literature

Crime Story- Untitled

Deviation Actions

brijo1623's avatar
By
Published:
274 Views

Literature Text

A fresh corpse made itself at home on the moldy ground of the swamps. They figured she'd find her way into the tainted water, and never be found. Instead she surfaced herself onto the earth just outside the water's grasp. She was young, around the age of 18. Her hair was dampened with decaying plants and fungus. Her eyes, which were glazed over from the infectious water's various polluntants, were staring straight up at the men with their flashlights and fancy uniforms. The men felt knots in their stomachs.

"How long do you think the poor girls been out here?" One said in a conversational tone as if it would ease the eerie awkwardness.

"I would assume a couple days by the look and smell of things."

The four men just stared in disbelief. This town wasn't known for murder, but this was clearly the case. Her neck had definate blue and purple patterns of asphyxiation. Her soaked white dress and underwear lay across the swamp where various pools of blood stained the soil.

"Looks like a rape case," Joe, the tall, dark officer spoke the obvious.

The other three nodded for there wasn't much to say. They began searching the quarantined area while the sun began to peek over the horizon. The sunrise was anything but beautiful. It was hidden behind vast families of flies and misquitoes. Harper had never had her chance.

...............

"Hey Joe." Griffin said while making his way over to a desk full of papers and a man who seemed like he wasn't truly there.

"Hey.." Joe's voice was very monotone as he filtered through files.

"Are you ok? I heard about that girl you found this morning. They're doing an autopsy on her right now. Rumor is she was choked and raped. Doesn't seem too logical in a town like this though. I mean I'm used to speeding tickets and teenage rebelion." He laughed.

"Well it's true Griff. I saw her. I wish I hadn't, but I did." Joe looked down at his papers and grabbed his coffee. Joe didn't really like Griffin's tone.

"Wow...I didn't see that one coming." Griffin spoke in a suspicious tone. It creeped Joe out.


"Yeah, I know." Joe shifted uncomfortably in his bulky computer chair.

"So what are you going to do..?"

"WE'RE going to find out who she is, and wait for the rape kit. After WE identify her we're going to look through files for matching DNA. If there isn't any DNA we're going to have to do it the hard way." Joe looked at Griffin while he spoke.

"Whoa! Wait, why me? I mean I'll look through DNA files and shit, but I'm not going to be the one to question her family, boyfriend, girlfriend, or whatever."

"Griff, you're doing it. I'm not discussing the bad news by myself."

Griffin stood next to the desk as his skin got paler. He had a mixture of fear and anger on his face.

"Ok."

He stormed off.

Joe stood up and walked to the bathroom. His dark eyes and skin stared back at him through the reflection. He rubbed his eyes, but all he could see behind his lids was the girl. He didn't sleep that night. The nightmares ripped him from his slumber. Her glazed eyes. Her mold-dampened hair.

Harper.

................

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The door echoed the noise from Joe's fist. A middle-aged woman answered the door. Her face filled with hope, and fear.

"Miss, I'm sorry to bother you, but can we come in for a sec?"

She nodded and sat down on her soft yellow sofa nervously.

"I'm so sorry I have to be the one to inform you of this, but we found a body yesterday. We believe her to be your daughter."

She stared blankly at Joe until the realization caught her by surprise. She then began sobbing first slowly and then uncontrollably. She covered her face with her hands. Her husband came in and embraced her.

"What did you do to her?!" He demanded.

"I'm so sorry sir..."

Joe was cut off by the mother's hysteria. The husband began crying as well after he too realized what was happening. Griffin pulled the father aside.

"I'm so sorry for your loss sir. Terribly sorry. We're trying to get as much information as possible. We're trying to help your daughter find justice. I too have a daughter and feel for you deeply." Griffin was getting choked up.

The father nodded still in disbelief of what was going on. Joe was trying to calm the mother down.

"We will need someone close to her to identify her. I know this is a lot to ask for, but this is a murder case. Someone did this intentionally, and I'd like to put them in a place where they can't hurt anyone ever again."

The father nodded again. Tears saining his cheeks.

"The first thing you can do to help is let us search your daughter's room. There might be evidence which will help us find the culprit."

The father wiped his eyes and nodded once more. Griffin helped him to the couch next to his wife.

"Once again we are so sorry for your loss." They looked down and made their way towards the room. When they both made it in they looked at each other.

"The hardest part of the job..." Joe said, and Griffin nodded with agreement.

They searched the room thick and thin until their was nothing more to look at.

They found one thing useful.

A picture of her and two boys.

................

Joe stared at the picture in his office for what seemed like hours.

It read on the back:

My two favorite boys:

Ethan and Issac

Her handwriting was so pure and precise. It bothered Joe that he was so emotionally conflicted by this particular case. He felt so inclined to help Harper.

"So who are they Joe?" Griffin snuck up on him.

Joe jumped slightly before speaking.

"Their names are Ethan and Issac. Her mom said they were really close friends of hers."

"How close are we talking?" Griffin asked.

"That's what I want to know. Her mom never implied any romantic relations, but parents are somewhat oblivious to such things."

Griffin nodded.

"So, when are we getting them in here?"

"As soon as possible."

Griffin smiled.

"What?"

"It's just this is the part I like Joe. Questioning."

Joe rolled his eyes and continued to stare at the picture.

Her two favorite boys.

...................

The boy began to rub his sweaty plams on his jeans in hopes that no one would notice. He had never liked being questioned for anything before, but murder? This was insane. His heart was pounding in his throat. He felt like his body was turning into a microwave cooking him from the inside out.

"So, Issac. How are you this morning?" Griffin smiled at him.

"Fine." his voice shook slighly.

"You know why we called you in don't you?"

He shook his head even though he knew perfectly well why they brought him to the station.

