lordHer eyes fluttered. Gia rolled hers.Okay, Mrs. DiAngelo. So you saw Mr. Ward with a gun, aimed at Mrs. Ward, and youheard a shot. And then what?

The seemed woman recovered from whatever fear had momentarily afflicted her. I grabbed Lily and made it back to my house! First we were burglarized, now this! Iwas terrified, Detective Allegri, that Thomas would see me through the window and shoot me as well. He was a very uptight man, you know, very possessive and quick to anger. Once, he--Gia detected the beginnings of a rant and the end of the information, so she nodded to a nearby officer, who came to relieve her of the burden of Mrs. DiAngelo.The woman effortlessly slipped her conversation from Gia to the young uniformedman; Gia sighed as Brett rejoined her from inside the house.Whatd she have to say? Brett asked.Husband did it, Gia replied stoically, She was walking her dog and watched throughthe windows.

Brett snorted. Walking her dog, bull. They pay people to do that. She was spyingon her neighbors because she had nothing better to do and happened to witness amurder.Well, regardless, Gia laughed, We have a witness who saw the husband aiming the gunat his wife. Does anyone know where Thomas Ward is?Nope; his cars gone and there are burn-out tracks on the street. He high-tailed itout of here in the past few hours.So we need to find him. SendBrett interrupted: Send out an APB on his car, as well as train and bus stations.Covered it, Captain. I only hope one day I can possibly be as wise as you. She smirked at her friend.Sure, Gia rolled her eyes. What did the butler have to say? At the same moment, shewatched said butler emerge from the house accompanied by a police officer. The m

an, Lawrence Day, was wire thin, with a pallid face and dark, slicked back hair.Not the center of attention, unless you were looking for him. As was all good help.The smirk vanished and Brett returned to business. Nothing much. His alibi was clear; he showed me the receipts from his errands that showed he has been gone allmorning. No time to come back and kill anyone. I didnt spend too much time talking to him, but her voice dropped at this, But I used the opportunity to explore thehouse a little, and I did find something rather interesting. Come with me.Detective Malone led Detective Allegri back into the house, but instead of turning right, as they had before to get to the crime scene, Brett went left and downa long hallway that passed a formal dining room and ended in the kitchen of themansion. At the far end of the kitchen, a small pantry door stood ajar.Brett gestured at it. Go ahead, she told Gia.Items that in no way belonged in a kitchen filled the cabinet: an ivory jewelrybox, a number of diamond rings, three sets of candlestick holders, and several handfuls of pricey gemstones and jewelry, to name a small selection. Gia even thought she saw a gem-encrusted dog collar in one corner.Oh my god she breathed, then looked up at Brett.Think we have the neighborhood burglar? Brett asked casually.Gia didnt respond right away; she stared at the hidden treasure trove in amazement. We have a burglar, she said slowly, And a murderer, a butler, a victim, and a witness, and some of those categories might overlap.