Hey guys, I wanna thank everyone who's been reading. This crime is a shorter one it's gonna be 2 chapters only, but as I said before it's inspired from recent true events. Anyways, hope you enjoy it :)

Case File #16

(4th Crime) 

Sharna got out of bed and changed then left her apartment; she grabbed a cab to the river. Police cars with their sirens on were everywhere as well as reporters and just curious people, there was also an ambulance.

Sharna couldn't see so she tried to push through the crowd till she finally saw the car and 2 bodies inside. Policemen kept telling people to leave as some of them were crossing the crime scene tape to take a good look.

Sharna noticed Detective Howard talking to a couple of officers angrily and he had a look of concern on his face. The first body was lifted out of the car into the ambulance, it was a woman in her mid thirties while the other belonged was an older man.

Sharna walked towards Howard. "Sir" she said

"I said no one enters; it's a crime scene for God's sake" he shouted in a way Sharna never saw of him before

"It's me Detective, I came here to help" Sharna said confidently

"Is that you Davis?" He shook his head "What the hell did you do to your hair?"

"It was a mistake" she said "What did I miss?"

"I'm afraid you need to leave" he said walking away

"Really?!" she shouted angrily

"Don't make a scene" he said in a serious tone

"I just helped you solve Ben's case and I proved myself several times what else am I supposed to do for you to start trusting me?"

"It's not about trust. This is a sensitive case, so I really need you to leave now and stop being such a stubborn child"

"What do you mean by sensitive?" Sharna asked confused

Howard gestured for her to walk with him and they walked away from the people towards the main road "The man in the car is Father John, the Pastor from Mapletown's church"

"Mapletown? That's right across the lake" she said and Howard nodded "What about the woman?"

"We still don't know, but what I do know is that people don't like messy business around religion and we have a double homicide. I can't risk having you on the case, so let the police handle this one"

"I understand, but..."

"No buts" He interrupted her "There's a cab" he said as he gestured for one to come then opened the door for her, pushed her in and close it behind her.

"Asshole" she whispered as the cab started moving "I can't believe him" she was furious.

She went home and sat on bed watching TV and checking the news concerning the case.

From the news, she figured the mysterious woman is a nun called Sister Edna. People were speculating all sorts of theories, but Sharna knew to never trust these sources.

"They have been underwater for a few days the say the least" the TV reporter said "the bodies had obvious fish bites on several places on their bodies"

Sharna switched the channel to another one in which 2 women were discussing the case.

"Do you think it's murder or was it just an accident?" the first woman said

"I don't think it could've been an accident, the main route is too far from the lake" the other woman replied

"But what if they had a problem with the brakes?"

"Well that's definitely an option"

"Yeah cause you definitely know my much about that" Sharna said sarcastically

She switched again the channel, "I mean" the man said "what would be a motive to kill a pastor and a nun?"

"What would be the motive to kill anyone" Sharna added

Sharna kept watching TV, but there was no official news and she decided to turn it off and go to bed. She decided to keep positive and stop thinking about how Howard angered her "Maybe he was just stressed" she thought "Tomorrow I'll go talk to him at the station"

The next morning, Sharna woke up, took a shower got dressed then ate breakfast and left her house to go to the station.

"I really need to get me a car" she said to herself "or at least a bike," she waved to a cab "but I'm not that athletic"

She arrived at perfect timing, Detective Young was just getting out of his car, so she ran over.

"Good morning Detective" she said with a huge smile approaching him

"Damn it" he tried to look the other way and just walk

"Why are you ignoring me?" she asked

"I told you Davis, this is a sensitive case. Haven't you seen how the media is covering it? Important people want the church involvement to the minimal"

"Minimal! How? He was the Senior Pastor in Mapletown's church"

"Exactly." he sighed "Please let this one go and just go home or find a hobby or something other than getting into things that are none of your business"

"I thought you changed your mind about me" she was hurt

"I have, but this time, it's out of my hand"

"Yeah" she shrugged "Important people" she walked away furious, but this time not as much at Howard, but more at herself "Maybe I should've waited and remained on the force; people would trust me more if was still an officer"

Sharna kept walking for a while thinking, she went to the park and sat on her favorite bench, where it all started when she decided to become a Private Detective.

She grabbed her phone a dialed Emily "Hey, it's Em. Sorry can't answer right now probably working, but please leave me a message after the beep" She didn't leave a message, she didn't know what to say. She thought about calling Johnny since they're now "friends" again, but she knew it wasn't a good idea.

After a while, Sharna got up and decided to go visit Matt at the hospital and on her way she got donuts from Fred's.

Matt was at the hospital bed still bruised, but definitely better than he was when Sharna found him; he watching the news. He hand a book on the bedside table next to him "The ABC Murders" bY Agatha Christie; he grabbed it and started reading, he was half way through the book when he heard a knock on the door.

An old nurse came in "You have a visitor" and Sharna was behind her.

"Hey" Sharna smiled "How are you feeling?"

"Great" he smiled back "BORED" he said "How much bored is too bored though?"

