Cyber Murders

8/14/2019 Cyber Murders

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1 CyberMurders

Cyber Murders

Written by Ambikesh Mishra


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I

SituatedontheoutskirtsofthecityofDenver,inthestateofColoradowastheesteemedinstituteof

detectiveartsfoundedbytherenownedinvestigatorDanSmithwhowasatpresenttheprincipalof

theschool.

The

institutes

aim

was

to

groove

and

shape

the

future

of

the

promising

detective

talents

selectedfromalloverthecountry.Thestudentsunderwentvigoroustrainingsessionsandmind

wobblingtestswhichtrulyseparatedthegoldfromscrap.Onesuchclasswhichhadwithstoodthe

hurricaneandhadbeenabletotackleeverytediousassignmenthandeddowntothemwasClass

B.

Theschoolsbuildingwasoldbutwellmaintained.Ithadfourfloorsallottedtodifferent

classes.ThesecondfloorbelongedtoclassBwhichcomprisedofonlyfivestudentsnamely

Edward,Sera,Ronald,AllanandJack.Sinceitwas8oclockinthemorning,theyhadgatheredinthe

theoryclassroomandwereawaitingtheirteacherMrLee.ItwasacoldDecembermorningandit

wasquite

chilly

outside

but

the

heating

system

was

keeping

the

classroom

warm

and

cosy.

The

room

wasfartoospaciousforonlyfivestudentsandtherewerephotographsoffamousdetectiveshung

onthewalls.Italsohadamarblefloordecoratedwithmosaicart.Anoldchandelierhunginthe

centreoftheceilingaspreviouslythishadbeenhometoarichhousehold.Tothesurpriseofany

observer,therewasnoblackboardlikethereisineverytraditionalclassroom.

Jackwasstillhalfasleepashehadbeenworkinglateatthegasstation.Allanhoweverwas

fullyrousedplayingSnakesandLaddersonhislaptopagainstEdwhohadchallengedhimontheirwaytoschool.Serabeinganobedientstudentwerecompletinghernoteswhichshehadmissedthe

daybeforeduetoanastycold.Ronnie,incontrasttohismateswhowerebusyissomesortofwork

hadbeen

gazing

out

of

the

window

observing

vehicles

go

by.

Their

activities

were

interrupted

by

the

entranceofamiddleagedmanonawheelchairwhomtheyimmediatelyrecognizedasPrincipal

Dan.Hehadbeencrippledduetoinjuriessustainedduringacasewhichhadforcedhimtoquitasa

professionaldetective.Itwasnotveryoftenwhenthehighchiefshowedupinclassesinplaceofthe

usualteachers.

ClassB,Ihaveanassignmentforyou.hespokehurriedly.

Really?askedEdcuriously.

Yes

and

stop

interrupting

me

Edward.

Thats

disrespectful.

You

and

Mr.

Ronald

are

being

sent

as

high school students in a public school in Atlanta to investigate a case inwhich amurderwas

broadcastedliveontheinternet.

What,areyouserious?askedAllanwithanoteofbewildermentinhisvoice.

Youheardmeright.Recently,astudentnamedHermioneGarciahaddisappeared from thegirls

hostel.Twodayslateramessagehadcomeupontheschoolsonlineforumwhichmentionedatime

atwhichshewasgoingtobekilled.Atexactlythetimementioned,avideoclipstreamedonthenet

inwhichshewasbashedwithachampagnebottlecausinggrievouswoundsresultinginsevereblood

lossandultimately inherdeath.The locationwhere thiscrime tookplace is stillunknownas the

victimwas

gagged

and

tied

to

achair

in

front

of

abare

black

wall.

The

police

tracked

down

the

IP


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(InternetProtocol)addressfromwherethismoviehadbeenuploadedandfoundittobeofacyber

cafe.Sinceitisalwayscrowded,itisverydifficultidentifyoneparticularpersonwhovisitedthecafe

ataparticulartime.SoIamaskingEdwardandRonaldtoactasundercoverdetectivesanduncover

theidentityoftheculprit(s).

Pardonme

sir!

But

why

arent

we

all

involved

in

the

investigation?

Sera

asked

politely.

BecauseonlyEdwardandRonaldlookliketheyarehighschoolstudents.Serayouaretoooldtobe

oneandAllanstudiesinanelementaryschoolsoyoucantposeashighschoolstudents.Bytheway,

ifyoutwosucceedinsolvingthiscase,IllpromoteyoutoClassA.

ThanksyouPrincipalDan,welltryourverybest.saidEdjubilantly

You can take the2:30 train tomorrowafternoon. Ihavebooked your ticketsandadmitted your

nametotheschoolslistinAtlanta.IhavesomepaperworktofinishnowsoImustleavenow.

Manoeuvringhis

chair

backwards,

he

headed

back

to

his

office

leaving

behind

the

ecstatic

class.

It

hadbeentheirdreamsincejoiningtheDetectiveschooltostudyinClassA.Itwastheeliteclassof

theschoolandhadaccess toeach facility toassist them in theirassignmentswhichotherclasses

were prohibited to use.Nowonder after hearing the Principalswords, theywere ecstatic. But

beforetheycouldformplansofcelebration,MrLeefinallyenteredtheclass.Hetossedhisbookson

thetableandraisedhiseyebrowsindisgustandinaninstantthestudentswerebackintheirseats.A

boringlessonfollowedandtheeachstudentexceptSera,yawnedatleastacoupleoftimes.Itwas

Fridaysothiswastheironlyclassfortheday.Aftertwohourswhichhadseemed likeeternity,the

schoolbellrangdeclaringtheendoftodaysschool.

Sowell

meet

tomorrow

at

Denver

City

station

at

2p.m.

Right?

asked

Edward.

Right.ComepreparedEd,Iwontsharemyblanketsandclotheswithyouthistimeifyouforgetto

bringthemalong.repliedRonnie.

Edblushedsilently.Serawasquicktorespond:

Dontworry;IllpersonallyseethatEddoesntmessthingsup.Illsupervisehispacking.

Witheverythingsettled,thestudentspackeduptheirbagsandheadedbackhome.

