The Staple Murder
We enter the house, guns blazing. The first thing I see is her body. Blood covers the floor, her neck at an odd angle. Her eyes…still open, an empty void. Staples everywhere. I walk away from the scene to see my partner.
“What do you think happened to her?” asked my partner Thomas.
“Well, there seems to be severe trauma to her head, and her neck shows it was broken. But there could be more internal injuries. Staples showing that the killer is crafty. The forensics team will help us figure this one out.”
After searching the house, we headed back to the car, where stacks of paper work were probably covering the dash board.
“So, who do you think could have done this Jessie?”
“I don’t know Tommy; it seems like she knew the man because he didn't break in. She just let her murderer in. However, I think this murder is connected with the other nine murders.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Well, they’re all relatively the same age, they’re all female victims, and their injuries are all very similar.”
“You do have a point.”
“If only we could figure out why a murderer would use staples! That's so metal!”
“Funny, but seriously, what do you think?”
“I think it might be a group, or gang, and these girls just found out something nobody wanted known.”
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
“I guess.”
We rode in complete silence for the next ten minutes, I sat and admired Thomas’s almost perfect features--his short dirty blonde hair, his baby blue eyes, and his muscular body. Every inch of him was perfect. I know he’s my partner, but I can’t help it. It’s embarrassing… crushing on your partner that you have been working beside for over two years. Not to mention, I'm in a new relationship with a guy named Mark. I guess he’s okay, but I settled. Instead of waiting for that someone to be with me when he would never think of me like that… why would he? He’s so out of my league.
“Why are you staring at me?”
“What?”
“You were staring at me.”
“No, I wasn't. I was thinking, and I just happened to be looking at you while I was thinking.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Well, that was a close call. Riding back to the office, I tried really hard to keep quite. I wanted to tell Thomas how I feel; he would never listen, he would call me crazy. I push that thought away to think about the date I have with Mark. What will I wear? Maybe that pretty red dress Mark got me for my birthday. He said he loved it on me. It is our one year anniversary; I should impress him tonight. Soon after that, we arrived at the office. I thought about staying in the car. I don’t feel like dealing with my boss screaming in my face, watching her face turn from a white pale to a ripe strawberry.
“Are you coming, Jessie?” Thomas stared at me with concern. “Are you okay? You've been acting so different.”
“Yeah. I'm coming. I’m fine, just tired is all.” I heaved myself out of the car and sigh really hard. Then I walk with Thomas into the big brown doors. The moment we walked into the office, we had three people talking at us at once.
“Whoa, one at a time!” The blonde lady, Cheryl, came to me with a vanilla folder. She gives us the information we are both too busy with or to even remember: names, dates, stuff of the sort.
“Jessica, the victim’s name was Veronica Smith. Her friends all called her Ronnie. Rumor has it that an ex-boyfriend was supposed to come out to fix her floor boards and some wall linings.”
“What Cheryl? Give me that folder!” I snatch the folder and read the print for myself. “Do you know what this means? Her boyfriend could have been her murderer. Thank you, Cheryl. Do we have any finger prints?”
“No, whoever this guy is, was smart enough to wear some type of gloves.”
“All right, keep working, let me know as soon as you find something else. Now, I have a date tonight, so I’ll be gone a couple hours. If anything shows up, call me!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I’m driving home but I can’t get over this case. Which is strange, I’m always able to forget when I’m driving. I pull up in my driveway to see a blue Dodge Charger. Why is Mark over without even calling me? Wonder what’s wrong.
“Hey, Mark, I’m home! Everything okay.”
“Hey…yeah, I’m fine. Hold on a sec.”
I walk into my living room to see it all fixed up with curtains, new table, and furniture. Well, that’s why he’s here. Trying to make up for standing me up yesterday.
“Thank you so much for helping me redo the living room.”
“No problem. That’s what carpenters do, right?”
“Hey, I know you wanted to spend the night together, but I have a big case I’m working on. Do you mind if I take a rain check?”
His face indicated that he was mad, but I don’t care. Shouldn't have stood me up. He breaths deeply and answers.
