Rising Shadow

Chapter 1 - Evidence Tampering

"This is the story of a great man." Lance Carmichael said. He looked down at his baby daughter. He stroked her cheek, knowing she'd never remember this story. "A man who's life took a lot of scary, unexpected turns." He sighed, then began to read.

"This is the story... of your father."

"Officer Benjamin D Jameson, transferring from the Bureau." Benjamin spoke into the phone as he stopped off the bus. He waited for the confirmation and nodded. "See you soon." He scratched his neck.

"30 minutes until they pick me up, what's there to do in this town." He scanned the area and his eyes landed on The Durable Horse Pub. "That'll do." He headed over and opened the door, the pub seemed small, smelly and full of drunk men. He sat at the bar, just a few seats down from a man.

"What can I get ya?" The man behind the bar asked.

"Absinthe." Benjamin smiled.

"New around here?" The bartender asked.

"Yeah, recruited by the Concordia Defence Force." Benjamin replied. The man near him seemed to perk up at the name.

"Ah them, I heard that Chief Moore can be a right hard ass." The bartender laughed. "Leopold Jenkins by the way. I run this little place so I imagine we'll be seeing each other a lot."

"Hope so." Benjamin smiled. "It's nice to have a warm welcome."

"Hey." The man down the bar called. "Did you say you were joining the Concordia Defence Force?"

"Yeah?" Benjamin asked.

"Well then." He stood up and held out a hand. "Nice to meet you."

"And you are?" Benjamin asked again, confused.

"Lance Carmichael. Chief Inspector." He shook Benjamin's hand. "I figure if we're gonna be in the same team, we better get acquainted."

"Oh right, what about Chief Moore?"

"Well, he doesn't like to get too involved. He's more decorative at this point." Lance scoffed.

"Right, so..." Benjamin continued.

"So I'll give you your first assignment. Then we can go over formalities on the blimp." Lance checked a device in his pocket and nodded.

"What's that?" Benjamin asked.

"Oh this? You'll find out soon enough. For now, you better get to the evidence room. There's been a fire." Lance gasped.

"Well, that's fine and all..." Benjamin started. "But the Bureau agreed that my transfer would be to homicide."

"We all gotta start somewhere Officer." He handed Benjamin a map. "Do well and you may just make it into my elite team." Benjamin nodded and headed off. As he arrived he began to think.

"So... what do I do now?" He began to sweat as a hand touched his shoulder. "Woah!" He spun with his fist raised and stopped dead when a young blond man cowered.

"Sorry!" The man shouted.

"Who are you? Don't sneak up on me like that." Benjamin straightened up.

"Andrew Russell. DI Carmichael said I was to be your partner for this case." He panted.

"Right..." Benjamin touched his temple. "Let's just get started."

"But wait, we're meant to be waiting for Deputy Chernov." Andrew sighed.

"More people?" Benjamin began to grow angry. "Let's just get on with this." He walked into the building as began to look around. The charred remains of paper and distinct smell of burned wood filled the room.

"This is so weird." Andrew started. "Mr Adria guards this room with this life."

"And yet it's completely destroyed." Benjamin quipped. "Why don't you go find Adria, I'll have a look around and see what I can find."

Andrew nodded, he went to Adria's office, hoping to find some inkling of where he may be. He opened the door and to his surprise, found him sitting at his desk.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Uh... Geoff Adria?" Andrew asked.

"That's the name." He looked up. "What do you want?"

"Well first, what are you still doing here?" Andrew shouted in shock.

"I'm not abandoning the evidence room because of a fire." He rolled his eyes and returned to his paperwork.

"This isn't exactly a small fire Adria." Andrew stood firm. "This place is burned to a crisp."

"Leave boy." He looked up and saw Andrew's badge. "You're not cut out for this kind of work if you can't handle a little fire." Andrew left the room, downhearted. he found Benjamin on his knees beside a particularly strange looking charred item.

"Andrew come here." Benjamin waved. "I found Nikolai."

"Where?" Andrew asked, confused, and Benjamin raised an eyebrow.

"There." He pointed to the strange mound. Andrew gasped, almost throwing up. "Now I noticed two things..." Benjamin began.

"This was no accident." He tapped his notepad. "For one, this room is completely inaccessible to the public. No signs of a break in."

"But surely he just died in the fire?" Andrew pondered.

"You'd think so." Benjamin knelt down. "I was trained for this in the Bureau. See this hole here?"

"Yeah?"

"Bullet hole, from a particular model of gun." He stood up. "But no bullet, can you figure out why?"

"Uh..." Andrew shrugged.

"Smell the air." Benjamin said.

"Smells like burning." Andrew was more confused than ever.

"Now smell the hole." Benjamin smirked.

"Gross, no!" Andrew gasped.

"Just do it." Benjamin shouted.

"Fine..." Andrew bent down and sniffed. "Nothing?"

"Exactly." Benjamin laughed. "An odorless area. Because the killer is skilled. My guess, liquid nitrogen bullet. Instantly melts in the wound and totally odorless. Nearly impossible to tell."

"So... Our killer is a chemist too?" Andrew asked.

"Exactly!" Benjamin said with triumph. "But that's not all. They made this way too easy."

"Uh huh..." Andrew responded.

"There's grey hairs in his hand." Benjamin pointed. "God knows how they didn't get destroyed in the blaze."

"So that's a third trait." Andrew thought.

"And of all the people to enter the room all day." Benjamin prompted.

"Well there's Nikolai, myself..." He thought. "Both blond."

"My hair is brown..." Benjamin continued.

"Oh..." Andrew finally understood. "So only Geoff had a chance."

"Bingo!" Benjamin smiled. "Let's go make the arrest."

"Damn cinders." Geoff opened the window for air as Benjamin opened the door.

"Geoff Adria?" He asked.

"Oh what now?" Geoff grunted.

"You're under arrest for murder." Benjamin reached for his gun, realising he was never issued one yet.

"How silly!" Geoff laughed.

"All the evidence points to you." Benjamin began to explain.

"All the evidence of me putting down a violent criminal." Adria raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?" Benjamin asked.

"Nikolai set the fire you idiot." Geoff rolled his eyes.

"But... why?" Benjamin wondered.

"How should I know?" Geoff continued. "Now go. I have way too much to do."

"Right..." Benjamin sighed.

"Hey come on, it took some good work to solve that." Andrew smiled.

"Yeah maybe, but I came here to join the homicide team." Benjamin shrugged. "Not to be stuck on arson."

"It'll happen." Andrew hugged him.

"Maybe, but for now... I guess I just gotta work." He looked up, seeing the Defence Force blimp. "Looks like our ride is here."