II

ThedigitalclockattheDenverRailwayStationdisplayedfifteenpasttwolocaltime.Ronniehad

beenwaitingforEdforabovehalfanhourbuttillnowtherewasnosignofhimwhatsoever.This

wasmakinghimanxiousastheirtrainwasscheduledtoleaveatthirtypasttwolocaltime.The

platformwasadesertedone.Thelocalpeoplepreferredthecomfortsofprivatetransportagainst

thetiringjourneyofmasstransitespeciallywhengoingeasttoastatelikeGeorgia.Exceptforanold

venerableladysittingonthebenchnearhimandamiddleagedgentlemandressedinflannelsuit

whowastwirlinghismoustachewithdissatisfactiong,therewasnootherpassengerhecouldspot.

Ithadsnowedlastnightandsomeflakesstilllayscatteredhereandthere.Itwasstillquitecold

despite

the

sunlight

and

it

had

forced

him

to

wrap

himself

with

a

muffler

and

a

pair

of

gloves

in

additiontoathickwoollenjacket. Theshakingandrumblingoftheplatformwasfollowedbythe


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trainwhichslowlycametoahaltmakeasquealingsound.Tenminuteshadpassedandinafew

momentsthetrainwoulddepartforitsjourney.Theothertwopassengershadalreadyhoppedonto

theirrespectivecarriages.Withasigh,Ronniefollowedsuitaswell.Itwasafivehourdayjourneyso

hechoseaseatnexttoawindowafterdepositinghisrucksackintheluggagecompartment.The

trainjoltedforward.HeglancedoutofthewindowandsawEdgallopingdownthegentleslopeof

theplatformatanincrediblespeed.Hecouldntseehimafterawhileastheglasswindowprovided

averylimitedviewoftheoutsidesurroundings.Theplatformhaddisappearedfromview.Gigantic

skyscraperssurroundedbyforsythiagardensbathedinsunshinepresentedanamiableviewbut

Ronniewasfartoopreoccupiedtopayanyattentiontobeautifulfauna.ThedoorofRonnies

compartmentblewopenandaruffledEdmadehiswaytowardshiscopassenger.

Youarelateandwhatsmore,youclimbeduponarunningtrainwhichisextremelydangerous.

saidRonnie.

Sorry,butIgotcaughtupinamuddlewherethecopsstoppedmefromproceedingtowardsthe

station.replied

Ed.

Whatdidyoudo?

Nothing,oneofthehoopsforchainingmyrucksackgotentangledwithaladyspursekeptforshow

infrontofashopandthesecurityguardmistookmeforathief.Iwastedalotoftimeprovingmy

innocencebutitwasonlywhenIshowedthemmybadgeofDSDthattheyletmego.

Youflusterrathereasilyespeciallyinthecompanyofcops!Theywonteatyou.Ihavetoldyou

beforethatIdeprecatetoseeyouwiltingbeforethemwhenyouaresupposedtobefirmand

adamantasyoullbedealingwithpoliceyourwholelife.Butwhyhaveyouencumberedyourself

withsuchuselessjunk.Whatuseisasleepingbag?Wewillbestayingatamodernschoolshostel

notinthemiddleofsomedeepforestintheAmazonvalley.Ronniespokesarcasticallyafteraquick

glanceatEdsbackpack.

Anyways,whybotheraboutitnow.Illjustgoandchuckitintheluggagecompartmentandthen

wecanhaveaniceamicablechataboutthecase.

Ok.

Timemarchedon.ThetrainfinallystoppedatthemetropolitanstationofAtlanta.Aftercollecting

theirbaggage

from

the

luggage

compartment,

the

two

boys

stepped

off

the

train.

Unlike

the

station

atDenverthiswasquiteacrowdedone.Itwasmuchwarmerhere.Edwardaskedalocalpasserby:

DoyouknowwheretheQueenStreetis?

Yes.Justgodownthehillandtakethefirstturnleft.Itsnotfarfromhere.

Thankyou.

Theirwalkdownthehillwasnttootediouseventhoughthefootpathwasquitenarrowand

crowded.Aftertrottingforawhile,theyreachedacrowdedsquare.Confusedwhethertheleftturn

led

to

Queens

Street

or

not,

they

considered

it

wiser

to

ask

the

traffic

policeman.

Convinced

that

theywereproceedingontherightroad,theytooktheleftturnwhenthelightsturnedgreenforthe


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pedestrians.TheQueensStreetwasmuchmoreofacommercialhubfloodedwithboutique,

garmentsandfootwearshops.Howevertherewerenosignsofmallswhichwasquiteextraordinary.

AccordingtotheaddressgivenbyPrincipalDanssecretary,theschoolwheretheyweresupposedto

gowasnexttoaclocktower.Edspottedthesilhouettedlandmarkatonce. Therewasapublicpark

betweenthetowerandthemselves.Finallyafternegotiatingtheirwaythroughthepark,they

reachedasignboardnexttotheclocktowerwhichhadthewordsQueenStreetHighSchoolwritteninboldletters.Ontheirrightwastheschoolsentrancegatewhichwaswideopen.Theschools

premiseswereveryimpressive.Themainbuildingresembledahightechresearchcentre.

Wow!Whataschool.Iexpectedthistobeashabbyplace.saidEd.

Thebrightestofstudentsinthestateareselectedtostudyhere.Ourfellowstudentswhichwell

meetinashortwhilewillhaveaveryhighIQ.ThisiswhytheschoolauthoritiesrequestedtheDSD

toinvestigatethemurderofMissHermione.Suchanincidencedoesasignificantharmtoa

prestigiousinstitutionsreputation.

Truebutwhereareourdormitories.

EverystudenthasaprivateroomandhasallthefacilitiessuchasaninternetandLANconnection.

Wewontbestayinginanydormitories.

Thatsasurprise!saidEddelighted.

Theboyshostelwasontheleftofthemainbuilding.Theywerestoppedbyasecurityguardonthe

buildingssteps.Aftersatisfyingtheguardscuriosityabouttheiridentity,theyapproachedthe

receptiondesk.Amiddleagedwomanwithreadingglassesonwasbusyinsomepaperwork.It

causedher

much

annoyance

to

have

been

disturbed

when

she

was

deeply

engrossed

in

her

work.

Yes,whatdoyoutwowant?sheaskedcoldly.

