The Murderous Mind (1): Arduous Plans

ลำดับตอนที่ #1 : Chapter I

“I’ll be back in a few minutes, dear,” called the mother as she was walking out of the house. 

And she said she saw her kid drowned when she returned home, but nobody knows the truth.

            Patrick McNichol walked into the crime scene, where police cars were gathering.  And in the middle of the crime scene was Bobby Bigs, kneeled down to the ground and looking at the small pool.  Patrick then made his way under the yellow police line, and as he entered the scene, the ambulance left.  Patrick was very curious about what happened, as he asked Bobby Bigs, one of the crime scene investigators, a few questions.  He started with the simplest question of all, “What happened here?”

            Bobby Bigs, an African-American guy, found it very hard to tell Patrick what happened, so he slowly explained to him.  “There was this woman, Sarah, who dialed 911 and called the ambulance,” Bobby started, “She said she went to the bank, and she returned home a few minutes later.”

            As the story continued, Patrick listened carefully to what Bobby was saying.  Bobby continued, “Ryan Gavin, thirteen years old, drowned.  The mother right now has no idea what happened.”  Patrick then replied to Bobby by asking another question, “What’s the son’s condition?”  Bobby knew well that there was only a small chance that the kid was going to make it.  He said, “The State Hospital, the doctors are trying to revive him.”  “Hey, when Brian comes in, tell him to meet me at the hospital,” replied Patrick.  “Okay, Pat,” responded Bobby.  Patrick did not like people to call him Pat, so he said out in a lower and scarier voice, “Patrick…”  Then he left the scene to his police car.

            Bobby continued to find evidence, but there were not many visible.  Another car arrived at the Gavins’ Residence, and that was Brian Peterson’s car.  He slowly stepped out of his car, and walked towards his teammate, Bobby Bigs.  Brian asked Bobby what happened.  Bobby explained the details the same way he had to Patrick.   Brian later kneeled down the way Bobby was, as he looked closer at the ground, he noticed a cigarette butt lying on the floor, burnt. Bobby knew his job well, so he didn't need Brian to tell him what to do, he used the tweezers to pick up the cigarette butt, and he said to Brian, “I’ll have this sent to Ted in the lab for a DNA check.” “Good job, Bobby,” called Brian, as he continued to look at the swimming pool.  “See if you can find any prints around here,” said Brian.  “Oh, yeah… Pat told me to tell you to get to the State Hospital, ASAP.”  “Oh, great,” Brian said sarcastically.  “Hey, you don’t want to be punished, do you?” Bobby joked as Brian headed back to his car.

            The State Hospital was actually only 10 minutes away, but because of traffic he reached there in 30 minutes instead.  Patrick was waiting for Brian at the entrance of the hospital.  Patrick then took Brian into the hospital and to the emergency room.  Brian realized that the boy was in very bad shape.  The mother was waiting outside, her eyes were red and here face was covered with tears.  Brian walked closer to the mother and started a conversation.

            Brian started by introducing himself, “Hi, I’m Brian Peterson, Crime Lab.  You must be Mrs. Gavin.”  The lady replied to Brian, “Yes, you must be here about my son.”  “I’m so sorry about what happened,” Brian said.  A doctor came out and said "I'm sorry, your son has just went into a coma, we don't think he's going to make it." Mrs. Gavin then started to cry.  Brian, with a sad face, tried to make the mother feel better.  He said, "I hope he's going to be alright, ma'am. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to ask you a few questions."

            “I really don’t want to answer anything now…  I don’t….” Mrs. Gavin replied in a very weak voice. “Never mind, Mrs. Gavin; I’ll be back later,” replied Brian.  “Thank you, Mr. Peterson.”  Brian left as he knew that he couldn't do anymore there.  On his way out he heard some shouting. He recognized the voice, so he turned back.  It was Mr. and Mrs. Gavin, arguing.  “Do you have any idea what happened to my son!?!” said Mrs. Gavin angrily to the man.  Mr. Gavin left without a word.  Brian was quite curious about the conversation.  However, Patrick and Brian tried to ignore it, so they left the hospital back to the Gavins’ Residence.

