Mobian Homicide: Pilot

Pilot: Sunrise

Date: April 26, 2009
Empire City Transit Authority Bus Lot 6:30 AM
The sun rose over Empire City, as the city began to awaken for the morning commute. In the Station Square Transit Authority Bus parking lot, one of the drivers was beginning to get ready for his runs across the city for the day. The driver walked over to his bus and opened the doors, but as he prepared to jump into his seat, he smelled something, like perfume, and then, much to his shock, he saw a dead female mongoose in the back of the bus, and he immediately panicked in horror.

A few minutes later, the lot was filled with Police officers and curious onlookers who were held back by the crime scene tape. A black BMW M6 with a flashing red light on the dashboard soon arrived on the scene, and then exited a 30 year old raccoon with a gray button up shirt, reflector sunglasses, a leather jacket, cargo pants, and a set of brown Merrell shoes. He walked over to a red Echidna around 40 years old, and was wearing business attire, only he had a badge and a 9mm pistol in a hip holster. "Detective Murdock Echidna." said the raccoon.

"Inspector Jericho Raccoon." said Murdock with a heavy Cockney accent. He and Jericho then walked towards the crime scene. "We got us a female vic, around 18 years old, bus driver called it in."

"What's happening now?" asked Jericho.

"Dayton's processing the scene now." said Murdock.

They entered the bus, where another raccoon, about 27 years old, was examining the scene, checking for any evidence. He was wearing a t-shirt with the symbol of the Empire City Royals (the city's football team.), as well as some blue jeans, and some tennis shoes. "So brother, what do you have?" asked Jericho.

"No ID on the vic. She's a Jane Doe for now." said Dayton.

"Mugging gone wrong?" asked Murdock.

"Probably." said Jericho. "How long has she been here?"

"Well, the vic appears to have been dead for at least 7-8 hours. That would put time of death about 11:00-11:30 PM last night." said Dayton.

"Enough time for the bus to have been brought back here." said Murdock.

"Who was the driver of this bus? What was its route?" asked Jericho.

"Still working on that." said Murdock.

"I can tell from the hole in her chest that the vic was shot." said Dayton pointing out a bullet hole in her chest. "Pretty big, but once we get the body to the lab, we can investigate."

"Sure." said Jericho. "Do it ASAP. I solve my crimes, no matter the cost."

"I know brother. I know you as the robbery/homicide detective you are." said Dayton.

"I've been told that the driver who discovered the body works the day shift, 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Since the vic was killed about 11:30, it would have been in the possession of the evening/late night shift driver, with is about 7:00 PM to midnight." said Murdock.

"Where can we find that driver?" asked Jericho.

"Still looking." said Murdock.

"Let's finish up here and get back to the precinct." said Jericho. "And hopefully, we'll find answers."

Empire City Police Department 5th District: 8:52 AM
Jericho sat in his office, partly looking at recent paperwork that had accumulated on his desk, and partly thinking about his recent promotion to Inspector. It was then that he heard a person come knocking on his door. When he looked, he saw a two tailed fox with blue fur, long hair, a pink jacket, and a red dress with a skirt, complete with a belt around her waist, which included a detective badge and a holster containing a 9mm pistol. She also had white gloves with gold bracelets attached. She didn't have pants, but did wear pink shoes lined with 3 rubies. "Inspector Jericho Raccoon?" she asked.

"Yes?" asked Jericho.

"Rika Sakara Prower." she replied.

"Newbie I presume? Yes, I've been expecting someone to fill in the vacancy." replied Jericho. "I just never expected it to be…"

"Me?" asked Rika. "Have you even read my file? Less even invited me for an interview?"

"No need for that." replied Jericho. "Sit down." Rika complied, and then, Jericho pulled out the file on Rika on his laptop. "Rika Sakara Prower. Age 25. Served one Tour of Duty with the Navy, honorably discharged in 2004, and joined ECPD in the same year. Top marks."

"Accurate. But why simply pick me?" asked Rika.

"Your profile claims you put your job and others beforehand, and that you are skilled with mechanics, science, and top marks with a weapon." said Jericho. "I need someone who is more concerned with the safety of this city and of fellow officers than how it might look on his or her record. I know because that case where you refused to let the SWAT Negotiator go into that restaurant."

"I knew that guy was ready to break when the negotiator decided to try and talk to him in person, and despite his insistence, the guy emptied his chambers and then we took the opportunity to take him down." said Rika.

