Nevermore

Theorem and I sat across from the sweating, nervous young mare. "C-can I get some water?" she asked. I nodded to Bones and he left to get her some.

"Ms. Flash, I need to know how you found the body of Mr. Tier." Theorem said softly. Bones walked in with a cup of water and gave it to her. She silently thanked him and drank it quickly.

"I-I have an office on the floor below Mr. Tier's... I h-heard a noise, like a short gasp cut off b-by something, above me... I thought Mr. Tier was in trouble." She wiped her eyes. "When I got to the top floor and stepped out of the elevator, somepony pushed past me to get in. I think it was a stallion. And then I walked over to the office, where the d-door was wide open and... Mr. Tier was-" She choked on a sob and put her head on the table.

I put a hoof on her shoulder. "Ma'am, did you see the face of the stallion that pushed past you?"

She slowly looked up at me and nodded. "He had dark blue eyes, almost black. He had a small scar running across his cheek, looked like a cut or something..." she stopped for a second and looked to Bones. "Could I have some more water?" He nodded and grabbed her cup, walking out to get her some more. She turned back to me. "This stallion looked young, probably 19 or 20 if I were to wager a guess. He had this... This look about him. His face had no emotion, but it felt like he was expressing something like.... 'Don't follow me' or something similar to that." She sighed. "I can't believe Mr. Tier is dead... He was a jerk, but he didn't deserve to die!"

Bones returned with the water and handed it to her. I looked at him. "We have some info on our possible killer. Get a sketch artist in here." I looked to Ms. Flash. "Do you remember enough to get a sketch done of him?"

She nodded and drank her water. Bones looked at me. "I think our work here is done. I'll go call the sketch artist."

Theorem smiled and stood up. "Ma'am, thank you for your help." She looked up at him and nodded.

I stood as well. "The sketch artist will be here soon, until then you're free to walk around the building. When he arrives, we'll call you back here."

She looked at me. "Who would do that to a pony?"

"The worst kind of mind. We'll find him and bring him to justice." She smiled softly and mouthed 'thank you' to me. I walked out with Theorem, Ms. Flash walking past us to the small lounge.

Me and Theorem sat outside. He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his coat pocket. I raised an eyebrow. "You smoke?"

"Not anymore, I just usually hold one in my mouth." He grabbed one and placed it between his lips. "So, Raven, what's your story?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I was born in Fillydelphia with two brothers to a nurse and a policecolt. I graduated from secondary school at the age of 16, went into drawing for a while as a hobby, and as a source of mild income." I paused. "My father died when I was 18. He was stabbed trying to stop a mugging. My brothers and I helped our mom cope for two years and then we went our separate ways. My mom became a surgeon earlier this year, and my brothers run a coffee shop in Coltorado. I went into police work instead. Ran the beat for a few years, then I solved a murder and was bumped up to detective." I sighed and looked at him. "What's your story?"

"I was born an orphan, went from foster home to foster home for a while, then I ended up living with a doctor. He taught me everything I know, and encouraged me to get a college education. Which I did. And now I'm head of the Las Pegasus ENDA morgue. Pretty much all there is." He smiled and handed me a piece of gum. I took it and started chewing it. "I feel like this case is far from over."

"You and me both."

"So, you married or have a marefriend or a coltfriend or anything?" he asks, relaxing on the stairs.

"Nah, not too interested in relationships... You?"

"I got a marefriend, she's absolutely wonderful." He chuckles. "One time I got her to bungee jump and she got so scared and I just kept saying 'You'll be fine, as long as the rope holds!'. When it was my turn she threw a fake rope down after me and I thought the rope hadn't been tied. I nearly peed myself, I was so scared. She laughed when I finally realized what she did and told me 'Hey, you'll be fine! The rope holds!'" He laughed. I smiled.

"So, how long have you known Bones?"

"Ever since I was I kid. We were always in the same orphanage whenever I left my foster parents. He was always picked on, but I became his friend and made sure nopony ever messed with him. And we've been best friends ever since." He took the cigarette out of his mouth and tossed it into a trashcan next to him. "So, any idea why someone's killing casino shareholders and co-founders?"

"Getting over a bad hand at poker? Trying to stop ponies from gambling?" I guessed. "I really have no clue."

"Well he isn't gonna stop anytime soon." Theorem said grimly. "I feel like he's gonna keep going until we catch him."

"I agree. We need to find this bastard." I stood up. "I'm gonna check some of the underground fight clubs and back alley dealers after we get the sketch, maybe I can turn up some leads."

"What makes you think he'll be there?" Theorem asked, standing up.

"I always check the seedy places first. Usually, these kind of killers frequent them. Anyway, let's go see how the sketch is going." We walked inside, slowly walking to the interrogation room.

Bones stood outside, holding a rolled-up piece of paper. He handed it to me. I looked at him as I took it. "This our guy?"

He nodded. I unrolled the paper. The drawing was of a stallion with black cropped hair, dark blue eyes (almost black, as Ms. Flash said), a horizontal laceration scar across his left cheek, a short, slightly pointed snout, and a somewhat feminine chin. His expression was one of focus, as if he were completely on point about a task. Theorem whistled. "We got ourselves a pretty boy." he said with a chuckle. "Fucker looks very high and mighty with himself."

"I see anger and focus, no high and mighty here." I say softly. I roll it back up. "Okay, I'll head to downtown, try and rustle up some leads. Either of you wanna come with me?" I looked between Bones and Theorem. They both raised a hoof. "Okay. Get us a carriage." I walked over to the exit and looked back at them. "We're about to catch us a killer." Theorem and Bones smirked at each other and Theorem grabbed his whistle. I smiled. "Come on."