Wearenewadmissionstothisschoolmadam.IamRonaldTaitandthisEdwardSanchez.Heres

ouridentitycardissuedbytheschoolauthority.explainedRonnieasheproducedasmallwhite

cardfromhispocket.

Sherepliedafterminutelyexaminingthecards:

Ok,Iseenow.Ronald,hereareyourkeystoroomno18.Edwardyouhavebeenallottedroomno

20.Both

rooms

are

at

the

end

of

the

passage.

Dinner

will

be

served

in

about

one

and

half

hour

from

nowsoseethatyoureportinthemesshallwithoutanydelay.Yourclasseswillbeginat10oclockin

themorningtomorrow.Youcancheckupthebulletinboardonthewallbehindyourback.Ifyou

furtherqueries,youcanaskMrsKeevewhoisatthedeskinthecorneroftheroom.sheinstructed

inanindifferentmanner.

ThankyouMadam.repliedRonniecourteously.

Edwardgrabbedthekeysasthetwoheadedforthepassageafteragreeingonthepointthatthey

hadnofurtherqueries.Ithadbeenduskwhentheyhadgotoffthetrainandnowstreetlightsand

light

bulbs

inside

buildings

were

in

full

blaze

to

defeat

the

darkness

which

had

enveloped

the

city.

RoomNo.18and20werejustoppositetoeachother. Abasketballmatchwasinprogressonthe


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6 CyberMurders

courtoutsideandthewindowinfrontofthempresentedaverygoodviewforwatchingthematch.

Buttheyhadmoreimportantbusinessestoattendtosotheysavedthematchforanotherday.

Afterslippinginthekeysintothelock,Edwardgentlyturnedtheknobandopenedthedoor.

Heswitchedonthelightsandunloadedhisbaggageonthestudytablenearhim.Thiswasmorelike

ahotel

room

with

acarpet

neatly

laid

across

the

floor,

afour

poster

bed

and

with

bookshelves

on

thewallandacomputernicelycoveredandkeptonanothertable.Edwasoverawedbythis

spectacle.Histheoriesaboutdistressinghostelroomswereprovedcompletelywrong.Hedecidedto

givehisachingbodyabitofrest.Heremovedhisshoesandlieddownonthesoftmattress.Sleep

overcamehimeventually.

MeanwhileRonniehadbeenbusyarranginghisbooks.Afterhehadfinished,heswitchedon

thecomputer.Theschoolswebsitewasalreadythehomepageofthebrowser.Thatwastheexact

websitehehadwanted.Thenewsofthemurderwasintheheadlinesanditsmoviewasstill

availableforviewing.ThewholescenewasreplayedasRonniewatcheditcarefullybuthecould

makenothing

out

of

it.

He

considered

it

better

to

discuss

the

matter

with

other

students,

the

next

daytoobtainsomeusefulinformationsohecloseddownthecomputerandbeganpreparingforthe

nextdayslessons.

IIIItwaspouringheavilywhenEdwardwokeupnextmorning.Ithadntbeenanidealstartforhimto

keepupwiththehighstandardsoftheschool.Ontheverydayofhisarrival,hehadbeenlateby

fifteenminutestothemesshallandhadgotanicescoldingfromtheMessIncharge. Buthehad

gonetobedwithahopeforabettertomorrow.Thoughthedayhadstartedwithbadweather,he

wasstillinhighspiritsashemanagedtowakeat7:30AMwhichhadgivenhimenoughtimetodress

forbreakfastscheduledathalfpastnine.Heputonajacketontopofhisnightdressashewasin

moodofasmallchatwithRonnie. Buthiswaywasblockedbyatallguywhowasalreadydressedin

hisuniform.

Hithere,youmustbeEdward?heaskedheartily.

Yes.repliedEdmatchinghiscompanioninenthusiasm.

Iam

Bret

Howard,

the

president

of

the

hostel

committee.

So

you

are

in

which

class.

IminStandard12,BatchB.

Good,weareinthesameclassthen.Sowellgettoseeeachothermoreoften.

HaveyouseenmyfriendRonnie?

Yeah,Imethimincommonstudyhalljustnow.Hetoldmehewasscoutingtheschoolsoastoget

familiarwithhissurroundings.Soyoutwoknoweachother.

Edwasquicktothinkupastory.Herepliedcasually:

Weweretogetherinourpreviousschoolaswell.


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Imgladtoknowthatyouhaveanintimatefriendherewithyou.PardonmebutImustnowleave.I

havetoseetothearrangementsofthebreakfast.

Afterpartingwiththehostelpresident,Edwardalsodepartedinsearchforhisoldcomrade.He

foundhimpotteringnearthecommonstudyhallwhichatthistimewasmostlyempty.

Whatareyoudoinghereallalone?askedEd

Iwasjustthinkingaboutsomething.

Youknow,Isawthatmurderclipontheinternet.

Soyoucheckeditoutthen?

Yesafterdinnerlastnight.Butsomethinginthemoviestruckmeasodd.

Didyoufigureitout?

No.

Anyways,forgetaboutit.Wemustdressupforbreakfastoryoullbelatelikeyesterdayevening.

True.

IVRonnieandEdenteredtheirclassroomtogetherimmediatelybecomingthespotlight.Theroomhad

centralheatinglikethehostelandwasveryspacious.Onthefrontwallhungphotographsand

paintingsof

famous

inventors

and

philosophers.

The

sitting

desks

were

brand

new

with

polished

micawhichstillshonewithalltheirglory.Onthebackoftheroomwereshelvescontaining

advancedreferencebooks.Ashygirlwithaponytailsqueezedherwayfromtherestofthestudents

andinaweakvoicespoketothenewcomers:

WelcometotheclassMrSanchezandMrTait.IamAnaKendrick,theclasspresident.

PleasecallmeEd.

AndMrTaitistooformalforme.CallmeRonnie.

Aguy

wearing

horn

rimmed

glasses

commented

from

behind:

Anaistoobashfultospeaktoanyonebytheirfirstname.Shesbeenlikethisfromchildhood.

Thatsveryrudeofyou.Edrepliedsharply

OhdontbotherarguingwithTrevor,hetalksmaliciouslyabouteveryone.Justignorehim.saida

girlstandingnexttoAna.

Ithinkwehavestartedonthewrongnote.Firstletusintroduceourselves.IamSkyandhereis

Isabelbesideme.IguessyouareRonnieandEd,thenewadmissions?saidanotherstudent.


