I knew they'd be annoyed when I showed up late. I couldn't help it though! I was at a crime scene, wrapping up another murder mystery involving a locked room murder.

I tried to explain it to them before, but no one ever wanted to believe me.

I sighed as I pulled my fake glasses off, walking onto campus. I was already half an hour late, but I knew they'd still wait for me. They always did.

They were obviously annoyed when I did eventually see them, sitting in the steps of the library. The university one at least. The front doors were locked and I had one of the only sets of keys.

Perks of being kind to the lady's who worked there. I wasn't the only one with spare keys, but I was one of few.

When I reached the steps, both of my best friends looked at me, obviously annoyed.

"Where were you?" Evan, my best friend asked. He was taller than me, a whopping 6'2, towering over me in such a spectacular way. He had this shaggy black hair and big blue eyes, dressed for success. Today was no exception.

"I texted you I was working a murder case," I whined.

My other friend, Roxie seemed annoyed by that, ruffling her short ruby red hair, "you always use that dumb excuse. Don't you ever get bored of it?" She looked at me curiously, her brown eyes filled with obvious annoyance.

I huffed, "it's the truth, when who'll you realize that?"

"When you admit you're not actually a brunette," she joked.

I rolled my eyes at her, ruffling my coffee brown hair. It was natural, but she refused to believe me. I looked fake. I had heterochromia for one, and my blue, brown eyes were quite the sight. I almost always wore contacts when I had a case because of it.

"Can you just open the door Felix?" Evan asked.

"Yeah, yeah." I hummed and moved towards the door, pulling my key out of my bag and sticking it in the lock..., only to find the door already unlocked.

"That's strange, the doors already unlocked," I informed.

"Should we call security?" Roxie asked.

"Yeah," I hummed, "just to be safe."

We ended up waiting for half an hour before security showed up.

Some guy named John Thomas. We entered together and we each searched until-

"Oh my god!" I screamed, alerting everyone to me. I had fallen on my ass as the others rushed to me.

"Felix, whats w-

The minute we all saw the same thing, any words fell flat.

There was a dead body in the library. They were covered in dried blood. Eyes were rolled back in their skull and a large hole was in the middle of the victim'a chest.

I swallowed dryly, recognizing the victim.

"Oh my god... it's Benny," I whispered, feeling water puddle in my tear ducts, my voice cracking as I spoke.

"No," Roxie said shakily, "who could've done this to him?"

"We need to call the police," the security guy suggested.

I nodded, getting up, shakily and pulling out my phone. I dialed the number of my friend on the force and shakily held the phone up to my ear.

"Henry! That was a great job earl-"

"Bring units to Quinton University library, a body has been found."

There was a beat of silence, "we'll be there in ten minutes, wait with the body."

"Will do." There was a dial tone and I put away my phone.

"Are you okay?" Evan asked, putting man hand on my shoulder.

I glared at the ground, "how could I be okay?"

"The police will solve this, they always do with the help of Henry Trevor," Evan said, trying to sound comforting.

I just shrugged away his hand as the four of us waited in place for the police to arrive.

My friends didn't say anything as we all moved a bit away from the body, letting the awful silence cling to the air like a sickening plague.

We heard the sirens not to long after, and men rushed to where we were.

On officer introduced himself quickly, "I'm lieutenant Winston Ford. Where's Henry Trevor?"

My friends were obviously about to say that he wasn't here when I moved forward, "it's actually Felix Wretch. Henry is my alias."

My friend, Winston, nodded, "where's the victim?"

"Over here," I directed the men to the body, and a few seemed to gag at the putrid scent that overtook them.

"Any idea who it is?"

"Benny Owens. Senior at this college."

"How'd you find him?" Winston asked.

"I went to unlock the library so my friends and I could study, but found it unlocked. We called campus security and found him against the bookshelf."

"You have keys?"

"A few people do."

"A few people?"

"I'm one of two hundred students with keys."

Winston sighed, realizing right away this would be a harder case, "gave you examined the body?"

"Not yet. I had nothing on me that would help me examine the victim."

"Hold up," Evan interrupted, "Felix, you're the famous detective Henry Trevor?"

"I am."

"Since when?" Roxie asked.

"Since I was ten. I tried to tell you, but none of you bothered to listen or believe me."

They silenced as I was given gloves. I slid them on and went over to the victim, squaring next to it with the on site mortician.

"It appears he's been dead for a little over twelve hours," I pointed out.

"I would say he was killed yesterday around nine p.m. to midnight. Would you agree that the cause of death is the stab would to his abdomen?"

I nodded, "I don't see any other external wounds, but I would run a toxicology report on the victim to make sure these were indeed the cause."

"Felix, do you know where we can contact his family? We'll need to know if he had any enemies."

I got back to my feet, "he doesn't have any enemies from what I'm aware of."

"You know the victim?" Winston asked.

"Know the victim?" Evan scoffed, "the victim is his brother!"

Winston paused, "Felix, if you don't want to take this case-"

"No, I'm taking it. I need to know who'd do such a thing."

"If you're sure..."

I scratched the back of my neck, "I'll need security footage of the library. I'll also need the logs of who entered and existed the building. As of right now, anyone could done this. If you find the victims phone, I would ask that you hand it to me for analysis."

"I know this is a stupid question," Roxie sighed, "but how do we know that you didn't do it? You do have keys."

"I was working another case the past few days. I shared a hotel room with Winston, so I doubt i could be here as well."

"He's right. I'll get you what you need kid. I'll also ask for an account if everyone who has a key to this place."

"Much appreciated."

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to go tell my mom and Dave that Benny is dead and head home to figure out some sort of motive."

"Alright, we'll call if we need you."

"Are we all free to go?" Roxie asked.

Winston shook his head, "no, we'll need your alibis for last night."

I didn't stay to hear any complaints, I was leaving, sighing as I left.

Officers who worked with me greeted me as I left. I knew that once info about the case was released to the public, the alias I had to keep my identity a secret would crumble.

One problem at a time.

Time to face the parents.