            Michelle Vernic and Heather Stevens were waiting there for Brian and Patrick at the crime scene.  Finally, they arrived back at The Gavins' Residence, they went straight to the crime scene.  Heather gave Brian the updates right away.  She said, "Ted got the DNA sample from the cigarette. Now we need to match it with someone."  “Good job, you guys,” said Brian as he began to walk around and around the pool, aimlessly.  Michelle, on the other hand, was sitting down and staring the floor tiles.  After a while, she said something to Bobby, who was right beside her, “I need UV light here.  I think I found some blood.”  “Wiped?” Bobby questioned back inquisitively.  But Michelle did not reply, so Bobby left to his car for the tools.

            Brian, who was on the other side of the pool, shouted loudly, “Hey!  I got a revolver!”  He, with gloves on, picked the 22-caliber revolver out from the thick bushes.  Michelle, without thinking, went to Brian.  Brian opened the revolver up and noticed that there were no bullets missing.  Michelle took the revolver away and kept it in her workbag.

            Back at the Crime Lab, everyone was sitting around the coffee table in the break room, sharing ideas about the case.  Ted Burham, the laboratory man, said that he was able to use Ninhydrin on the revolver for prints, but he could not match it to anyone.  Only if they have some prints to match it with, Ted can work with the revolver, or else the revolver would mean nothing to this case.  After that, Brian talked about Mr. and Mrs. Gavin fighting at the hospital.  This event made him think that either Mr. or Mrs. Gavin is involved in this.  But they knew that they need to find something in order to get their fingerprints, and Brian knew exactly where to go.

            Patrick’s office was very isolated from the others.  Brian walked into his office and had a little conversation with Patrick.  Brian made a request, “I need the address of Mr. Paul Gavin’s office.”  “That shouldn’t be very hard,” Patrick replied as he began to search using his computer.  Few minutes later, he found the address.  He said to Brian, “Got it.  His workplace is at 429,

Averill Street

, Real Estate Building, 7^th Floor.”  “Thanks, Pat…”  Patrick then began staring at Brian.  Brian replied in an apologetic voice, “P...Pat…Patrick.”  He left right after that.

            The Real Estate Building was a huge one.  Michelle and Bobby were assigned to question Mr. Gavin, they made their way to the 7^th floor, which was Mr. Gavin’s office.  As they entered, they saw Mr. Gavin smoking.  “Hey, I thought you aren’t allowed to smoke in here,” called Bobby.  “Oh, sorry… I was just a bit depressed… you know… about my son and my work,” replied Mr. Gavin quickly as he threw the cigarette into the small trash can, which was next to his office desk.  He then said, “How can I help you?”  “I’m Bobby Bigs, and this is Michelle Vernic.  We’re from Crime Lab.  We would like to ask you a few questions,” Bobby replied to the man.  “Sure, why not?  Take a seat,” Mr. Gavin answered.  “Thanks,” replied Michelle as they sat down.

            “Let’s get started, shall we?” asked Bobby distinctly, “The night your son was drowned, where were you?”  “Oh, I was at the shopping center down the road, looking for some stationary supplies,” answered the suspect.  “Can you prove that?” questioned Michelle.  “I don't think anyone can remember my face because I was wearing a hat that night," alleged Mr. Gavin, “Why?”  “Nah, nothing.  We’re just checking,” replied Bobby.  “You think I tried to kill my son?  Aww, come on.  That’s a joke!” Mr. Gavin gagged.  “We’re finding that out,” stated Michelle earnestly.  “Oh, sorry, if you excuse me; I have to go now.  My clients are waiting,” Paul Gavin said promptly as he packed up and left the office.  Before he was gone, he said, “I don’t mind if you take a look around my office, but don’t touch my desk.”  “Thanks!” said Bobby.

            “I guess we’re done here,” called Michelle.  “No we’re not,” replied Bobby, “There’s one more thing.”  After he said that, he walked straight to the trash can and took out his tweezers.  He picked the cigarette butt up and kept it in his bag.  “Smart…” said Michelle, “Let’s see if it matches the one at Gavins’ house, shall we?”