Murder?
“It is easier to commit murder than to justify it.”
Two ponies in a closed room, with a one-way window on the wall, the mirror side facing in. They were sitting across from each other in cold metal chairs. A metal table lay between them, creaking every time it was touched. The pony facing the mirror was a tall and lanky, blue Unicorn with a vibrant green mane, shaking and sweating profusely. On the other side was a short and underweight copper Unicorn with a dirty silver mane, which curls at the ends, wearing her signature overcoat.
“Listen Inspector…” The blue pony said, urgency radiating off of his every word.
The mare calmly interrupted, only a small trace of irritation slipping by. “That’s Memory to you. Mister Cross Section.”
The table creaked and thundered as Cross Section slammed his forehooves onto the metallic surface. “We don’t have time for this, Inspector…” He stopped momentarily to breath in, before agitatedly breathing out. Continuing behind his teeth. “Memory... I killed Wrung Neck, and I fear it may happen again if I’m not stopped.”
Inspector Memory rested her muzzle on her forehooves, which were moved onto the top of the table. “Yes you did shout something about that in the lobby. That is why you are in here. For questioning... or have you forgotten that Mister Cross Section?” She stated calmly, raising an eye.
Noticing her questioning look, Cross gave a quick sheepish smile. “I… guess I forgot about that.” He looked at his reflection in the mirror losing his smile. “Sorry about that.”
With the atmosphere at ease Inspector Memory knew she was pressed for time. “Now as I am a very busy pony. Why don’t you get right down to explaining yourself.” It wasn't a question, but a command.
As if noticing the severity for the first time, Cross readily calmed himself for what he had to say. “All right Memory. But in order to get to that I have to start at the beginning of the week. When I had met Wrung Neck for the first time.”
“That was when you were still in charge at La Crossest right?” She already knew about what had transpired there at the beginning of the week, as she was called in to help with the investigation.
Cross Section shifted in his seat, lowering himself. “Yeah that’s right.”
“Alright go ahead.” She knew that with his telling of what transpired then was going to take time, and waiting for him to start when he felt like it wasn't going to be an option.
“Okay, it had started like every other week…” He started before pausing.
Inspector Memory getting impatient with waiting. “Get on with it,” she commanded.
He shook his head and continued. “Right. Last week I was in my restaurant having an argument with Burns All, he’s the cook.” Inspector Memory nodded for him to continue. “I was having a bad day and Burns is always picking fights with me at every stage. I had gotten fed up with it that day and fired him on the spot.” He paused once again.
Inspector Memory raised a brow. “How did he feel about that?”
Looking toward the corner of the room Cross replied. “He didn't like it all that well. He was furious and stormed out.”
She knew something was off with what he said. But to what degree of off was it? Was it worth pressing into? She decided to wait. “How is it then that you met Miss Wrung Neck?” She wanted to wrap up talking with Cross. She was busy, and had a date with her friend later that night she didn't want to miss. Like last time, her friend was furious at her.
Cross looked down at the table soulfully. “It was right after Burns All quietly left that Wrung Neck came in. She talked to me as soon as she passed through the front door. I didn't know who she was, and I was a little shocked when she told me that she was looking to buy La Crossest.” Pausing for gathering all of his air. “She was offering a ridiculous amount of Bits for my restaurant. An amount that had caused me to nearly say yes, without thinking about it, luckily I didn't.”
Memory slightly confused asked what was on her mind. “How does this help? You could have already told me how you think you murdered the victim.” Cross Section slammed his hooves down onto the table once again.
“I was getting to why it is important but you interrupted me!” Cross Section yelled crossly.
Inspector Memory remained calm and collected, yet unable to hide her irritation. “Then get to it or I’m just going to leave.”
Cross now doing breathing exercises to calm himself. Once calmed he continued. “She tried to get me to sell with a little seduction. After a noble attempt to not pay attention. I was buckled under my tribulation, and fell pray to her trap. I sold La Crossest to her… at a discount. When I left I swore I would murder her.”
Memory sat silent for what Cross felt was an eternity. The room having fallen silent under the pregnant silence, echoed the tiniest of noises. After two minutes Memory finally had something to say. “She… seduced you?” She asked plaintively.
