Terror+in+the+Skies

"Terror in the Skies" by Dawson and John

It was a chilly December night in Toronto, Canada. A Southwest airplane had just landed in a nearby airport. After the landing, flight attendants checked around for any left over or sleeping passengers while cleaning the bathrooms and aisle ways. While checking the first class bathroom, a flight attendant noticed that the door was locked. She got a key to open the door. Once she opened the door what she saw was beyond amazement. There was a dead body prostrate along the floor. Steve Erving, a Canadian detective, and his assistant, Rob Herring, were called up to the plane that was set aside for further review by Southwest Airlines. Steve and Rob arrived at the crime scene early in the morning at the airport through their local bus. The two accomplices stepped in the plane with a curious mentality. Rob and Steve walked into the bathroom. “  Wow pretty gory,” Rob said. “  It is a very modern bathroom,” Steve inquired. “  Who is this man?” Rob questioned. “  I have done some research on this case, and found it is Bob Stevens, a real estate agent,” Steve replied. “  Did he have a family?” Rob asked. “  Yes, he had a wife and two children,” Steve answered. “  What a life,” Rob replied. “  Hey Rob check for fingerprints while I observe the body.” Steve ordered. “  Okay master, whatever you say,” Rob sassed. “  Rob, eat a Snickers you turn into a diva when you're hungry,” Steve ordered. “  Fine,” Rob replied. Rob ate the Snickers and they were ready to go. They went to work. Rob checked around the sink; looking for any smudge. At this time, Steve analyzed the body. He figured that the man had brown hair, was of middle age, and was of a taller structure. Observing closer, he found that the victim was stabbed in the neck with a knitting needle as the needle was lodged in the man’s neck. During this time, Rob was checking the toilet for fingerprints. “  Apparently the Snicker’s just made you more stupid,” Steve exclaimed while looking over at what Rob was doing. “Go to work on the faucet instead.” There was a pregnant pause as Rob stood there staring at Steve. He soon started back on the toilet. “  When you’re done, let’s head back to the lab to find any evidence on the samples.”   “   Steve I found a fingerprint!” Rob squealed. “  Really, on the toilet?” Steve replied. “  Ya I will get the toilet seat of the toilet so we can take it back to the lab to examine it,” Rob laughed. “  Okay whatever you think is right, but we should get going,” Steve answered. “  I have the seat; let’s go,” Rob said. Entering their lab, Steve questioned, “What do you make of it all Rob?”  “   Other than the fingerprints, absolutely nothing.” Rob admitted “What about you....Sherlock?”   “   The body was interesting yet deceptive. I have found that the man was of the ages of his 40’s or 50’s. The body was set in the way that it could not have been thrown to the ground or beaten as he had a peculiar needle lodged in his neck. I have taken the needle from its place for samples of the blood and of any possible fingerprints. We should go to the lab to examine some of these things,” Steve answered. At the lab they found that all of the fingerprints belonged to an elderly lady named Betty Brown. She was around 70 years of age according to Rob’s dating site. “  Aha! I found the murderer! I knew it all along!” exclaimed Rob. “  Shut up Rob. She’s an old lady. She has trouble getting on the toilet, and it is most likely that she did not murder that fellow Bob because I would think that she would only use the needles for knitting. We really don’t know anything yet until we start the interviews.” “  Okay then who should we interview first,” Rob said. “  Well we should check the airplane seating chart to find someone near the first class bathroom,” Steve answered. “  Where can I get that?” Rob asked. “  You just have to go back to the airport and ask the Southwest Airline people to give us the seating chart of that flight,” Steve answered. “  Let’s go,” Rob said. They headed out to the airport, and when they got there they went straight to the Southwest Airlines section. They got the seating chart of the flight the murder occurred on. They found that the person closest to the first class bathroom where the murders occurred was Michael Clarke. They were able to call him to the airport with Rob’s cell phone. Michael Clarke arrived that evening in an office at the airport. He was a man of good nature who seemed to be truthful with every word that came out of his 6ft frame. “  Good afternoon Mr. Clarke. I am Detective Steve Erving and this is my assistant Rob Herring. Are you up for a few questions?” Steve introduced. “  Sure,” replied Michael. “  Ok, now describe the flight.”   “   The flight took off at about 7:00 or 7:30 pm on January 27th. I sat by myself until a late rider came on board,”  “   Describe this man.” interrupted Steve. “  Without being too rapacious, he was a potbellied pig for all he cared for was his snacks and slumber. He could have not been the killer because he stayed in his seat all the time and I was glad for that because he might have squashed me on his ways in and out.” There was a pregnant pause as Steve and Rob eyeballed each other. Then Michael pulled out a Snicker’s. “  Could I have some of that?” Rob questioned. “  Sure,” Michael answered. He pulled off half of the bar, and handed it to Rob. “  Thank you,” Rob bellowed as he bit down into the bar. “  Well Michael did you hear any odd noises or sounds during the flight?” Steve asked. “  I did hear a noise that sounded like a lock locking. There was also complaints about the bathroom door being locked; which seemed odd to me,” Steve replied. “  Interesting. Did you see who walked out of the bathroom after the locking noise?” Steve questioned. “  No I did not. I looked over at the door when I heard it, but didn’t see anyone,” Steve answered. “  Well I really appreciate your help. Is there anyone else I could ask for more details?” Steve asked. “  The flight attendant may be able to help you,” Michael replied. “  Thank you Michael your help is greatly appreciated,” Steve bellowed. Michael walked away; leaving Steve and Rob alone. “  Well we should probably speak to the flight attendant,” Steve declared. “  Okay, I’ll find her phone number at the Southwest Airline desk,”Rob said. He walked off toward the desk. Steve was left alone to think about the last interview. “  Steve I found the number; can I call her?” Rob questioned. “  Sure,” Steve replied. Rob dialed the phone, and told her to come to the Airport. She arrived late in the evening. She had an elegant style and had that fiery red hair. Rob almost lost it but Steve calmed him down. “  Hello miss how are you today?” Steve asked. “  Great thanks for asking,” she replied. “  Excuse me miss, but what is your name?” Steve questioned. “  Susan Susaan,” she answered. “  Well I have a few questions for you. Is that okay?” Steve asked. “  That is just fine,” Susan replied. “  Ok then, was there anything suspicious about the flight yesterday? Sights? Sounds? Anything?” asked Steve. “  Obviously it was not normal because there was a murder. But there was the normal second-class passengers that tried to break into the first class bathroom.” “  Can you describe some of these people?” Steve interrupted. “  There was one lady who really stuck out to me. She was an elderly lady with knitting needles. She looked to me to be around 70 years of age. I believe she got into the bathroom when I was in the back of the plane, because she was heading that way when I was passing out beverages,” Susan stated. “  Well I believe we found our culprit. I new it was her,” Rob said. “  Don’t get too excited Rob. There may be someone else. Do you know where Bob Stevens was sitting and when he went to the bathroom.?” Steve asked. “  I do not know when he went to the bathroom, but I do know he was sitting in the first class,” Susan replied. “  You have been a big help to us. You may leave,” Steve stated. “  Thank you for having me,” Susan said. She then walked away leaving Rob and Steve alone. “  Well we need to get Betty over here so we can arrest her,” Rob said. “  I’m not to sure it was her Rob, but we can bring her out here. First I need some sleep it’s late. Good night Rob,” Steve walked out without another word. Rob left soon after. The next morning they both met each other back at the airport office. “  Hello Rob, how did you sleep?”questioned Steve. “  I slept horrible, I need another Snicker's.” “  I'll get one at the vendors while you call Betty Brown.” Steve inquired. Steve walked away to the vendors for the Snicker's while Rob dialed up Betty. Steve walked back to find Rob. He saw Rob screaming into the phone, “Get over here right now! We are to arrest you this instant!” Steve ripped the phone out of his hands and took over the phone. “Sorry, ma’am, my partner is very unprofessional