Anything You Say

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. That’s why no one heard the woman’s screech. It was muffled by a rubber tube used to explore the red landscape outside the bubble. Detective Gunnar Pike surveilled the scene. He was the hue of pine. Under the dome of the city on the Martian surface, this was the first homicide in space, much less on Mars. Not even the Moon had recorded a murder. Pike cursed.

“Goddamnit!”

“Sir,” Detective Kelis Samuels got Pike’s attention. “We can trace this back to that concierge downstairs. At least get some questions from her.”

“That’s right. We can do that,” Pike replied.

The spacious, luxury hotel in the big bubble featured waterfalls, marble and black slate with gun metal gray fixtures. A dark blue carpet adorned the floors and the walls showed floral designs in the shape of green and blue paisley. Pike and Kelis didn’t have time to critique the decor.

“Detectives Pike, Samuels, I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. I am an open book. I am willing to provide you with any information you may need to solve this case.”

“Thank you Miss Headly. Now, how many patrons are you serving right now?” Kelis asked.

“We’re currently serving twelve hundred and forty guests.”

“Where are your digital records?”

A red screen lit up in front of Norah Headly. She tapped in the air and a list of patrons visiting the hotel appeared before them all.

“How long had the victim, Miss Myrtle Monkford, been at the hotel up until last night?” Pike asked.

“She had been staying here for a few weeks, actually. I think she was in the middle of a divorce.”

“Do you have the records for previous occupants of the room?”

“Yes, but they are locked behind a firewall.”

“You’re authorized to access those records, no?” Kelis asked.

“I am, but it takes two weeks to process them.”

Pike and Kelis exchanged glances. Pike switched gears.

“Alright, is this soon-to-be divorced spouse anywhere to be found. Had they ever attended this location together?”

“I do recall Mr. Monkford and his wife have gone to conferences here a few times. Here’s a picture of him. They always stayed in the exclusive suite where you found her.”

“Okay so—”

“Excuse me a moment,” she spoke into the air after swiping the air.

Pike and Kelis looked at each other.

“She seems like she’s trying to cape for the husband,” Kelis observed.

“Maybe,” Pike answered.

Norah returned to the detectives. “Forgive me. I just had to handle some business. Now, you have my full attention.”

“What is the moment where you can pinpoint when Miss Monkfort entered the hotel and checked in? Is that hidden behind the—” Pike started.

“Firewall. Sorry.”

“No need to apologize.”

Just then, someone stormed through the doors of the hotel and ran up the black marble staircase. Pike and Kelis tracked him down. They withdrew their heat guns.

“Freeze or get burned!” Pike yelled.

The man placed his hands on his head and backed towards them slowly. He must have known what to do either from movies or being in the situation in real life. He squirmed like a worm and wanted to fish his way out of this whole ordeal.

As Kelis cuffed the person of interest, she saw that his face matched the digital photograph floating in the air like a bat.

“Karl Monkford you are under arrest for the murder of Myrtle Monkford. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say….”

“You do know you can get a lawyer. We know that.”

Monkford blew smoke rings and sipped his soda and bit into a burger.

“No shit,” he said.

“Well, we can put you back in the cell that isn’t exactly like the Black Slate hotel. So, unless you start giving us crystal clear answers, you’re going to rot for the moment. Is that clear?” Pike asked.

Monkfort put out his cigarette and finished his soda. He seemed shaken.

“I want a—”

“Lawyer? No shit,” Kelis said.

Pike circled the room with a precision and directness that brought about anxiety in Monkford and confidence in Kelis.

“All we have to do is be honest with each other. You can be released as soon as we get some answers.”

“I’ll tell you this…you might want to check further into that concierge. She probably said something ‘firewall’ this or that. There is no firewall.”

Pike and Kelis leaned forward.

“She went both ways…Myrtle. She had a thing for Norah and I wanted to divorce her for breaking our vows. But seriously, kill her? Not me. I didn’t care about her enough after that.”

The two detectives started to exit the room and left Monkford cuffed to the table. As they prepared to leave, Monkford yelled “I want my phone c—” the door clipped his demand.

“I was suspicious of Miss Headly. I didn’t think she would be a murderer,to be honest,” Kelis admitted.

“Keep your head, Samuels. We’re working on a historic case of immense proportions. The Great Leader of Mars will hear about this and our careers, our lives will be on the wire,” Pike explained.

Kelis sighed. “Do we have any other leads?

I say we find a temporary home for Monkford and head back to the Black Slate.”

“Say less,” Pike stated.