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8 CyberMurders

Edhadbeenratherbewilderedbytheargumentsthathadbrewedupsincetheirarrival.Nowhesaw

thingsmuchclearly.Fromtheoutlookhehadunderstoodthatnoneoftheclassmatesgotalongwith

eachotherexceptforSkyandIsabelwhohadbeenjubilantdespitetheheatedargumentamong

theirclassmates.Hebrokethebriefsilence:

Yes.Iguess

you

guys

dont

get

along

with

each

other

that

well.

True.Weallwerealsopartofadramaclubinourpreviousschool.Isabel,Ana,TrevorandIwereits

members.

Gladtohearthatyouareoldfriends.

HerecomesourteacherMrs.Baxter,welltalklater.

Amiddleagedladyenteredtheclassroomlookingannoyed.Shearrangedherbooksonthetable

andbegantospeak:

Goodmorningclass.Wewillstudytheapplicationsofdifferentialcalculustoday.Pleasetakeout

yourtextbooks.

EdwardmurmuredintoRonniesearwhowassittingonadeskjustbesidehis:

ApplicationsofDifferentialCalculusisatopicstudiedincollege!

Itoldyouthiswasaschoolforadvancedstudents.hereplied.

Theirteacherstartedtoscribblesomethingontheblackboard.Shetookasuddenturnandspoke

abruptly:

Nowwhowouldliketosolvethisproblemontheblackboardhere?

Onlyonehandwentupintheair.Itwasaguysittinginthefirstrow.Inaglanceanyonecouldtell

thathefellnoshortofwhatonecoulddescribeasanerd.TrevorcommentedtoEdfrombehind:

ThatsBretBolton;heneverbudgesfromhisroominthehostel.Rumourssuggestthathespends

allhistimeafterschoolstudyingandworkingonmyriadofprojectsonhiscomputer.

ThiscommentwastooloudtogounheardbythediligentBretbuthemisunderstoodthatitcame

from

the

newcomer

Edward.

So

he

put

forward

a

suggestion

to

the

teacher:

Mrs.Baxter,letsgivethenewcomerachancetoilluminatehisskillsinthesubject.

ThatsaverybrightideaMrBolton.OneofyoupleasecomeupandsolvethisproblemwhichIhave

writtenontheblackboard.

Ronniewithoutanyhesitationpickedupapieceofchalkandstartedtosimplifytheproblemstepby

stepmuchtoEdsamazement.Inbriefperiodoftwominutes,hehadalreadyarrivedatthe

appropriatesolution.EvenMrs.Baxter,theindifferentteachercouldnthelpbeingimpressed.She

spokeappreciatingRonniestalents:

Wehavegotagreatmathematicianinourmidst.KeepupthegoodworkMr.Tait.


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9 CyberMurders

RonniewhilereturningtohisdeskcouldeasilyseethefrownonBretsface.Uptillnowhehadbeen

theundisputedchampioninacademicsandseeinganotherpersonsolvinganadvancedapplication

probleminsuchquicktimebrewedupnastyfeelings.

Whataweirdguy.RonniethoughtinhismindashetookhisplacebesideEdwhoatthismoment

seemedexhilarated

after

seeing

his

companions

incredible

feat.

Afterabusyafternoonfilledwithlengthyclassesonadvancedmathematics,advanced

computertechnologyandadvancedphysics,thestudentsfinallygotsomerespiteasthehourfor

eveningbreakfastarrived.Edhadbeenbewilderedfromheadtotoeduringthistestingtime.Hehad

beendraggedtosuchdepthsindesolationthatdespiteatorrentialdownpourandtemperature

beingnearfreezingpoint,theweatherstillseemedglorioustohimandraisedhisspiritssubstantially

aftersteppingoutofhislastclassoftheday.HecaughtupwithRonniewhohadalreadyfounda

nicequietcornerinthecommonmesshall.Therewasnocentralheatinghereanditwas

excruciatinglycold.IsabelandSkyoutpacedhimtothetableandoccupiedtheremainingtwochairs.

Edfuriously

dragged

another

chair

from

the

next

table

and

sat

down

in

the

group.

Sodidyouenjoyyourfirstdayatschool?askedIsabel.

Yes,itwasquiteeventful.repliedRonnie.

Itwashorrible.addedEd.

DidyouseethefaceofBretBolton?HeseemsveryjealousofyouRonnie.Skysaid.

Yes.Hehasbeenactingextraweirdthesedays.Hehasntevenshownupfortheeveningbreakfast

yet.As

arule

he

is

always

on

time

for

breakfasts

and

dinners.

DoyouthinkthatheistheonewhobroadcastedthatmovieofHermioneontheinternet?asked

Sky.

Hemaybeacomputerfreakbuthehasntgotthegutstoslaughtersomeonewithachampagne

bottle!suggestedIsabelwholookedbemused.

True.saidSkyacceptingIsabelsreasoning.

Theconversationdrewtoacloseasthestudentsmadetheirwaybacktothehostel.

VItwasfiveoclockinthemorningnextdaywhenEdwardssoundsleepwasbrokenbyaloudknock

onhisdoor. HalfasleepheopenedthedoorwherehefoundRonnieallflustered,Hespoke

hurriedly:

QuickEd,someandwatchthis.

Whatsthematter?askedEdwhowasonthebrinkoffallingasleeponceagain.

Avideohasjustcomeuponthenet.


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10 CyberMurders

Edhadbarelyclaspedhisfriendswordswhenhefoundhimselfbeingdraggedintohiscompanions

room.Thecomputerwasonandahorrificscenewasonthescreen.Inashabbycottagewithadusty

windowwhichpresentedaviewoftheclocktower,apersonwearingablackmaskanddarkclothes

washoldingachampagnebottlestandingagainstthewindow. Thetime5:20ontheclocksuggested

thatthevideowasbeingbroadcastedlive.Onthechairontheothercorneroftheroom,amanwas

tiedandgaggedtoachair.Thepersonholdingthedangerouschampagnebottlegradually

approachedhisvictim.AchillpassedthroughEdwardsspine.Heshouted:

Wemustdosomething.Thatssomeplaceneartheclocktower.

Quick,warnthepolice.Wemustheadtheirassoonaswecan.