“Yeah, that’s fine, I know how important your work is to you.”
“You’re the best. I love you. Talk to you tomorrow. Good night.”
Mark leaves my driveway and turns around to look at me. Face tense and guilty, what’s his problem? I walk inside and think about Mark’s weird behavior and I get interrupted by the phone ringing. I look at the phone. Thomas.
“Thank God! I was just about to call you. Thomas, I'm so sorry. I’m so stupid.”
“Why what is it? Are you okay”
“We've figured out who killed the girl.”
“What! Who?”
Right before I could say the name, I passed out in the floor. I woke up later to myself being tied to a chair with my mouth taped up. I look around and see myself in my bedroom, blinds closed, door closed in and room trashed. I hear my sink running, I turn to see Mark staring at me through the mirror.
“Hey, honey,” he says. He walks toward me and pets my face.
“I’m so sorry, Jessica. I really liked you. However, I can’t go to jail; I can’t get caught.” Mark walks over to the table with a bag on top of it. He unzips the bag and pulls out a staple gun. My mind runs blank with panic and fear, then I hear the doorbell. He looks toward the door. All I can think is ‘THOMAS’…
Review on Looking for Alaska by Kateleen Edwards
John Green's young adult novel Looking for Alaska is a beautifully written and heart-wrenching thriller. Miles "Pudge" Halter yearns for excitement in his life and sets off to find his "Great Perhaps" (a reference to poet Francois Rabelais' idea of a voyage). While attending Culver Creek Boarding School, he meets Alaska Young and is instantly drawn into her world. All is beautiful until one moment changes their paths forever; perhaps it was too much to hope for a "Great Perhaps."
Since its debut, Looking for Alaska has received several accolades and awards--a winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist, and a New York Times bestseller.
Green writes in such a clever and relatable way that it seems as if his stories are true. Students at CHS have remarked that Green is "prolific," "influential," and "a genius." See for yourself by ordering yours today. This novel can be purchased at all major retail stores and online for $6.00 (paperback), $13.15 (hardcover), and $4.99 on Kindle editions.
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We enter the house, guns blazing. The first thing I see is her body. Blood covers the floor, her neck at an odd angle. Her eyes…still open, an empty void. Staples everywhere. I walk away from the scene to see my partner.
“What do you think happened to her?” asked my partner Thomas.
“Well, there seems to be severe trauma to her head, and her neck shows it was broken. But there could be more internal injuries. Staples showing that the killer is crafty. The forensics team will help us figure this one out.”
After searching the house, we headed back to the car, where stacks of paper work were probably covering the dash board.
“So, who do you think could have done this Jessie?”
“I don’t know Tommy; it seems like she knew the man because he didn't break in. She just let her murderer in. However, I think this murder is connected with the other nine murders.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Well, they’re all relatively the same age, they’re all female victims, and their injuries are all very similar.”
“You do have a point.”
“If only we could figure out why a murderer would use staples! That's so metal!”
“Funny, but seriously, what do you think?”
“I think it might be a group, or gang, and these girls just found out something nobody wanted known.”
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
“I guess.”
We rode in complete silence for the next ten minutes, I sat and admired Thomas’s almost perfect features--his short dirty blonde hair, his baby blue eyes, and his muscular body. Every inch of him was perfect. I know he’s my partner, but I can’t help it. It’s embarrassing… crushing on your partner that you have been working beside for over two years. Not to mention, I'm in a new relationship with a guy named Mark. I guess he’s okay, but I settled. Instead of waiting for that someone to be with me when he would never think of me like that… why would he? He’s so out of my league.
“Why are you staring at me?”
“What?”
“You were staring at me.”
“No, I wasn't. I was thinking, and I just happened to be looking at you while I was thinking.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Well, that was a close call. Riding back to the office, I tried really hard to keep quite. I wanted to tell Thomas how I feel; he would never listen, he would call me crazy. I push that thought away to think about the date I have with Mark. What will I wear? Maybe that pretty red dress Mark got me for my birthday. He said he loved it on me. It is our one year anniversary; I should impress him tonight. Soon after that, we arrived at the office. I thought about staying in the car. I don’t feel like dealing with my boss screaming in my face, watching her face turn from a white pale to a ripe strawberry.