Cross breathed in deep. “That’s right…” He let that breath out, and continued on a normal breathing pattern. “She seduced me into giving up the restaurant.”
--- --- ---
Outside the room two Police Ponies were watching. They were talking back and forth between each other knowing that the two inside the room couldn't hear.
The first Officer, let’s call him Dusty, looked toward the other, let’s call him Rusty, in a state of minimal denial. “Did that actually happen?” Dusty asked his soon to be four year running partner.
“I believe so. Cross Section mentioned a frightening subject for young Inspector Memory.” Rusty replied to his partner in, what could only be described as, his hidden love.
Dusty oblivious to his partner’s love. “It the only thing that seems to affect the young genius. Love.” Rusty felt his heart soar at the mention of love by his partner.
“It is a shame though,” Rusty said.
Intrigued Dusty asked his partner. “What is?”
“That Inspector Memory won’t join the force. She is easily the best that we have ever seen. There isn't a case out there she hasn't been able to solve.” Thinking. He quickly added. “At least not yet.”
Rusty broke into a small chuckle. “Hehehe… Yeah, there hasn't been anything she couldn't solve yet.” He had agreed with his partner, who was looking at him with yearn. Rusty completely oblivious to his partner’s constant subtle advances.
--- --- ---
Memory sat there in silence, face beat red, while Cross explained on about nothing in particular. “I mean yes she was tall and all, if not a little big, but I just couldn't let somepony with so much money slip past my hooves… unsanctioned. It must have truly been the worst day of my life.”
“Don’t even get me started on Burns All, he has at one point almost burnt us all. All of us inside of the restaurant that is… not everyone in Equestria, because that would be…”
“Shut up.” Memory recovering from her… daze, interrupted the poor fool. “Just tell me the way you murdered her.”
“Right,” he answered, bummed that he couldn't relieve stress. “It was yesterday night. I had met up with Miss Wrung Neck to finalize the business deal and have dinner. A noise from the alleyway got her attention, and she rushed right in… naturally I followed her into the alleyway.”
Memory narrowed her eyes, clearly bored. Cross continued to weave his account. “When I had gotten fully into the alleyway, I found that it was dark and I couldn't see. After a short while of walking, blinded in the dark, did I find Miss Neck.”
The mare sighed. “And? If you didn't find anything wrong then you wouldn't have mentioned the alleyway so many times. What happened? Make it quick.”
Cross gulped. “Right… she was perfectly fine, something fell into my eyes directly after that, and my vision had a shade of red to it…”
“What shade of red?” Memory interrupted briskly.
Cross Section sat for a moment. “Crimson I believe. But what does that have to do…”
Memory interrupted again. “Get on with it.”
Cross gulped again. “With the red in my vision I felt anger. The next thing I remember after feeling my anger was waking up early this morning with Miss Neck dead in front of me.”
“Alright we’re done here.” Memory declared. “Open the door.” She commanded.
A few seconds later the door opened and two Police Stallions stood at attention. Memory made her way to the door. “I've wrapped up the case. I’ll tell it to the chief tomorrow. Tell 'im that I’m going to be busy tonight, and that he isn't to disturb,” she told the two officers.
“Copy that Ma’am.” The dusty officer affirmed.
--- --- ---
An Hour Later:
Memory rushed through the front door of a busy restaurant. The restaurant that her friend had told her was going to be their meeting place this evening. She was ten minutes late, not bad considering most of the time she misses the meeting entirely.
She nervously scanned the restaurant floor for her friend, while a uniformed waitress smiled at her. “How may I help you t… Ma’am?” Memory completely ignoring the waitress had spotted her friend and started walking.
It wasn't until the waitress stretched her hoof out and nearly made contact with Memory did she finally notice her. “My friend is over there waiting for me.” The waitress frowned, this wasn't the first time someone had said that to her today.
“Likely story Ma’am, but I’m going to have to ask that your ‘friend’ to acknowledge that you are here. Otherwise you will have to pay for a table.” The waitress said matter-of-factly.
Memory’s friend noticing what was happening from the table couldn't help but giggle. She drew in a little attention to herself. Once she was finished she made her way to the front entrance, where Memory was about to be thrown out. “She’s with me Miss Ready Made.”