"Well I was bored too, so I thought you might enjoy being bored together?" she laughed "Oh and I have donuts" she raised her hand showing him the paper bag.

"I love donuts" he said excited

Sharna grabbed a chair and placed in right next to his bed and sat. "Me too. Honestly I love food in general"

She looked at the TV and realized he was watching news about the case. "ugh, would you please turn it off" she said.

"Sure, did you hear about this?"

"I was actually at the crime scene yesterday" she then told him about her conversations with Howard. "I guess a small part of him regrets quitting"

"No Ragrets" he said

"What?" she was confused

"Like that movie, the guy had 'No Ragrets' tattooed on his chest"

Sharna laughed. "You're right, what's done is done"

"Absolutely. Plus, I'm sure you'll find your own way to squeeze yourself into case"

"What makes you so sure?" she asked sarcastically

"Because you're Detective Sharna Davis" he said proudly with a smirk

"Why do you keep saying it like that" she laughed shyly

"You don't like it?"

"I don't know, it makes me feel super important or something." she giggled a little "Anyways my friends call me Shar"

"Ohhh, so I'm friends now with Detective Sharna Davis herself" he said in an exaggerated tone that made Sharna blush a little. They looked at each other in an awkward silence for a moment.

"Ehm, so don't you wanna eat the donuts?" Sharna asked and he nodded.

"I didn't know what you like so I got strawberry, chocolate, vanilla and peanut butter"

"I'm allergic to nuts" he said

"Good" Sharna said "Not good like that" she hid her face in palms "I mean I like peanut butter"

Matt laughed "I love chocolate, I always go for chocolate"

"Good to know"

They ate their donuts and watched TV, Sharna thought about what Matt said and realized that she can't just let it go. "Maybe a few months ago I would have," she thought "but now I can't". Those few months changed her and she knew she would find a way even if she got in trouble with Howard.

Sharna noticed the book on the table. "I love that book" she said "I read it so long ago"

"Don't spoil it!" he said "I love Agatha Christie, but I only read 1 or maximum 2 of her book a year so I wouldn't finish them"

"Guess she's the reason you got into crime?"

"Yeah this and wanting to find justice."

"Yeah, humanity is dying!" she said in disappointment.

"What about you then? What got you into this?"

Sharna was silent, she looked uncomfortable "I'm sorry I need to leave" she said getting up from her seat.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked doubtly

"No, nooo, I just remembered I have this thing." She walked to the door and opened it "Bye" she said.

"Bye" he sighed

Sharna left in a hurry, she wasn't ready to tell the whole story yet, sometimes it still felt like a fresh wound, because she never got closure, she never really knew what actually happened. Thus, she hated telling it all from the beginning and digging into those painful memories.

When she arrived home, she got her laptop and started researching about the case and watching the news to gather as much information as she can, then she started noting them down.

There wasn't much specific information, it seemed like Detective Howard was right and important people wasn't to keep it on the low, there was no police statements published yet and there was nothing further than what she heard yesterday.

"2 bodies, car, wounds, at least a few days, Father John, Sister Edna, Mapletown's church" she wrote down and circled the last point. "I'll go there the first thing in the morning"

She then started another list titled "Things I need to find out".

"About Father John, About Sister Edna, Their relation?, When they went missing? Who's car?..." she wrote down then decided to go to bed to be able to wake up early the next morning.

The next morning, Sharna prepared for her trip to Mapletown and grabbed a cab to the lake where there's a boat renting shop. She rented a boat to take her across the lake since it was a small distance.

As she arrived, she tied the boat at the shore and went out asking about the direction to the church. She reached the church and noticed 2 police cars parked.

"They sure don't want to cause a scene" Sharna thought

A policeman was standing near the front door, so Sharna decided to go through the back door and pretend to be lost or something.

"Excuse me miss" a woman called her from behind as she was about to enter through the back door "I don't think anyone is allowed to go in, police are here"

Sharna turned to her and noticed her in her nun uniform. "Oh, I didn't know" Sharna said "I came here to pray for Father John" she looked down pretending to be sad "I heard the news"

"I know it's horrible, but they're at a better place now"

"I know, but I knew him since childhood and I wanted to pay my respects"

"God hears you anywhere you are, it's the thought that counts." she smiled "I'm sister Diana"

"Nice to meet you" Sharna smiled at her "I'm Emma"

"Why is it always Emma" Sharna said to herself

"So sister," Sharna said "did you know that other nun they found? I think her name was Edna"

"She was very kind and humble, so was Father John"

Sharna nodded "I know. They say though they've been drowned for a few days"

"It's a despicable image" she looked distressed "I have not seen Father John in 3 or 4 days, but Sister Edna was missing for at least a week, so I assume it makes sense"

"Who would want to kill a pastor and a nun thought? They're the best of people" Sharna asked trying to see if the woman knows anyone who might want to kill them.

"They were humans after all, maybe they did a mistake even if we hate to think they did" she said sad

"It's really upsetting" Sharna looked on her far right and noticed Detective Howard; his eyes widen as he saw her and his face was turning red. He was walking towards.