"You remember Harper don't you?" Griffin got slightly closer to Issac as if he were cornering him.

"Shes my best friend."

"Yes, I know this. You really did love her didn't you?" Griffin's voice grew slightly more accusing.

Issac gulped then nodded.

"More than you should have?"


Issac's eyes focused on the tiles on the ground with their intricate patterns. He knew he should answer the police officer standing over him, but his heart was breaking with every word. He didn't want to be there. He wished he could go where ever Harper was. He wanted to see her again. He wished he could make those fantasies come true.

"I'll take that as a yes. Maybe you loved her so much you were angry? Angry you couldn't have her?"

"I did not kill my best friend!" Issac spit the words out like acid.

"Then who did? Was it Ethan? Or maybe Ethan talked you into doing it? Maybe you both did it together?"


"NO!" He yelled louder than he meant to.

His eyes began to flood over with salty tears. They burned his face on the way down to his chin. He felt his chest constrict. He felt as if the whole world was crashing into him. Not physically, but emotionally. His whole body became pain. It existed within him. Anger also came to mind.

"You killed Harper Matthews! You raped her because you knew that was the only way you could have her!"

Griffin could feel Issac's emotions, and he was sure he was going to confess. He took it one step farther and threw a picture of Harper's decaying body on the table.

"Is this your work? Isn't it just lovely? She doesn't look so innocent now does she?!"


Issac quickly turned his head as tears drowned his eyes. Joe walked in and grabbed Griffin by the arm.

"I think you're having too much fun Griff. Look at the poor boy. He's just a 17 year old in love."

Joe yanked him out of the room. Issac didn't stop crying. The pit of his stomach promised him he was going to vomit. Joe noticed and quickly handed him a trash can.

"He can be a real ass sometimes. I'm sorry. He geets too carried away with his own thoughts. He tricks himself into believing every first idea that pops into his head." Joe sat down on the other side of the table. Issac regained himself, but didn't speak. He felt like his soul had been ripped out by pliers.

"It'll get easier kid. I promise. I'm here to help you. Now, did Ethan have anything to do with this?"

"I don't think so. I mean ethan gets jealous sometimes, and maybe even a little violent, but murder..."

Joe nodded. He was ready to bring in Ethan.

............

Ethan walked in the small room with a certain poise. Joe could tell right away that this kid was a cocky little bastard. Ethan took a seat across from Joe. He sat down very slowly and purposely. He smiled at Joe.

"Hello Ethan."

"Good day officer"

Ethan smiled maliciously.

"So, Ethan, where were you the night of Harper's death?"

"I was at home with my parents. I was asleep. Why do you ask?"

"I'm the one asking the questions here Ethan." Joe smiled.

"Fair enough." Ethan's voice began to sound slightly amused.

"What was your relationship with Harper like? How close were the two of you?"

"Pretty close. I mean, I think I felt more for her than she did me, but I didn't rape her." He sounded defensive.

"Who said anything about rape?" Joe worked his way around Ethan's words.

"I did. Don't try to fool me officer. I realize I'm here because you obviously think I was the one who did it."

"No not really, but I'm starting to. Maybe you should convince me otherwise?" Joe smiled.

"What if I don't? What if I come clean right now?"

"Then we will arrest you, but I can promise you it'd be better to confess then lie. You're still young. You could get a good plea."

"Well, too bad I didn't do it then huh?"

Joe rolled his eyes.

"Sadly, I am also quite sure of this Ethan. You can go ahead and go home. I've had enough of you today."

"My pleasure officer" He said and then lean over to make a bow.

Joe knew it couldn't have been Ethan. For one, his story checked out. It's the same thing his parents said. Plus, if Ethan were to rape a girl he'd do far more than choke her to death. This kid was too sinister to be that straight forward.

.....................

Joe began to become seriously frustrated. This case was running through his veins, and it hurt like a rusty nail. The case was about to kill him. He hadn't slept in 2 weeks since he found Harper's body. She haunted everyone of his dreams. He wanted to help her so much. His emotions were so caught up in this one. He laid his head on his desk trying to ponder what he was doing wrong. Who could it be? With no DNA left behind it was sort of hard to find the criminal. He had gone through this thought process for several days, but nothing popped up until now. As he dosed off into sleep things began to come to him. Dreams began to fill his mind, as the events laid themselves out peice by peice. The puzzle began to put itself back together.

Griffin was pretty interested in this case.

He seemed sort of worried when Joe asked him to help.

Griffin called in sick the night Harper was murdered.

Joe knew something wasn't right, but he didn't want to face the fact that his friend could commit such a heinous crime.

He put those feelings aside before, but now the truth was too evident.

"Joe?" Griffin was right in front of him as he woke up.

"It was you..." Joe quickly realized this even by the way Griffin spoke his name.

"Shh...Joe you wouldn't want to get your best friend in trouble. I couldn't help myself the girl was so damn pretty."

"That's sick Griff! She was 18 years old!"

"You can't tell me you never thought about it? So young and fresh."

Joe laid his hand on his gun.

"Don't make me do this Griff."

"Come on Joe kill me. It wont do any good. I already corrupted the little thing. She was all I wanted."

Joe grabbed the gun and pointed it at Griffin's head.

Griffin smiled.

"Come on. Do it."

And with the the shot rang. It peirced Griffins leg and Griffin fell to the ground.

"In your dreams. That would be the easy way out." Joe smiled.

"Now lets see who thinks YOU'RE so damn pretty in prison."

Griffin just stared at his friend in disbelief as the rest of the officers stormed in and arrested him.

Case solved, and Joe and Harper could finally get some rest in their own sense of the word.
Crime Story I wrote for creative writing
© 2010 - 2024 brijo1623
Comments0
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In