Chapter 8 The Detectives

An excerpt from The Titanium Mysteries Book 1: What Is She Doing Here?

Julian was sitting in the office alone. He reviewed the evidence and all the known suspects so far. He saw Zeta’s image again and sighed. Zelda walked in.

“What’s wrong, Jule?”

“Oh!” He gestured towards Zeta’s image.

“Oh, she is pretty.”

“You’re not helping.”

“You know I like women just as you do.”

“I know.”

“We do have an appointment with her today.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, so we need to get going after we finish reviewing the data.”

“Right. What she told me checks with the records. Phillipe hired her as a ghostwriter. Look how much he’s paid her already before the book is ready for release.”

“Wow.”

“I’m sure she will be fine for quite some time.”

Zelda nodded. “She seems to be the only one who doesn’t have a motive.”

“No reason to kill the victim. Interesting.”

“Let’s go.”

They left the office and took the hovercar to Zeta’s place. Zelda landed the car outside the stone wall. She looked at Julian. He sighed. They got out of the car and walked to the gate. She pressed the button to be admitted.

“Who is it?”

“Detectives Julian and Zelda.”

The gate opened. The detectives walked inside the property. They saw the lone tiny house. They approached. Zelda knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

They entered to find Zeta sitting at her desk. The inside was cosy. The detectives saw her crutches in their designated place. Julian turned back to Zeta and looked down at her feet. She wasn’t wearing her shoes and he could see her braces.

“Can you run?” he asked.

“Not anymore.”

“That’s why you couldn’t get out fast enough.”

Zeta nodded. “Phillipe told me to run and get out as fast as I could.”

“Did you see him get murdered?” asked Julian.

Zeta shook her head. “I asked him why and he said he couldn’t tell me. But he urged me to leave. So I did.”

The detectives took notes.

“Did you know Jessa or Toni?” asked Julian.

“I’ve met both of them. I don’t know either one well.”

“What do you think of them?” Julian looked right at Zeta.

“Toni was always professional and business like with me. Jessa never liked me. I don’t want to have anything to do with her.”

Julian looked to Zelda.

Zelda asked, “Did you like working for Phillipe?”

Zeta shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t know him that long. He tried to tell me jokes and flirt with me. I didn’t care for the flirting. Although he didn’t do it as much in the end.”

Zelda nodded. “That’s all our questions for now. Don’t leave the planet, we may need to contact you again.”

“Okay. I’ll stay here and work as I usually do.”

The detectives nodded to her and left her house and the property.