"Thank you sister and again nice to meet you" Sharna said and walked in a hurry towards him before he revealed her true identity to Nun Diana.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her away making sure no one was around to hear them.

"How is that keeping your own business?" he was infuriated

"I never said I would" she said then took a deep breath "Look, Detective, I'm can't just let go and walk away, this is my life now and I'll always come back every time you push me away, so at least let me be on your team" she squeezed her fists angrily

"You're so persistent and stubborn" he said and she nodded in agreement "Okay Davis." he exhaled deeply "You're on Autopsy duty with Officer Caleb. Go back to Rivertown, he's already on his way to get it, so meet him at the station and let me know of any news."

"Yes Sir" she said confidently and did as he said.

At the station, Officer caleb awaited Sharna with the autopsy report.

"Sorry, am I late?" she asked exhaling heavily as she came in running

"It's okay. Take your breath" he said and they went to his office

"Something to drink?" he asked as they got seated

"Coffee please"

"Sure" he ordered his secretary to get them 2 coffees and water and they started reviewing the autopsy.

They opened the folder and started looking at the pictures of the bodies. They had several knife scars on their bodies indicating they were killed before drowning and parts were bitten off by fish.

"Bloody hell" she said as she looked at the photos "these are brutal"

"They were killed in cold blood, look at the marks" he replied "the murderer was ruthless"

Sharna gave a disgust look when she started reviewing the close up photos of the wounds.

"The murderer was right handed" she said disappointed "as most of the population"

They divided the folder between them and each started reading their part and highlighting any important details.

"It says there was no one else's DNA neither in the car nor on their bodies; Father John had traces of Sister Edna's DNA under his nails, but nothing else"

"Sleek" she said gesturing for him exactly "Someone cleaned well"

They kept reader further through the report.

"Does the car belong to the pastor or the nun?" Sharna asked

"Let me check" he said and looked through the papers "It belong to Father John"

"When I talked to Sister Diana today" Sharna said "she said things like they could have done a mistake and things of that sort. Do you think, like maybe, they had a relationship or something?" she was hesitant to ask

"It's a possibility. Some people already suspect that"

"Yeah I heard this 'theory' yesterday while watching the news" she said sarcastically

"People underestimate the danger of their words and those media predators just care about exclusives" he looked angry

"It doesn't explain anyway why they were killed. Do you think someone would've killed them after knowing?" she said thinking out loud

"Maybe, I don't know. All I know is that there's morbid air surrounding this case"

Time was passing and they received a phone call from Detective Howard telling them he finished his interrogations and is on his way back. Sharna and Caleb kept studying the folder.

"It say here that Edna's body seems to have be dead for a few hours longer than John's." Sharna said "It's all a freaking setup"

"What?" he was puzzled

"Isn't it obvious? Someone wanted it to look in a certain way; they wanted to imply they were together. They were not killed together, the crime scene is fabricated"

"That's why there wasn't enough blood at the car" he added

"Exactly," she nodded "it could be also someone trying to tell the truth about them"

"Why not just tell then?" he wondered "Who would benefit from this?"

Detective Young arrived at the station and came into Caleb's office.

"Any news?" he asked and Caleb started filling him in.

Sharna's phone rang interrupting them, it was Matt.

"I need to take this" she said and went outside and answered

"Hey" she said

"Hi" he replied and they were both silent for a moment "I didn't know if you'd pick up" he said

"I'm sorry about yesterday, that was not your fault" she assured him

"Did you even have a 'thing'?" he asked doubtedly

"No," she sighed "it's jus,t" she paused "you asked me something that I was not ready to answer"

"I'm sorry" he said "I didn't mean to pressure you"

"You know when they always say time heals?" she said "That's total bullshit. Sometimes wounds are just too deep, so they don't fully heel, they leave behind a scar that can reopen and hurt once again like a fresh wound, but different kind of pain"

"Since when did you become so poetic" he joked trying to lighten the mood which made her smile. "How could you make wound and scars so artistic"

She was silent for a moment thinking as she remembered something she read inside the autopsy report.

"Matt" she said "I'm sorry, but I really need to go; I'm working on the case, but I'll talk to you soon"

"Glad you took my advice." he said "Bye"

"Goodbye"

She walked into Caleb's officer again and grabbed the folder and kept turing through the pages.

"What's going on Davis?" Howard asked

"Wait" she said

"Why are you acting so weird all of a sudden?" Caleb was concerned

"I think I remembered something, but I need to make sure." she kept looking for a couple minutes "Here, I found it" she said.

"One of Sister Edna's wounds wasn't a fresh wound, it was a couple of weeks older than the rest"

"Let me see." Howard said and Sharna handed him the paper

"Also, Sister Diana told me Sister Edna was missing a few days before Father John" she added

"So did he others we interrogated today" said Howard

"Did you learn anything else useful?"

"Nothing," he said "none of them want to say something that would give the Church a bad reputation. They almost want to pretend as if nothing happened"

"Well, you said it yourself, the people don't want any nasty business mixed with religion"

"So what do we do now?" Asked caleb

"We go home and rest; it was a long day and tomorrow we meet here again" Howard said and they all left.