"You risked your career just because you thought you were right. I was there, back when I worked the SWAT Team." said Jericho. "And that's what I like in a teammate, someone who isn't afraid of challenging my judgment because of an oversight. You pay closer attention to details than some folks do. That's why I hired you." Then Jericho reached for the case file on his desk, and handed it off to Rika. "Read it."

"Now? I just met you and now you ask me to work?"

"Are you here to talk or work?"

"Little bit of both." smiled Rika as she checked the file out.

"Got us a Jane Doe. Shot in the chest on an ECTA Bus, was found this morning by me and Detective Echidna." said Jericho.

But then, he saw Dayton at his door and he said: "Jericho, you might want to come see this…." but then Dayton noticed Rika.

"Rika Sakara Prower, this is my younger brother Dayton, he works Forensics." said Jericho. Rika and Dayton shook hands and then Dayton led the two into the ME Office where their Jane Doe was.

"Your vic was shot with a .38 Special round. Shot went right into her heart." said the ME.

"That's a big entry wound." said Jericho. "Had to have been a close range shot, and right there, she died instantly."

"Definitely." said Dayton. "But the odd thing is, we didn't find any GSR on the entry wound. But we did find large traces of cotton within the wound, and some on the bullet." said Dayton showing the bullet and the cotton in two petri dishes.

"Very strange indeed." said Jericho.

"And that's not all." said Dayton as he led the two detectives to a room with the victim's personal effects. "The vic had a backpack. Contained a bunch of gear consistent with swimming."

"Swimming?" asked Jericho. "So our vic was out swimming that night?"

"Probably, I did find small traces of Chlorine on the vic." said Dayton.

"Which means that our vic showered. After all, don't we all shower after a good long swim?" inquired Rika.

Rika and Jericho walked into the hallway where Murdock walked up to them and said: "Oy, Jericho, I got the night driver of that bus. Name's Garrett Jones. He's ready to be interviewed." Rika and Jericho promptly walked with Murdock over to the interrogation room where a Mobian dog was, and looked about 53 years old and was wearing a plaid shirt and blue jeans.

"So, Mr. Jones, care to explain what you know about that night?" asked Jericho, who presented a picture of the victim to the driver.

"Yeah, I've seen that girl every Wednesday evening." said Jones. "She got on at the 32nd Street Stop; she always looked a little wet, so I assumed she was a swimmer."

"You know her name?" asked Murdock.

"Nah, we never had time for formal introductions. She always swiped her bus pass and we did say hello, but never exchanged names." said Jones.

"What went down that night, Mr. Jones?" asked Rika. "That's what we need to know."

"I arrived early at that stop last night, and I walked over to a vending machine in the nearby coffee shop down the block. Figured I'd get a drink to help finish the run. But when I got back on the bus, I didn't see her. But I had a job to do, so I continued on. I didn't even know she was dead until now!" said Jones.

"So you didn't check your bus when you clocked out?" asked Murdock.

"No." said Jones.

"Mr. Jones, we're going to collect a DNA reference sample from you, as well as test your hands for gunshot residue." said Jericho. "It might eliminate you as a suspect in this investigation."

"I didn't kill her!" insisted Jones.

"We'll soon prove that." said Jericho as he, Murdock, and Rika exited the room, and Dayton entered to test Jones. But Jones tested negative for GSR.

The three walked down the hallway, and soon, a blue hedgehog with a short beard, a blue t-shirt, cargo pants, and blue sneakers arrived, and he said: "Inspector, Detectives. Missing Persons just ID'ed our Jane Doe."

"Thank you Derek." said Jericho. "Let's go find out."

Derek led the three to the waiting area, and there was a mongoose couple, both around 45-47 years old. Derek summoned them up and introduced them to Jericho, Rika, and Murdock. "Mr. and Mrs. Marlowe, I'm Inspector Raccoon, and this is Detective Prower and Detective Echidna, we're investigating your daughter's murder."

"Her name is Katherine." said Mrs. Marlowe. "When can we see her?"

"Follow us." said Murdock as the team led the parents to the morgue. Soon, the ME unveiled their daughter, much to the mother's disbelief.

"Mr. Marlowe, I need to ask you some questions about your daughter." said Jericho.

"Yes, Inspector." said Mr. Marlowe.

"First, did your daughter swim a lot? We found a backpack with swimming equipment in it."

"Yes. Katherine was on a swim team at Empire City Central High. She and her team practiced at the Empire City Swim and Tennis Club."

"That's near 39th Street, where she was supposedly shot and killed." said Jericho. "How good was she?"

"She was great. She was about to earn a spot on the National Team." said Mr. Marlowe. "She was….wonderful….." Then the parents were escorted out of the room, and Jericho turned to Murdock.

