An Author's Pen/Transcript

*Derek*: Hey, good morning <Rank> <Name>. I hope you're feeling refreshed after that last case.

*Derek*: The chief has already assigned us our next case; a man has been murdered in his own home office!

*Derek*: Let's go and check it out. We can take Simpson with us to help crowd control if necessary!

## Chapter 1

**Investigate Richard's Home Office**

*Derek*: Oh, gross, <Name>! That guy has been stabbed in the eye with a fancy type of pen. That's both gross and painful!

*Derek*: What do we know about the victim, Simpson?

*Simpson*: His name is Richard Delacroix, local author. His P.A found the body. A Miss Jane Fletcher. I'll make sure she sticks around so you and <Name> can speak with her, Inspector.

*Derek*: Good work. What have you found, <Rank>?

*Derek*: Nice. A box of old letters. It looks like fan mail to me. Might be some juicy stuff in their. I'll let you look through it, <Name>.

*Derek*: And a smashed device? Excellent! If you put it back together, we can send it to our tech whizz for more info.

*Derek*: We might have to speak with the Delacroix' again, <Name>. If we do come across one or two, I promise I'll be on my best behaviour. One of their own was murdered, so we need to be respectable!

**Analyse Victim's Body**

*Dr Shields*: Oh boy, this guy has been put through the ringer.

*Dr Shields*: The fountain pen was definitely the murder weapon. It cut right through his right eye and straight into his brain. Died within minutes.

*Derek*: Anything on the body that can help us identify Richard's killer, Wendie?

*Dr Shields*: Not on the body, no. But your killer had scratched themselves on the sharp bit of the pen before stabbing it into your victim.

*Dr Shields*: The blood is that of O+, not a match for your victim!

*Derek*: Great findings, Wendie! <Name>, make sure to take note that we are looking for a killer with O+ blood!

**Examine Box of Letters**

*Derek*: Hey, <Rank>, do you find these letters suspiciously disturbing as well?

*Derek*: All of them addressed to the victim, written by a Rita Somerville.

*Derek*: Huh. Apparently, Miss Somerville has been warned by the police a few dozen times to stay away from Richard and his property as he finds her "unstably dangerous".

*Derek*: Alright <Name>, that settles this hunch. Let's go speak to Rita about her obsession with the victim.

**Examine Smashed Device**

*Derek*: You are getting better at that, <Name>.

*Derek*: This could have belonged to the victim, but there might be information on this thing that could be useful to the investigation.

*Derek*: Let's swing by the lab and meet with Shauna. She's not long back from her vacation. As our tech expert, she'll be able to crack into this thing in no time!

**Analyse Sashed Device**

*Shauna(excitedly)*: It's so great to finally meet you, <Rank> <Name>. Been waiting so long for Derek to get a new partner!

*Derek(embarrassed)*: Hi, Shauna. What did you get from the tablet?

*Shauna(laughing)*: For starters, this is an e-reader, not a tablet!

*Shauna*: It didn't belong to the victim as I looked through his entire purchase history. He was totally anti-tech.

*Shauna*: Whoever this belongs to was definitely in a rush. They had taken it with them to the victim's house and broke approximately when he died.

*Shauna*: I can't tell who it belongs to. The owner covered their tracks. But this most certainly belongs to the killer!

*Derek*: Thanks, Shauna! Let's go and find this killer, <Name>! They'll have plenty of time to read behind bars.

**Ask Jane Fletcher about her employer**

*Jane(crying1)*: I just can't believe he's gone. I've not stopped shaking since I found him!

*Derek(politely)*: We are very sorry for your loss, Jane. Is there anyone you can think of who held a grudge against Richard?

*Jane*: No. He wasn't very social when it came to parties and author gatherings. He only left the house to attend publisher meetings and to get some fresh air.

*Derek*: And you were his assistant, correct?

*Jane*: Yes. I've worked for him since his third book launch. I loved his writing. I would sit and watch him at his typewriter whenever I had a free moment.

*Derek*: Would you say your relationship with Richard was always professional, or was there something more there?

*Jane(angry)*: You can't ask me questions like that. Our relationship was purely professional. Nothing more and nothing less.

*Derek*: I'm sorry Jane but we have to ask questions like that. I'm sure you understand.

*Jane(arms-crossed)*: Save your questions for the killer, <Rank>. Why anyone would kill Richard Delacroix is way beyond me!

**Speak to Rita Somerville about her obsession with the victim**

*Derek*: Morning Rita, thanks for agreeing to meet us at your home.

*Rita(sad)*: The city has lost a great man today. Richard Delacroix was a writing God. Even better than Shakespeare himself!

*Derek*: Right... can you explain why you sent so many letters to the victim, periodically?

*Rita*: That's called fan-mail, detectives. It's not a crime to send him a couple of letters a week.

*Derek*: It is when they are borderline stalky.

*Rita(laughs)*: I didn't just send him letters admiring him! Did you see the photos I sent of me holding up my new e-reader? I bought it so I could read the special editions of his books!

*Rita(annoyed)*: It annoyed me when he moved into the Hotel Cyrus a few months ago while his apartment was getting fumigated. It cost me an arm and a leg to send mail to that fancy hotel.

*Derek*: The Hotel Cyrus? Jane didn't mention that when we spoke to her. Let's head there now, <Name>. Thanks for the tip, Rita.

*Rita*: Yeah, no problem. Let me know when his apartment block is free of cops. Myself and some fellow fans want to make a R.I.P vigil for Richard's memory.