“Are you coming, Jessie?” Thomas stared at me with concern. “Are you okay? You've been acting so different.”
“Yeah. I'm coming. I’m fine, just tired is all.” I heaved myself out of the car and sigh really hard. Then I walk with Thomas into the big brown doors. The moment we walked into the office, we had three people talking at us at once.
“Whoa, one at a time!” The blonde lady, Cheryl, came to me with a vanilla folder. She gives us the information we are both too busy with or to even remember: names, dates, stuff of the sort.
“Jessica, the victim’s name was Veronica Smith. Her friends all called her Ronnie. Rumor has it that an ex-boyfriend was supposed to come out to fix her floor boards and some wall linings.”
“What Cheryl? Give me that folder!” I snatch the folder and read the print for myself. “Do you know what this means? Her boyfriend could have been her murderer. Thank you, Cheryl. Do we have any finger prints?”
“No, whoever this guy is, was smart enough to wear some type of gloves.”
“All right, keep working, let me know as soon as you find something else. Now, I have a date tonight, so I’ll be gone a couple hours. If anything shows up, call me!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I’m driving home but I can’t get over this case. Which is strange, I’m always able to forget when I’m driving. I pull up in my driveway to see a blue Dodge Charger. Why is Mark over without even calling me? Wonder what’s wrong.
“Hey, Mark, I’m home! Everything okay.”
“Hey…yeah, I’m fine. Hold on a sec.”
I walk into my living room to see it all fixed up with curtains, new table, and furniture. Well, that’s why he’s here. Trying to make up for standing me up yesterday.
“Thank you so much for helping me redo the living room.”
“No problem. That’s what carpenters do, right?”
“Hey, I know you wanted to spend the night together, but I have a big case I’m working on. Do you mind if I take a rain check?”
His face indicated that he was mad, but I don’t care. Shouldn't have stood me up. He breaths deeply and answers.
“Yeah, that’s fine, I know how important your work is to you.”
“You’re the best. I love you. Talk to you tomorrow. Good night.”
Mark leaves my driveway and turns around to look at me. Face tense and guilty, what’s his problem? I walk inside and think about Mark’s weird behavior and I get interrupted by the phone ringing. I look at the phone. Thomas.
“Thank God! I was just about to call you. Thomas, I'm so sorry. I’m so stupid.”
“Why what is it? Are you okay”
“We've figured out who killed the girl.”
“What! Who?”
Right before I could say the name, I passed out in the floor. I woke up later to myself being tied to a chair with my mouth taped up. I look around and see myself in my bedroom, blinds closed, door closed in and room trashed. I hear my sink running, I turn to see Mark staring at me through the mirror.
“Hey, honey,” he says. He walks toward me and pets my face.
“I’m so sorry, Jessica. I really liked you. However, I can’t go to jail; I can’t get caught.” Mark walks over to the table with a bag on top of it. He unzips the bag and pulls out a staple gun. My mind runs blank with panic and fear, then I hear the doorbell. He looks toward the door. All I can think is ‘THOMAS’…
Review on Looking for Alaska by Kateleen Edwards
John Green's young adult novel Looking for Alaska is a beautifully written and heart-wrenching thriller. Miles "Pudge" Halter yearns for excitement in his life and sets off to find his "Great Perhaps" (a reference to poet Francois Rabelais' idea of a voyage). While attending Culver Creek Boarding School, he meets Alaska Young and is instantly drawn into her world. All is beautiful until one moment changes their paths forever; perhaps it was too much to hope for a "Great Perhaps."
Since its debut, Looking for Alaska has received several accolades and awards--a winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist, and a New York Times bestseller.
Green writes in such a clever and relatable way that it seems as if his stories are true. Students at CHS have remarked that Green is "prolific," "influential," and "a genius." See for yourself by ordering yours today. This novel can be purchased at all major retail stores and online for $6.00 (paperback), $13.15 (hardcover), and $4.99 on Kindle editions.
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