"Murdock, I think we should investigate the Empire City Swim and Tennis Club. Find out when the ECCH Swim Team practices." said Jericho.

"Sure thing." said Murdock.

Empire City Swim & Tennis Club 4:00PM
Jericho, Rika, Derek and Murdock were soon at the club, and had a staff member go get the team coach, Mr. Benedict (a human male). But as the coach walked towards the three, Rika told Jericho: "Gun, revolver, right hip."

"Noted." said Jericho as he shook hands with Benedict. "Mr. Benedict, thank you for meeting with us."

"My pleasure, Inspector." said Benedict.

"Did you know Katherine Marlowe?" asked Jericho.

"Katherine? Yeah, I knew her. Best one out of everyone on the team. Joined us as a freshman, won us 3 consecutive gold medals. Why? What about her?" asked Benedict.

"She was murdered on a bus last night." said Murdock.

Benedict soon developed a shocked expression. "She's dead?" Jericho nodded in agreement. "I can't believe this! She was at practice last night!"

"Well, we'd like to ask you some questions sir. But we'd first like to check your weapon." said Derek.

Benedict looked at his weapon. "I have a license to carry this."

"Can we take a look at it?" asked Jericho. Benedict casually unholstered a Smith & Wesson Model 60 revolver. ".357 Magnum." said Jericho examining the gun. "Is this the only gun you have?"

"Yes." said Benedict. "I live in a gang neighborhood. It's for defense."

"Makes sense." said Jericho, handing the gun back.

"You know why anyone would want to kill her?" asked Rika.

"I dunno. Lot of folks liked Katherine. She was wonderful. This team wouldn't have made it this far without her. I don't see much motive for wanting to kill her." said Benedict. "Now if you will excuse me, I have to get back to coaching my team."

"Of course." said Jericho as Benedict turned away and got back to work. "Murdock, see if you can acquire the names of all the teammates."

"I'm on it." said Murdock.

Empire City Police Department 5th Precinct 5:09 PM
Inside the lounge, Rika was enjoying some coffee along with Dayton. "What kind of person is your brother like?" she asked. "Just curious."

"Jericho? He's a serious guy. He did a tour of duty in the Marines. He's a tough guy. I know through personal experience." said Dayton.

"I see." said Rika thoughtfully.

"Just keep your head in the game, and you'll be fine. Jericho can sense when you're nervous or hiding something from him." said Dayton.

"Man who was trained to read people…." thought Rika.

"But I know what you're thinking. Don't think about it. Jericho has gone through a lot of personal losses in his life. What they are, I can't say." said Dayton. Rika was surprised and a little embarrassed, but inquired no further. "By the way, are you related to…."

"Yes, I'm related to Miles Prower. Distant cousins, me and my older brother Rico." said Rika.

Dayton just chuckled. "What does your brother do?" he then asked.

"Don't really know. After we got discharged from the Navy, we went our separate ways, haven't spoken in 5 years." said Rika.

"Sounds like you don't like him very much." said Dayton.

"I don't like to talk about it." said Rika.

Jericho soon entered and he then said: "Talk about what?"

Rika immediately perked up and said: "Oh, nothing. What do you need?"

"I think we have something. Katherine Marlowe wasn't the only one who qualified for the National Swim Team." said Jericho. "Another teammate stood to achieve that position as well. Her name is Alyssa Powell." Jericho then showed a picture of Alyssa from the school files. "We got us a suspect with a motive."

Later, inside the interrogation room, Murdock was with Alyssa (a Mobian lynx), and they were just beginning their questioning. "So, Alyssa." said Murdock. "You and Katherine were neck-to-neck in who was going onto the National Team for this year's tournament."

"That's right. She and I swam against each other at a team competition at last week at the club to see who would make the National Team. She beat my time by 45 seconds." said Alyssa.

"That must have made you pretty mad." said Murdock. "Enough to wanna kill her so you would get the opportunity she stole from you?"

"Hey! We were friends! We had a bit of a rivalry going, but I respected her afterwards. I wouldn't have killed her for anything in the world!" said Alyssa.

"I wish I could believe that, Alyssa. Where were you at last night?" asked Murdock.

"I was at the club entrance, waiting for my dad to arrive. He was a little late arriving last night." said Alyssa.

"Well, we'll contact your father and confirm that alibi." said Murdock.

Meanwhile, Rika, Derek, and Jericho were watching through the observation window and then Rika said: "You think she could have killed Katherine Marlowe?"

"Probably. She certainly has motive. But a spot on the National Team? That doesn't sound like enough reason to me." said Jericho. Rika then thought for a moment before leaving him alone.