The waitress Ready Made motioned for security to back away. “If you say so Miss Quill.” Ready Made said politely while also politely smiling.
Memory, ashamed, eyes cast on the ground. “Thanks Fantasy. I don’t know what I would have done if you didn't help.”
Fantasy Quill giggled again. “Inspector Memory you may be a genius crime solver, but when it comes to dealing with other ponies, who I will add aren't suspects. You’re terrible and idiotic,” she said bluntly.
Memory tried to hide her pain, since her friend call her idiotic. Fantasy Quill waved for Memory to follow. The whisper’s of the waitress and security ponies could be heard.
“Did she say Inspector Memory, like the Inspector Memory? The Inspector Memory that the police go to when they stumble upon a case that they can’t solve?”
“Did you see how Miss Quill casually talked to her as if she were…” Anything else was drowned out by murmurs in the restaurant and space.
Fantasy stopped near the private table and turned toward Memory. She moved her head out and closed her eyes, lips drawn together. Memory knew what was about to happen, but it didn't stop her from blushing a dark shade of red. She leaned in until their lips touched, and closing her eyes once she knew contact would happen.
After a short while Fantasy broke off the kiss. “You’re getting better,” she purred with a soft smile. She pointed a hoof toward the table. Memory obediently took a seat across from the now sitting Fantasy.
Once seated Fantasy smiled. “I already ordered for both of us. I got ‘Crupid Salad’ and ordered you the ‘Deluxe Ice Cream.’ I know how much you like ice cream after all. Besides you always insist on eating sugary food. Yet you hardly eat at all,” Fantasy dropped her smile and looked sternly at Memory. “You need to eat more.”
Memory was lost in Fantasy’s voice. Almost forgetting that she had to also talk. “I know. I know," she snapped. "It is just that I get caught up in a case and forget.” She explained sheepishly. Fantasy smiled again, Memory could tell she knew something. “What is it you are thinking?”
“Word on the street says that you have already solved the case of Wrung Neck’s murder,” she whispered in reply. Memory quickly hide her surprise.
“Where did you hear that? It hasn't been released to the public yet.”
Fantasy grinned in return. “Who did it was it the ex-owner?”
Memory started to explain the case to her ‘friend’ carefully keeping her voice down. "The body had knife gashes deep in the body, it is believed to be a butcher knife." With that she finished explaining, and a waiter dropped off their food. Memory having not eaten anything in two days, quickly started to dig into her food.
Fantasy had taken a slower approach than her ‘friend.’ “Do you like it?”
Memory only nodded a reply, she was to busy eating to speak.
“Hmmn… I knew you would like it. I’m glad,” she said smiling. Then her smile turned devious. “I just about finished a book, where this Mare learns that she is deeply in love with bondage.”
Immediately Memory’s face flushed red. Slowly she swallowed what was in her mouth. “Couldn't you have told me that after we finished eating?” She whimpered, even if she was embarrassed she was glad that she could listen to Fantasy Quill’s soft voice.
“Aww,” Fantasy said upset. Quickly smiling she added. “But it is fun to tease you. I just love the way your face turns to those different shades of red.” She looked at the ceiling for a brief amount of time. “I can’t believe the way he killed her.”
Memory, whose face was still red, took another bite of her ice cream. “Yeah. I don’t find cases like this one very often, it didn't help that Cross believed he was the killer.”
Fantasy smiled again. Then the Pegasus took out a piece of paper, set it on the table. “Here read this,” she didn't order it, but it wasn't saying either. All the while with a smile on her face.
Memory floated the piece of paper to her, when she read what was on it her face turned the deepest shade of red. Her concentration slipped and the piece of paper fell to the ground. Fantasy arose from her seat started toward the door, she glanced at Memory with a look that said. ‘Follow me.’ Memory’s face was still a deep red color, she rose from her seat and followed quietly behind Fantasy.
After paying they left together. A member of the staff cleaning the table found a note. This is what it said.
‘I’m looking forward to tonight.
-F.Q.
P.s. I love you.’
Author's Note
Edit: I thought I should clarify something, just in case, Cross Section is not the killer.
