Case Z

In a dark room, a man runs his hands through some papers and sighs, while putting his hand on his head.

“I don’t get it.” the man says hitting the top of the table with his fist.

“Ralph, don’t you think you’re stressing a bit over this case?” another man said entering the room.

He was old and looked like he was in his mid-forties; he wore a gray suit and a pinstriped hat, and he was bringing in coffee, which looked just brewed.

“No, I just don’t understand, John. This killer or whatever he calls himself leaves no evidence of his murders, and yet he kills every month.” Ralph said while taking the coffee John had forcefully.

“Well, how about you take a break? John suggested.
It’s been a long day, and I think a good night sleep will do you some good.” He said rubbing Ralph on the back.

“Yeah, maybe your right. It’s been one heck of a day.” Ralph said after drinking a bit of his coffee.

“Here, pack up. Ill finish up here and try to figure something out, if not we can always work on it tomorrow.” John said sorting Ralph’s papers.

“Okay, thanks. If anything comes up, I want a call, a text, something, right when it happens okay?” Ralph said getting ready to leave, making sure his eyes were directly in front of John’s.

“Ha-ha, I’ll call you if anything happens. Just head on home, I’m sure your family is worried, it’s a bit late.” John said reassuring him that everything would be fine, and pointing at the clock.

It was ten o’clock p.m. eastern time, and Ralph had left.

Ralph drove home in the rain, making sure to go slow because of his bad eyesight.

When he had got home, his family welcomed him warm-heartedly into the house.

“Honey, your home!” Ralph’s wife said hugging him ever so tightly.

“Daddy!” his two daughters yelled.

“Hey kiddos! Sarah how was school and Lisa how did you do on your test?”

“I made straight A’s on my progress report, daddy! Lisa got a D on her test!” Sarah said ecstatically running up to her dad.

“A D on your test? Why Lisa?” Ralph said while putting his hat and coat on his coat rack.

“The teacher is stupid, mean and unfair. He said because I spelled “One Meter” as “1 Meter” that it was wrong. He did that for all of them. I mean, it’s a math test, not English!” she yelled furiously.

“I guess you have a point. I’ll see if I can’t talk this teacher tomorrow and see what’s going on.” Ralph said gently to his daughter as he started to walk upstairs after his wife.

“Thanks, daddy!” Lisa yelled up to him as he was going up the stairs.

“No problem.” He said as he got to the top.

“Daddy didn’t even congratulate me on getting straight A’s.” Sarah said pouting.

“That’s because you always make straight A’s.” Lisa said laughing her way to her room.

“Sorry, I couldn’t talk to you back there, honey. The kids distracted me.” Ralph said while taking his shoes off and getting into bed.

“It’s okay. I understand you’re a busy man.How about I help you out with your stress?” she said after coming out of the bathroom with lingerie on.

“Um, not tonight honey. I just want to go to sleep; I had a long day today and a case I still can’t solve. I’m sorry.” He said as he rolled over.

“Was it that stressful, babe? Usually you’re always in the mood for this stuff.”  She said while changing into a shirt, underwear, and then going into bed next to him.

Ralph did not answer, after long day finally coming to rest, Ralph was sound sleep.

Back at the office, John struggles to get anywhere with the case.

“Hmmm.I can’t even solve it either.” John said after looking through some of the papers, drinking the rest of his coffee.

John put his coffee down and took out a cigarette.

“I’m not getting paid enough to solve cases like this.” He said while turning on the T.V in front of him.

“Let’s see what’s going on with football, I’m rooting for my team, The Lions.”  John said as he started flipping through the channels.

“Oh, they are number four in nationals. Nice, I def—“John said, but was interrupted by his phone beeping.


“What do they want this time!” he said aggrovatedly.

He opened his phone and answered it.

“Hello?” John yelled.

“Hey John, is that you?”  A women’s voice asked through the phone.

“Yeah, it’s me, Claudia. What’s up?” John said calmly.

Her sniffling could be heard through the phone, she was crying.

“Just…turn on your television. Channel 6.” She said sniffling.

The phone call ended.

“What the hell was that all about?” John then got his remote and turned the channel to Channel 6.

It was the news. John put his hand against his face, and slouched downwards.

“What is she talking about? It’s just a weather update.” John said aloud putting his cigarette in a nearby ash tray.

The news broadcast changed from weather into news locally.

“Tune in in five minutes to hear about your local news…man trapped in burning fire….girl gets upercutted on local bus…a man murdered in downtown D.C.

“Hold on, another murder? It couldn’t be.”  He said reaching in his pocket for his phone.
John looked through his phone, scrolling through his “R” category looking for Ralph’s name.

He puts his phone to his head and presses the “Call” button. It rings for a few minutes and goes to voice mail. He tries calling again, and someone answers.

“Hello? “ John spoke.

“Hello? Who is this? “An unfamiliar women’s voice answers.

John hangs up.

Maybe it was someone else? He calls for the last time, still watching the news, as they were going over a women being upercutted on a local bus. John got no reply this time once again, as the call goes to voice mail. He just sat there for a few minutes still waiting for that last story.

He grabbed some papers, and got his coat and put on his hat and sat back down really quick.

He listened to the first minute as they weren’t speaking of much, and only that some man in D.C was murdered and it showed a house but no name. John got a refill on his coffee and grabbed Ralph’s business card which told of his address.

John left the office at twelve o’clock p.m.