Date: April 27, 2009
Empire City Police Department 5th Precinct Crime Lab 8:55 AM
Jericho, Derek, and Murdock were back in the Lab with Dayton, who had some new information: "Okay, the cotton we found in Katherine Marlowe's wound tract: it's consistent with the kind used in pillows."

"Garrett Jones said he didn't hear a gunshot coming from the bus. The pillow from which the cotton came from could have been used as a makeshift suppressor." said Derek.

"Yeah, since it's hard to suppress a revolver with a conventional suppressor." said Murdock, who then thought for a moment before he began to think for a few moments.

But then, Rika walked in with her laptop in hand and said: "I got a possible motive for wanting to kill Katherine Marlowe." Rika then set her laptop down and after a few moments, she turned it to present a webpage displaying this year's swim competition. "This is the webpage for the annual swim competition held at the club every year. I did a little research, it seems that whatever senior student wins the competition not only qualifies for the National Team, but it seems that Spagonia University is offering a scholarship to the one who wins the competition, like they do for all athletes."

"And you're saying that Katherine Marlowe and Alyssa Powell both qualified to earn that scholarship?" asked Jericho.

"You bet'cha." said Rika. "That certainly gives Alyssa Powell motive."

"We still have to put her on that bus the night of the murder. And we need to check to see if she handled the gun that killed Katherine Marlowe." said Derek.

"Maybe she stole Coach Benedict's gun and used it to kill her." said Murdock.

"That gun's a .357 Magnum. The round we pulled was a .38." said Rika.

"Yeah, but maybe Benedict's gun was loaded with .38 rounds." said Jericho.

"Yeah, since .38 Special rounds and .357 Magnum rounds are about the same size. Most revolvers chambered for .357 Magnum can also accept .38 Special rounds." said Murdock. Rika was surprised at this information. "You gotta know these things."

"That means we have probable cause for a warrant to take a look at Benedict's gun." said Jericho. "And we have to go find that pillow, because the shooter must have dumped it after killing Katherine Marlowe."

Two hours later, Jericho and Murdock were with Benedict in the interrogation room. "Mr. Benedict, where were you last night around the time Katherine Marlowe was murdered?" asked Jericho.

"I was at the club, just doing a late night swim before I went home that night. I was working off a caffeine rush." said Benedict.

"What did you do with your gun when you went for your swim?" asked Jericho.

"I stuffed it in my locker like I always do before I swim." said Benedict. "Why? You think I killed my crown jewel?"

"That's what we intend to find out." said Murdock.

Dayton was working on the gun and some fur samples that he took off the bus, as well as a pillow that Jericho and Rika recovered from a trash bin near the club which had a bullet hole and a whole lot of gunshot residue around it on the gun's end, and blood on the end Katherine was on, and when he put the two hair samples in the machine for comparison, he discovered something unusual. He then called Jericho and Rika into the lab where he explained the discovery: "The blood on the pillow is a match to Katherine Marlowe. The DNA I pulled off the gun and the pillow, it has a 98% match to Alyssa Powell."

"So it means she's not the killer." said Jericho. "But someone in her family must have done the deed then if the DNA almost matches her."

"Yeah." said Rika looking at the computer screen. "There is an XY Chromosome on this DNA. Belongs to her father."

Around noon that day, Jericho, Rika, Murdock, and Derek were in the interrogation room with Henry Powell, Alyssa's father. "Mr. Powell, would you care to explain why you were late picking up Alyssa last night?" asked Murdock.

"I dozed off at home last night." said Mr. Powell.

"You know, I wish we could buy that story, Mr. Powell. But the fact is your wife said you left home around 10:25 PM last night. You normally leave around 10:45 PM, since you only live 3 miles away from the club." said Derek. "You arrived early to steal the coach's gun and use it to kill Katherine Marlowe."

"That's preposterous!" said Mr. Powell. "I wouldn't kill my daughter's friend!"

"Mr. Powell, we checked your financial records. After you posted $50,000 bail for a Misdemeanor DUI, you lost a lot of money that could have paid for Alyssa's college life. You worked as a grocery store accountant, but the amount you were earning just wasn't enough to pay the full four years of college tuition and not to mention the other costs that you had to pay for." said Derek.

"You were counting on Alyssa earning that scholarship to take care of that problem, Mr. Powell. But then, your plan hit a snag: Katherine Marlowe." said Rika. "When she beat Alyssa in that competition last week, you knew that Katherine was going to win that next competition for sure."