EdwardrushedtothecommonroomtonotifythepolicewhileRonnieheadedstraighttowardsthe

clocktowerarmedwithabaseballbat.Therainhadstoppedmakingiteasierforhimtofindhisway

tohisdestination.Meanwhile,Edwardhavingwarnedthepolicepaidavisittotheschoolserver

administratorand

requested

him

to

remove

the

video

from

the

school

website

so

as

to

prevent

speculationandanxietyamongthestudents.

Ronniegallopedthoughthegrassfieldstakingtheshorterpathtotheclocktower.Itwasnownearly

fivethirtyandRonniehadaconcernedlookonhisface.Hehadalreadydeducedfromthevideothat

theplacewheretheassaulthadtakenplacewasacrossthemainstreetasthetowerfacedinthat

direction.Aproblemaroseashefoundhiswaytothatpartofthearea.TheQueensstreetwasjust

behindhim.Themainpathwhichledtosomeunknownplacehaddeviatedintothreeavenues.It

wasvirtuallymaze;withthesidepathsfurtherhavingsomesmallstonyroadsleadingindifferent

directions.Thetreesweretallandgavelittlespaceforeventhesunlighttopenetrate.Itwasclear

thatthe

criminal

had

chosen

aperfect

location

to

commit

acrime.

But

one

point

on

which

Ronnie

wasnotconvincedwaswhythecriminalhadgivenawaythelocationbytapingtheclocktowerinthe

videoaswell.Drivingawaythesethoughtsfromhismind,hechosethefirstavenueandtookthe

firstturnontheleft. Luckwasonhissideandhesawanabandonedcottagecoveredwith

overgrownvinesinfrontofhim.Afterminutelyobservingthewholesceneinfrontofhim,he

decidedtobravethedangerandmadehiswaytothecottageinn.Thedooropenedwithoutasingle

creakdrawingRonniesattentiontowardsthehinges.Theyhadbeenoiledquiterecently.The

interiorwasquitelargeeventhoughthecottageappearedtobequitesmall.Themaindoorhadled

himtoanarrowpassagewhichcontinuedinboththedirections.Onehadcobwebsandtheother

wasquiteclean.Hetookthecleanpassagewhichledhimtoalivingroominwhichlurkedagory

scene.Bret

Bolton

was

tied

to

the

chair

with

agrievous

wound

on

his

forehead.

He

was

already

dead.Onhisrightlayalaptoponwhichthemovietapedofhismurderwasbeingplayedagainand

again.Infrontofthatchairwasthesamewindowhehadseeninthevideo.Theclocktowerwas

visiblebutsomethingsurprisedhimwhenhelookedatthewatchonthetower.Hisattentionwas

distractedwhenheheardfootstepscomingfromthepassage.Hehidononesideofthedoorarmed

withhisbaseballbat.Butitweresomepolicemenwhocamethroughthedoor.Theywere

accompaniedbyEdward.

Goodlord!Anothergruesomemurder.remarkedoneoftheofficers.

SpottingRonnie

amidst

the

proceedings

made

him

sigh

with

relief.

He

spoke

calmly:


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11 CyberMurders

Ohthankgod,youareokkid.Youshouldnthaverushedhereallbyyourselfeventhoughyouarea

memberofDSD.Itcouldhavebeenafatalmove.Commonladsletthedoctorsthroughandsealthe

area.Nowyoutwomustclearoutofthebuildingaswell.Iwillsendyouacopyoftheautopsyreport

bytomorrowsopushoff.

Asthey

were

making

their

way

out

of

the

building

Ronnie

started

to

speak:

YouknowEd,whenIwaslookingoutofthewindowsomethingstruckmeasodd.

What?Edaskedcuriously.

Itwas...Oh,thesenastyants.Theyarecrawlingalloverthisplace.Theyhavebittenmeinamillion

places.

VI

Thedaysclasseshadbeencancelledafterthedisturbingeventsofthemorning.Theschool

compoundwasfullpolicemenwalkinghitherandthitherquestioningeachandeverystudent.

MeanwhileRonnieandEdwerebusytryingtodrawaconnectionbetweenthetwomurders.They

werethinkingoverthesequenceofeventsinthewarmthandprivacyofRonniesroom.

AllanmusthavefiguredouttheIPaddressfromwherethemoviehadbeenuploadedandatwhat

time.Iaskedhimtodothislittlejobforme.saidEd.

ButitseemsobviousthatthemurdererusedthelaptopwefoundlyingnexttoBretBoltonsbody

foruploading

the

movie.

Youneverknow.Maybeitwasplacedasadistraction.Ijustnowhadaskedapoliceofficerabout

it.HeseemedsurethatthiswasthesamelaptopthatIsabelJacobsonhadlostamonthago.The

murdererwouldwanttohavesomesolidalibiroundabout5oclocksohecouldhaveplacedit

earlierasadelusion.

Buttheclockinthemoviesuggeststhatthemurdertookplacearoundfifteenpastfive. Theone

whohasntgotanalibiforthattimesurelyisthekiller.Theculpritwillbefoundoutsoon.

Ihavegotafeelingthatitisntgoingtobesoeasy.Itismorecomplicatedthanwethinkitis.

Wellhavetowaitandseeafterthepolicequestionsthestudents.

SowhydontyoucallAllannow?

Thatsagoodidea.

EdwardleftRonniesroomandscamperedhiswaytothetelephoneboxinthecommonhall.He

dialledAllanscellphonenumberandwaitedforresponse.

Hello?IsityouAllan.askedEd.

Yes.repliedAllanfromtheothersideofthereceiver.


12/26

12 CyberMurders

DidyoufindouttheIPofthecomputerfromwherethemoviehadbeenuploaded?

Yeah!Awirelessrouterwasusedtobroadcastthemovie.IfoundoutfromtheISPserviceprovider

thatthisconnectionwasinthenameofsomeIsabelJacobson.Itseemsthatthemurdererispretty

foolishasheusedapermanentIPinsteadofadynamicone.

Thismeansthesamecomputerthepolicefoundnexttothevictimwastheonewhichwasusedto

telecastthemurdermovie.Butthatreducesthetimewhichtheculprithadtogetawayandthere

wasbarelyatenminutedifferencebetweenthemurderandRonniesarrivalatthescene.Sothis

provesthatthemurdererwaspresentatthecottageatthattime.Thushellhavenoalibiandwillbe

caughtsoon.