at times. All we need you for is an interview on the case of the killing of Bob Stevens on the flight that you were presumably on.” Steve apologized. “Yes, yes, that's fine. Sorry again for my partner.” said Steve as he hung up. “What were you thinking! We can't jump to conclusions yet. We need still more information.” “I'm sorry Steve, but I'm feeling really good about this one.” Rob argued. “Well maybe a little bit too good. Turn it down a notch.” ordered Steve. After waiting several minutes, Betty finally walked into the  airport office. She was a “big-boned” woman who looked of elderly age. She was met by Rob standing right in her face with handcuffs, “Put your hands behind your head and you have the right to remain silent! Anything you do or say will be used against you in court!” “Rob sit down! One more incident and I will remove you from this case.” ordered Steve. “I'm sorry, again, for my partners actions. Now lets get down to business.” Steve exclaimed. “Hello, I will now ask you some questions. Describe your experience on the flight.” “I feel that the flight was odd. It was normal until I had to use the lavatory. I did not know that I could not go in the first class bathroom as a second class passenger that I was. Knitting is my favorite hobby and of course, I had taken it on the plane to pass the time. I'm very protective of my knitting needles and did not feel comfortable leaving them in my seat so I took them in my hand to the bathroom. I went in side to find it slippery with a substance that hope not discover. I slipped and had to catch myself on the toilet seat. I felt scared for my health that I would be injured so it took me a while to get refocused. I soon became refocused but because of all the racket I made, I caught the attention of a flight attendant. She walked in and helped me up to escort me back to my seat. On my way back to my seat I caught the eye of a middle aged man waiting to go in the first class bathroom that I had just left. After sitting down and reflecting on what just happened, I realized that I had dropped and forgotten my knitting needles. So, I went back to the restroom urgently to grab them. When I tried to open the door, I noticed that it was locked. I went back to my seat and did not leave for the remainder of the flight.” “Can you please describe the man who you saw waiting by the bathroom?” questioned Steve. “  I cannot quite remember completely, but I do know that he was fairly tall and looked to be about middle aged.” Betty answered. “Rob, do you still have that seating chart?” Steve questioned hurriedly. “Yes I do, its right here Steve.” Rob said as he handed Steve the chart. Steve observed the chart ferociously wi  th a close eye. “Rob, I believe I've found the murderer.” exclaimed Steve. “Finally, you've realized that its the lady right in front of you!” Rob inquired. “No! Your wrong! Its Susan Susaan, the flight attendant.” Steve screamed. “How?” Rob ordered. “When we first went to the crime scene I noticed that the Bob Stevens was a tall man of the middle age. Based on Betty’s descriptions, she saw Bob Stevens, the man that was murdered. When Michael Clarke told me that he heard a locking noise, and turned around and didn’t see anything , I became suspicious. It seemed impossible to not be seen by him turning around immediately. The noise he heard concluded to be the locking of the door and proved to be suspicious. The only person that would have access to the keys on the plane would be a employee, or in this case the flight attendant. Betty’s knitting needles left in the bathroom were used by Susan Susaan, the flight attendant, to kill Bob Stevens. My theory of someone escaping Michael Clarke’s eyesight was correct; except that Susan Susaan was an employee and was able to escape into the staff lounge located right across from the first class bathroom. I didn’t notice this until I saw the seating chart just now,” Steve declared. “Wow Steve you really are amazing,” Rob said in a daze. “Thank you very much, but lets go arrest this girl,” S  teve sighed. Steve and Rob called up the police went to Susan Susaan's house to arrest her. When they got there, Rob kicked down the door with gun cocked and pointed and ran in the house like a mad man. Rob frightened Susan enough so that Steve and the police could easily arrest her. The police took the criminal away in the van, leaving Rob and Steve. Steve made sure to give Rob a Snickers for his courageous actions.