"So you decided to ensure that she couldn't by killing her. Then you took her wallet to make it look like a mugging." said Derek.

"We already got enough evidence that puts you on that bus and that you pulled the trigger that night, so save yourself the embarrassment of lying to us and give it to us straight." said Jericho.

Mr. Powell grew tense and his expression soon changed. "I just went there to talk to her, try to convince her to let Alyssa win." he said gravely.

"You stole Benedict's gun and followed Katherine onto the bus that night, since you knew she always took it." said Derek. (Flashback: Mr. Powell watches Benedict open his locker and place his gun inside, and when Benedict leaves, he opens the locker and steals Benedict's gun. He later goes outside and stands behind a wall out of sight near the bus stop when the bus arrives, and sees the driver get off for a minute, and then sees Katherine Marlowe get on, he quickly follows her aboard.) "Why did you need the gun?"

"I took the gun just to try and scare her, because when she said no, I just meant to show her I was serious." said Powell. (Flashback: Mr. Powell tries to convince Katherine to let Alyssa win. Katherine refuses. He then presses the pillow against Katherine's chest, with the gun on his end of the pillow, ready to fire. Katherine gasps in horror.)

"But then you killed her. I'm guessing you weren't planning on that." said Murdock.

"I panicked. She was gonna call the cops when she saw I had the gun in my hand. I didn't wanna go to prison after I got close to going that one time." said Mr. Powell. (Flashback: Katherine reaches for her cell phone, Mr. Powell fires the gun into Katherine's heart, she dies instantly. Powell shocked in disbelief. He then sees the driver exiting the shop, he moves Katherine's body out of sight onto the floor, and then quickly exits the bus before the driver can see him. He then dumps the pillow in a nearby trash bin before running back inside to return the gun into Coach Benedict's holster before he returns.)

"Well, you should have thought about that before you decided to go after your daughter's friend, Mr. Powell. Because in the end, somebody goes to prison at the end of every investigation." said Jericho as he, Rika, Derek, and Murdock walked out of the room just as a uniformed ECPD Officer came in and placed Powell under arrest for the murder of Katherine Marlowe.

Later that evening, as Jericho was finishing up the arrest report, when Rika walked back in. Jericho then looked up and said: "You made some good calls over the course of this case. Nice work."

"Thanks." said Rika. "I do my best."

Jericho then perked up: "That's what I wanna hear from my co-workers. I would have done what you did, but you stayed a few steps ahead of me. I think you and me are gonna work together like guns and bullets….partner." Jericho & Rika then shook hands in congratulating her. "Speaking of guns let me see your pistol."

"Sir?" asked Rika.

"Your weapon. I wanna see it." said Jericho. Rika then reached under her jacket and unholstered her pistol. Jericho then examined it: "Smith & Wesson 3913.  The "Ladysmith" variant. 9mm." Then Jericho unloaded the magazine, and then checked the chamber before looking down the barrel of the gun, which looked pretty clean. "Clean gun. Good. You clean this often?"

"Yeah. You gotta be ready for gunfight and you need to have a gun in excellent condition." said Rika as Jericho handed her weapon back. "What do you carry?"

"Heckler & Koch HK45." said Jericho as he pulled his own gun out of his holster and showed it off before putting it back in his holster.  ".45ACP, it's a newer type of gun."

"Big weapon." said Rika.

"Next best thing to Magnum. Murdock and Derek carry SIG-Sauer pistols. Murdock has a 9mm P226R Elite; Derek has a .40 caliber P229R Equinox. Dayton carries a Baby Eagle pistol for defense." said Jericho.

"Dayton?" asked Rika in confusion. "But isn't he a CSI?"

"Gotta be ready for hot crime scenes. CSI's can be authorized to carry weapons for defense." said Jericho.

"Oh, I see." said Rika.

"Now there's one thing you gotta know, Rika. People who work under me have to follow a few basic rules: One, keep your weapon clean at all times. Two, work the case until you get to a possible solution. Third, make sure you stay alive. Empire City is a big town, full of business, hotels, entertainment, and not to mention casinos. It also has a lot of different criminals unlike most cities, some are big time. I just got one thing to ask you, Detective Rika Sakara Prower." Jericho then moved to show his window, which had a good view of the cityscape. Rika then moved to the window as she gazed upon the city that Jericho describe. "Are you ready to take on the big city?" asked Jericho.

Rika then took a deep breath, and then she said: "C'mon, Empire City. Come get some. This Detective is on the streets." Jericho then smiled and then shook Rika's hand before he rubbed her head as if letting her know that answer was what he wanted to hear.

End