Youaresurethatnooutsidercouldhavedoneit.

Noitshighlyunlikelybecausethecottageinwhichthecrimetookplaceisownedbytheschool.It

hasbeenabandonedforagesbutrecentlyhadbeenrentedbysomeKirkStonefield.Itsa

pseudonymofcourseandtheidentityoftherealpersonisnottraceableasonlyanameisrequired

torentahouseforaspecificdurationoftime.Theauthoritieslenditonlyandonlytostudentsand

teacherssoanoutsideracquiringitisoutofquestion.

Trueso,thispinpointsittothestudentsandteachers,doesntit.

Thefactthatthesamelaptopwasusedtobroadcastthemovieputsatickmarkonthepresenceof

themurdereratthatspecificlocation.

Notnecessarily.Maybeaprogramwasusedtodothejob.

Andwhatabouttheclockpointingat5:30.

Maybethemurderwascommittedat5:30,thepreviousevening.

Ioverlookedthatpossibility.

Youcertainlydid.

Illcallyoulaterthen.Bye

Bye.

Onthewaytothemainassemblehall,EdmetMr.Jervis,thechiefinvestigatorofthetwomurder

cases. Edsawagleamofhopeandaskedhimexcitedly:

Anynewdiscovery,officer?

No.

Everyonehadaconvincingalibiforthattime?

Yes.ExceptforTrevorMurdoch,hisexplanationsoundedabitodd.Hesaidthathewasinthe

cafeteriabetweenhalfpastfourandfivethirty.Butthegirlbehindthecounterandthewaiterwho

knowTrevorquitewellseemsurethathewasntthereatthattime.


13/26

13 CyberMurders

Wherewashethen?

Wellbelookingintothat.

Thanksforthetime.

Fullofchagrin,theofficerswirledaroundandheadedfortheschoolgate.Ithadstarteddrizzling

againandEddidntwanttogetdrenchedashehatedabadthroat.Sohetoo,deepinhisthoughts,

headedforthecanteen.Itwasfullofstudentschatteringabouttherecentmurder.Somewere

scared,othersexcitedwhilesomehadexpressionlessfaces,justgettingbored.Aftersearching

amongthenumerousfaceslikeahawk,hefinallyfoundRonniewiththegroupofIsabelJacobson,

Sky,AnaandTrevor.

WhatsupEd?Youseeminlowspirits.Haventhadyourbreakfast?askedSkyjovially.

No,Iamfine.

Youknow,Anajustcameupwithabrilliantidea.saidTrevor.

Wellallinvestigatethiscasetogether.Eachofuswillpickupdifferentthreadsandpickupthelead.

Howdoesitsound?saidSky.

EdwhisperedintoRonniesear:

DidyoutellthemthatwearefromDDS?

No,theyseemtohavecomeupwiththeabsurdideabythemselves.

Anaintervened

in

the

conversation:

Whatareyoutwomuttering?

Nothing.Edwasjusttellingmethatmeddlinginothersbusinessmaybedangerous.

Thisisntanyothersbusiness.Twoofourfellowstudentshavebeenmurdered.Youknow,

Hermionewasonemybestfriends.Mycondolencetowardsherdeathisntenough.Ihavetofind

whodidthistoher.shespokeangrily.

Butthepolicearetryingtheirlevelbestaswell.explainedEd.

Ihavenopatiencewiththepolice.Theyareverysluggishandwastealotoftimeinpaperwork.

Willyouhelpusornot?saidIsabel.

Ok,ifyouwant.Sowheredowestart?askedEd

Youtwowenttothecottagesoyoucantelluswhatyousawthere.

Ronnieminutelydescribedeachandeverydetailwhichhethoughtwouldnothamperthereal

investigation,omittingthoseimportantpointswhichhedidntwanttorevealinfrontofSkyandhis

buddies.They

agreed

on

their

plan

which

would

be

put

into

action

the

following

day.

With

the

conclusionoftheconversations,theydepartedfortheirrespectivebedrooms.


14/26

14 CyberMurders

VIITheeventfuldaycametoacloseastheskiesfinallyclearedgivingwaytoabeastlycoldbutbeautiful

evening.TheschoolgateswerefloodedwithmediareportersandthelittlebaldIndianGuardbattled

tokeepthemoutofthecampus.Thepolicehadsealedoffthetowerandtheoldcottage.Theyhad

strictlyprohibited

the

students

as

well

as

the

faculty

to

interact

with

the

media.

Edhadbeenpreoccupiedthewholedayreflectingonthetwomurdersthattakenplacein

thevicinity.Hehadoccasionallypoppedintothedininghallorcanteentolistentothestudents

speculationsinordertodrawsometheoryofhisown.Whowasthissickguywhohasthesteelnerve

tobroadcastamurderliveorevenapreviouslyrecordedmurderontheinternetandstillgetaway

withit?Whoeverhewas,hewascunninganddangerous.Anotherthoughwhichcamebacktohis

mindwas:

WhathadRonniespottedinthatcottagewhichhadstruckhimasodd?

Allthesequestionsremainedunanswered.Hewalkedaimlesslytowardsthedrivewayandlieddown

onthedampgrass.Hegazedintothefarhorizondeepinhisthoughts.

Part2:Huntingdownthemurderer

I

AweekhadpassedsinceBretBoltonsmurderandthethingswerebacktonormal.Nobody

reallycaredaboutBretsohisdeathdidntmeanmuchtotheotherstudents.Regularclasseswere

beingheld,muchtoEdsannoyancewhowasfindingitverytedioustocompletehisassignments.If

itwasnotforRonniewhohelpedhimcompletehishomework,hewouldhavespentthewholetime

afterschoolindetention.Thankstosomelastminutestudy,hehadevenmanagedtosalvageaC

gradeinMathematics.

ItwasSaturdayafternoonandthesunwasshiningbrightlyandstudentswerehavinglunch

outintheopen.Thebitingcoldhadbeensomewhatmitigatedbythesunshine.Edwaslookinginto

hisplatecuriously.Hehaddecidedtotryfastfoodtodaywhichheusuallydeprecated.Withgreat

apprehension,hestartedeatinghisburgerbutafteronedeepgulphepushedasidetherestwith

disgust.Ronniewasmerrilyeatingwafflesinfrontofhim,grinningatEdwhileheate.Edlooked

away,stillfeelingquitehungrywhenhesawSkyandIsabelheadingtheirway.