He got out his phone and followed the course of instructions to get there in his car. He pulled up to a neighborhood near the address,and got out.He started walking down the last road leading into the neighborhood,when a black car pulls up right next to the curb.
A woman stepped out of the car. She had blonde hair, it was backed into a ponytail, and she looked fairly young, in her twenties.

“Claudia!” John yelled, somewhat in relief.

“John, where are you going to?” Claudia sadly said.

“I’m going to get Ralph, there’s been another murder.” John says while still walking.
“I understand that, and that’s why I must tell you something.” She said while crying.
The office was silent. Nothing was on but the television and the lights. The news was still going as it said,

“…and we now have further updates about the murder in downtown D.C. A man by the name of Ral—“

“Ralph was the one who was murdered, John.” Claudia finished.

John looked at Claudia and the turned his head to see more than ten police cars in front of a house. This house was the house of John Herobrick, head of case “Z”.

John was stunned, he could not say anything. No words could come out, and yet his tears were.

“It’s okay; I know he and you grew up together. We will get the bastard who did this!” Claudia said rubbing his back.

A couple of weeks have passed, and nothing has really been solved. There were usually a couple of murders every month, though this month their hadn’t been any.

“Did you hear the news?” kids were saying up and down the hallways of a local school.

“We have a new student at the school. Apparently they’re extremely talented.” They were saying.

“Is that him?” they yelled pointing to a guy with an irritated expression.

I was very popular in my old school. My talent was in hacking computers. I loved it.I would mess with my old school’s P.A system and make the bells ring early and other things that eventually got me kicked out.

I was notorious, and yet I was a hero. I was the new student, and my name is Nash Glenn.
“Take your seats students. We have a new student! Everyone give a warm welcome to Nash!” the teacher said as I had entered class.

I took a seat in the back and sat down after I greeted the class.

“Hey you, are the rumors true? Did you hack your school P.A system?” A boy asked.
“Yes.” I answered.

“What? You’re so cool!” He said as he smiled.

“Not that much, if anything, I’m probably really hated, especially back from where I came from.” I said, while opening my math book.

“Well, you’re here now,and no one hates you.” he said smiling.

“I wonder about that sometimes.” I said looking at the weird boy who was oddly smiling at me.

“By the way, what’s your name?” I asked.

“My name is Jim!” he laughed.

“Ok, Jim, you have now gained my friendship. Be very grateful.” I said humorously.

“Thanks. I hope that you can teach me some st-“ He was about to finish, but was interrupted by an announcement.

“Nash Glenn to the office, again, Nash Glenn, please come go to the office.” the announcement rang through class.

“Did you do that?” Jim said excitedly.

“No, though I find it strange.” I said suspiciously.

Who could want me at this hour? My parents are at work and I have no other siblings. Whatever though, It is probably the principle wanting to tell me what a delinquent I am,or how I shouldn’t use my powers for evil.

I left class and started walking towards the office, I could see through the glass window a man arguing with a woman. It was my mom and dad arguing, and it looked like my Mom was crying, and Dad was trying to calm her down.

“Dad? Mom?” I said opening the door.

They both stopped talking; Mom then wiped her tears from her eyes.

“Honey, do you have a minute?” Mom said trying to keep in the tears.

“Um, did something happen? Why is Mom crying Dad?” I asked, puzzled not knowing what was happening.
“Well, do remember Uncle John?” Dad said holding Mom close.

“Uncle John? You mean the big dude who laughs like this?” I asked while trying to do my deepest old man laugh.

Mom started laughing a bit.

“Yes,him.Do you remember him well?” Dad asked.

“Erm,I kind of do. I haven’t seen him for a couple years.Though,I vaguely remember living over there for a  during the summers when I was really little. Why?” I said as memories of my Uncle were flooding throughout my mind.

I did not like where this was heading, at all. Why would my parents ask me to remember a man I have not seen in a while?

“Well, you see…” Dad tried to say.

Mom started to cry a bit more.

“What your parents were trying to say is that your Uncle, John Herobrick,or Uncle John, as you guys call him…was murdered a few days ago.” He said fiercely.
“W-What?” I said sadly.

As the memories of him started coming into my head, and of my nieces,Sarah,Lisa,and how his wife probably feels, I started to get a little upset. That was my Dad’s brother, and family.
“Are you feeling okay, erm, Nash?” he said to me, as I had been out of it.

I kept it bottled up, though my memories still came, he was a great man. My mother and father would take me over to his house for the summer, and those would be some of the best times of my life.

I got to play with his kids, and I actually felt like I had family, and siblings, actual fun. Though now, that tradition will no longer be there. Things will never be the same, the tradition was broken, and I needed to know.

“Was the guy who did it found?” I asked in anger.

“I’m sorry, but whoever it is…left no sort of evidence. No traces, no DNA, no nothing.” he said in a saddened tone.

“That’s Impossible! What kind of detective are you, if you can’t even figure out who killed him!” I yelled punching the window.

The window shattered.

“Nash! Wh—“Dad yelled out.

“It’s okay, I’ll pay for the repair, it’s not a big deal.” The detective said.
Dad looked angry like if he wanted to say something, though I think he understood how I felt.

I did not know Uncle John much aside from the summers I spent there but, for some strange reason…It feels I have known him for longer. Almost like, I have forgotten something, something important, something was definitely missing.

“Nash, I’ll do my best to find out who killed your Uncle, and to you Mr. Glenn, your brother.” He said handing me and my father a business card.

“Oh, and by the way, my name is…” he started to say.

“…Ralph Garrison…” I finished.

“I was a close friend of your Uncle’s. If you need anything, I’m a call away.” he said seriously while walking out of my school.