Inheritance of Shadows [Hugo Vlad x Fem!OC]

Chapter 5: The Impaler of the Museum Murder case?!

Adriel rushed into the scene, his behaviour seemingly frantic. "What's going on?"

He watched the gruesome scene before him, mouth wide open.

Yukari returned her rapier to its enclosed form and slipped it right under the sleeve of her arm. She kneels down, scanning below the body to check for any clues before the event happened. Not much. Afterwards, stood up and patted around his body, and felt a card inside of his pockets. She swiped it out, and it was a note saying:

Meet me outside of the building.

— TOPS

'What on earth is TOPS' goal? And why does he have this with him?'

Yukari was about to press her fingers to the man's neck, but then she noticed the markings on his neck, there were signs of restraints and scratches. He must've died before getting dragged up to this statue. But that wouldn't be right... How would they be able to hang him up there?

She scanned around for more clues, until her eyes landed on an opened up helmet of an armored statue. She walked over to it and peeped inside. A long rope as she pulled it out. She glanced up, and a chandelier was in place, swinging with improper imbalance.

"Did he...actually strangle him first then impale him up to the sword?" Yurina asked, sweat forming on the sides of her forehead, ears curving down.

Yukari pondered before answering, "Seems like it. Carrying the victim to the wall sounds harder than lifting it up using some leverage. It makes sense this way."

She then returned to checking the rest of the body's conditions. She muttered under her breath, "Rigor mortis just started in the jaw... he's been dead for about an hour. Time of death... around 7:50 PM, maybe slightly earlier." She double checked her phone time.

Adriel stiffened beside her. "That early?"

She nodded, eyes sharp. "Long before anyone noticed. Which means the killer had time to walk away clean."

She turned to the nearest officer. "Tell the rest of the officers to seal the building. No one leaves."

"But the event-" he started.

"I said no one leaves," she snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument. "That includes the museum staff. Get a list of everyone in the building right now. I want to speak with the brothers who run this place. All of them."

The officer nodded and rushed off.

Yukari stepped away from the body, her gaze scanning the room with renewed focus.

Someone in here knows more than they're letting on.

The officer brings in the two brothers and a few other people who were working. Yukari told Yurina to ask them where they had been and what they were doing. It didn't seem like a lot of staff was here apart from the officers that Adriel ordered them to keep an eye out of. From the looks of it, there were only five suspects. Three of them had a valid alibi, but the brothers didn't. While Yukari was concluding the interview with the two brothers, the inspector from the criminal investigation was called by Yukari, and arrived shortly to the scene. The investigation was moved to his team for now.

"Officer Yukari Yuki from the Fraud Investigations department, at your service!" She reintroduced herself for mannerism.

Yurina repeated after her, "Officer Yurina Yuko, at your service as well!" Before leaving once again to confirm the cameras and footage.

Criminal Inspector Nero smiled faintly, his tone crisp and composed.

"Oho, glad to see you two here—especially you, Yukari."