Sowhatsup?Isabelaskedamicably.

Nothing.repliedEd.

YoudontseemtolikeFastfood,doyou?

Ihateit.

WhydontwegototheChillGrilltonight?

Ifitsnotafastfoodrestaurant.


15/26

15 CyberMurders

Nope,itservesdeliciousIndianfood.Youlllikeit.

Anythingisbetterthanthispoisonousburger.

SoRonnie,whydontyoucomeupaswell?askedIsabel

Nope.Iprefertostayatthehostel.RepliedRonnie

Fine.Then,threeofuswillgotonight.

Isitfar?askedEd

JustaroundtheQueenStreetcorner.

Isntyoureldersistercomingtovisityoutonight,Isabel?askedSky.

Shescomingthedayafter.Herflightfortodaywascancelledduetotheincessantrain.

Soitsfixedthen.Iwillcatchupwithyouguysat9.

Ronniehadjustfinishedeatinghissalad.SkyandIsabelhaddisappearedintothehostelleaving

themaloneoncegaininthatquietcornerofthelawn.

Imgoingtotakeanap.ImfeelingheavysaidRonnie

AndIamfeelingaslightasafeather.saidEdsarcastically.

Allright,Igetthepoint.HerehaveacanofDrFizz.Ronnie

took

out

acan

of

cold

drink

from

his

back

pocket

and

tossed

it

to

Ed

who

drained

the

contentsheartily.

Nopushoff,Ineedtogetsomesleep.saidRonnie.

Fine.repliedEdwhotrottedtowardsthehostel.

II

At8:58

p.m

Ed

picked

up

his

wallet

from

the

study

table

and

tucked

them

into

the

back

pocketsofhistrousers. Afterlockingthedoorfromtheoutside,heplacedhisroomkeysinRonnies

handsandleftinsearchofIsabelandSky.Hehadathickwoollenjacketontofacethebitingcold.

Theywerebothwaitingforhiminthedriveway.Skyseemeddisconcerted.

Whatsthematter?askedEd.

Hepromisedtopaythebillsanditseemsthatheisbroke.repliedIsabel.

Dontworry,Ihaveenoughmoney.

Letsgo

now.


16/26

16 CyberMurders

AfterafewsighsandsulksfromSkytheyploddedtowardsthemaingate.ThelittleIndianguard

stoppedthemandqueried:

Whereareyoukidsoffto?

TheChillGrill.Wellbebackinanhour.Signhere.Theguardpointedtowardsaregister.

Withallformalitiescompleted,theyproceededdowntheroadtowardsthemodern,welllighted

restaurant.ThewordsChillGrillwereblinkinginscarletandindigohues.Edpushedtherevolvingglassdoorwhereawaitergreetedthemamicably:

Wherewouldthegentlemenandladyliketodine?

HowmuchwillanIndianDosaandSambarcostintheheatedroom?Skyaskedthewaiter.About250dollars,sir.

Itsaffordable,takeustothatroom.

Veryfewpeoplewereintherestaurant.Toquotewhattheschoolsecurityguardhadtosay

aboutIndianrestaurantsinAmerica:

AlastherearentmanyadmirersofhealthyIndianfoodintheUS.Thepeopleherearemostly

addictedtojunkfood.

TherewasanIndianplaywasabouttostartatthefarendoftheroom. Edchoseaseatso

thathe

could

get

agood

view

of

what

was

going

on.

Meanwhile

Sky

ordered

their

dinner.

Curtainsweredrawnpresentingasceneofashabbyroom.Anolddrunkardwithan

overgrownwhitebeardwassittingonanoldricketychairgulpingoneglassofwhiskyoneafter

another.Hewasweepingwithgriefandremorse.Hisdaughterhaddiedinacaraccident.Suddenly,

ayoungrobustmanenteredtheroomcarryinganotherchampagnebottle.Theoldmancriedout:

Youkilledmydaughter.Nowyouwanttokillmebypoisoningmewiththiswhisky.

Hissonflushedwithanger.Herepliedwithimpatience:

Ididnt

do

anything.

Dont

make

me

your

scapegoat.

Yesyoudid.Youkilledmydaughter.Iknoweverything;Ramakrishnantoldmeaboutwhathappenedinthecarthatday.

Theyoungmanwasaghast,suddenlyterrorpouredalloverhim.Hegrabbedthebottleofrumon

thetableandsmasheditontophisfathersskull.Bloodpoureddowntheoldmansforehead. Ed

andIsabelwerewatchingtheplayspellboundbutsuddenlycurtainsclosed.

Edwastakenaback.Hespokeabruptly:

Ireally

wanted

to

see

what

happened

next.


17/26

17 CyberMurders

Sorrysir,butyoullhavetocomebacktomorrowtowatchtheclimax.

Hey,thatsaverycheapwaytokeepthecustomersrolling.

Sorrysir,butthereareveryfewcustomersatthistimeoftheyearsothesmallplaywearerunning

duringwinter

keeps

our

coffers

filled.

Givingupthewholeissuetheyateheartily,paidthebillandlefttherestaurant. Athinfog

hadenvelopedthecitybutvisibilitywasstillquitegood.

YouknowthatplayattheChillGrillremindsmeofsomething.spokeIsabel.What?askedEdandSkytogether.

Idontknowbutitcertainlystrikesabellinmymind.

SomethingrelatedwiththemurdersofBretandHermione?askedEd.

YeahbutIcantseemtofigureoutwhat.

Thinkitoverandtellmelater.

Sure.

EdandSkyheadedtowardstheboyshostelwhileIsabeltowardsthegirlsone.Mostofthe

studentswereinthemesshall.AfterbiddingSkygoodbye,Edopenedthedoorofhisroomandlied

downonhisbed.Theclocknexttohimwaspointingataquartertoten.Afterawhilehiscellphone

rang.ItwasIsabelontheline:

Ijustrememberedwhatstruckmeinthatplay.

What?askedEdcuriously.

