Names have been changed to protect identities, any similarities to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. :)
Detective Kenji wondered how he let himself get talked into this? He, of all people, organizing a ZYF reunion. Things had gone haywire from the very start. Reservations were misplaced, the reception room was too small, and the dinner menu was mysteriously changed from grilled salmon to tuna.
The resort conspired against him as well. Guests had longwalks due to the resurfacing of the driveway at the entrance, and the water main had ruptured at 6:00 P.M., temporarily shutting off the water.
Then there was the murder!
It happened at about 7:15 P.M. A high-pitched scream reverberated through the crowded reception hall. Kenji was standing beside the doorway talking to an old girlfriend(who???) when Charmaine burst through a pair of doors.
"Muffin is dead!" she cried. Then she collapsed.
"You take care of Charmaine," Kenji told his old friend. "I'll check on Muffin."
Kenji rushed into the atrium, a flowery showplace with waterfalls and fountains enclosed in a massive glass structure. He followed the stone path until he found Muffin, lying crossways, his head in a bed of geraniums. No question he was dead. A cursory examination revealed that he had been hit in the back of the head. Nearby was a piece of decorative brown sandstone about the size of a volleyball, covered with blood.
Carefully lifting the stone, Kenji inspected then replaced it. He took out a handkerchief, wiped the sand from his hands, then surveyed the surrounding area. Along the path, he noticed small black circles, each circle containing a circular swirl pattern. The circles were approximately an inch-and-a-half in diameter and spaced roughly two feet apart.
"I am shocked," the concierge said, when informed of the death. "A murder at our resort. How can I help, detective?"
"Guests have to use their key cards in order to enter the atrium. Can you get me a list of all the people who entered within the past hour?"
"The atrium was closed until the water main was repaired. It's only been open 15 minutes." The concierge tapped a few keys in his computer and came up with three room numbers, including the victim's.
Nicklaus Yu was immediately on the defensive. "Sure I was in the atrium," he replied. "Why are you picking on me?"
"I'm not picking on you(yeah yeah)," Kenji assured him.
"Everybody picks on me. You remember how it was in JC. Girls laughed because I worked at Elsie's Kitchen and had grease under my fingernails."
"How did Muffin treat you?"
"The same way that jerk treated everybody. Now that he's rich I imagine he's even worse."
"Why were you in the atrium?"
"I felt out of place around all these people in their thousand dollar suits. I wanted to be alone, just me and my Liverpool soccer boots. I was sitting next to the fountain drinking a brew, feeling sorry for myself."
"Did you see or hear anything?"
"No, the splashing water was too loud."
Kenji asked to see the bottom of his boots and Nicklaus obliged. The heels were small, almost square, and held no trace of black residue. The men shook hands and Kenji moved on.
The second room on the list belonged to Joseph Tee, former football star. Kenji saw him at a nearby table and walked over. "How've you been, Joe?" he asked as they shook hands.
"Been fine," Joe answered. "Except for this bum knee. I hurt it at YF Camp, and it gets worse every year. Can't get around at all without this blasted walking cane, and not very far then."
Kenji wiped his hands on his trousers and realized that it probably made him look nervous. "I gotta ask you some questions, Joe. What were you doing in the atrium?"
"What do you mean?"
"You were in there about the time it happened. If I remember correctly, you and Charmaine dated in JC."
"Yeah, until Muffin stepped in. We were going to be married after university. I had that SAF scholarship you know?"
"I know."
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to move my vehicle. Seems the management objects to it being parked at the entrance, even though I am disabled."
"One more thing. Can I see the bottom of your cane?"
Joe shrugged and lifted his cane. The straight wooden shaft ended a flat wooden end. No black stain.
"Thanks," Kenji said and watched the ex-athlete limp away.
Finally, he walked over to where Charmaine was resting and gently took her hands.
"Maine, I have to ask you a few questions. Tell me what happened."
She wiped at her eyes. "Muffin and I were arguing about everything lately. It didn't matter what. Tonight we called a truce and went for a stroll in the atrium. That's when he told me. Muffin was going to file for divorce as soon as we returned to Gardens."
"Why? Another woman maybe?(WTC???)"
"He didn't say."
"What did you do?"
"I slapped him and walked away. I was still in the atrium, as far away as I could get. I was crying. And then I heard a noise, like something falling. When I went back, I found him."
"Can I see the bottom of your shoes, Maine? Just routine."
Kenji inspected the round heels. They were about the right size and scuffed, but free of any black marks. He thanked her, then walked over to an empty table to review his notes.
Kenji's old girlfriend(who?) joined him. "It couldn't have been one of our classmates?" It was a statement, but phrased as a question. "One of us a killer?"
Kenji shook his head. "I strongly suspect so. And I think I know who...
Who Killed Muffin? And how did gay boy Kenji know???