Heheardaloudshriekofpainontheothersideoftheline.Heshouted:

Whatshappening?AreyouokIsabel?

Thenthelinecutoff.Edrushedtowardsthegirlshostelbutwasstoppedattheentranceofthe

building.HerequestedthematrontocheckIsabelsroom.SheagreedwhileEdwaitedanxiously.

Eachsecond

seemed

like

an

eternity.

Meanwhile

he

was

joined

by

Ronnie

who

demanded

an

explanation.Heelaboratedtheeventsfromtherestauranttilltheconversationonthephonewith

brevity.Theyheardthesquealingofwheelsandthepolicesirensinthedistance.Thematron

reappearedatlast.Herfacewaspaleandshewasbreathingfast.Shespokehoarsely:

Youkidsgetoutofhere.Amurderhastakenplaceinthehostel.

YoumeanIsabelhasbeenmurdered?askedEd.

Yes.Thepolicehavebeencalled.

Wellwait

and

talk

to

the

police.


18/26

18 CyberMurders

Asyouwishbutdontpokearoundhereandhinderthepolicefromdoingtheirwork.

TwocarspulledupinfrontofthemandabouttenpolicemenheadedbyOfficerJervisbegansealing

thebuilding.Twomedicsrushedoffintothehostel.Theothergirlsinthebuildinghadalreadybeen

evacuatedfromthebackentrance.EdandRonnieorwaitedforInspectorJerviseagerly.Theyhad

managedto

get

rid

of

Trevor.

Inspector

Jervis

came

out

accompanied

by

two

other

policemen.

He

sawEdwaitinginthecornerandcalledhimup.

EdwardhowdidyouknowthatIsabelhadbeenmurdered?askedtheInspector.

Weweretalkingonthephonewheniheardherscreamandgallopeddownhere.

Wefoundherstrangled,lyinginthecouch.

Shediedofasphyxiation?askedRonnie.

Yes.

Her

face

had

been

badly

disfigured

as

well.

Apparently

the

murderer

threw

concentrated

sulphuricacidoverher.Sheisbarelyrecognizable.

Horrible!Shewasjustabouttellmesomethingimportantabouttheprevioustwomurders.Maybe

sheknewsomethingthemurdererdidntwanthertoknow.Buttheonlypersonexceptmewho

knewthatIsabelknewsomethingaboutthemurderwasSky

Thatspossible.WellarrestthisSkyguyjustnowandquestionhim.Ihavegotahunchthatheis

theculprit.

Heistheprimesuspect.

Wellinstallextrasecuritywithinthepremisesandprohibitstudentsfromleavingthecampusat

night.Welltrytotrackanyfurthersuspiciousactivityfromnowon.MaybeSkyhasaccomplices

Bythewaytheautopsyreportjustarrivedfromthecentrallabrevealingsomeinterestingfacts.

continuedtheOfficer.

Sowhatdidtheyfind?askedRonnie.

ThelaptopwhichwehadfoundnexttoBretBoltonsbodyhadfreshfingerprintsof,nowdeceased,

IsabelJacobsononthem.Itseemsthatsomeonetriedtoframeherforthecrimebutsomething

wentwrong

in

the

plan

and

he

was

forced

to

murder

her.

TrulyIntriguing.commentedEd.

Whatdoesthereportsuggestaboutthetimeofthemurder?askedRonnie.

Itisnotpossibletopinpointtheexacttimebutthedoctorwhodidthepostmortemstatesinhis

reportthatBrethaddiedbetween3and5:20aminthemorning.explainedInspectorJervis.

Sothateliminatesthepossibilityofthemurderbeingcommittedthepreviousday.addedEd.

Right.

Bringingusbacktowherewestarted.


19/26

19 CyberMurders

Allthisjustdoesntmakesensetotheforce.Whywouldsomeonetelecastalivemurderonthe

internet?Wehaveneverhandledthissortofcasebefore.Itstoocomplicated.

Wellsoongettotherootofthis.

Illgive

you

DSD

kids

aweek.

If

you

arent

able

to

uncover

the

mystery

well

call

in

the

FBI.

Surething.

IIIThefollowingdaywascoveredinmist.EdwardandRonniewereploddingtheretowardsthe

maingate.Theyhadrevealedtheiridentitiestotheschoolauthoritiesallowingthemtoexitthe

premises.EdsawAllanshandoutstretchedwavingathimjustbesidetheschoolgate.Hehadasked

therestofthedetectiveclasstocomeover.Thewholegrouptogethersetoutforthecottagewhere

Brethadbeenmurdered.IthadbeenRonniesideatostarttheinvestigationatthecottage.The

cottagewas

guarded

by

policemen.

They

approached

the

building

with

growing

apprehension.

One

ofthepolicemencoveredindeepfogshouted:

Halt.Thisareaisofflimitstothepeople.

WearefromtheDetectiveSchoolofDenver.Weareherewithofficialpermission.saidSeraasshe

showedhercardtothepoliceman,nowinfrontofthem.

Allrightyoucangoin.Butdonttouchanything.Youllcontaminatethewholeplacewithyour

fingerprints.

Welltake

care.

said

Jack.

Theguardunlockedthemaindoorandthegroupsteppedintothehallway.Ronnieshowed

thewaytotheroomwherethemurderhadtakenplacewiththehelpofatorch.Redantswere

crawlingallovertheroom.Edsmindswirled.Hethoughthard.Heknew!HeknewwhatIsabel

wantedtoconveythatnightontheirwaybacktotherestaurant.Therewerepiecesofbroken

champagnebottlescatteredallovertheplaceandtheantswerecarryingthem.Wasthiswhat

Ronniehadfoundintriguingthatday?

Ronniespokebreakingthesilence:

AllanIneed

you

to

check

Isabel

Jacobsons

background

and

record

for

me.

Youthinkitmighthelp?askedAllan.

Maybe.

IVTwodayshadpassed.Schoolhadbeensuspendedduetothemurdersandsecurity

strengthenedbringinginwavesofmediapersonneldemandinganswers.Theschoolauthoritieskept

quiet.Theyhadnoanswer.Mostofthestudentshadrolledoutastheirparentswereworriedabout

theirsafety.

Those

who

remained

rarely

poked

out

of

their

rooms.


20/26

20 CyberMurders

Thedetectiveclasshadmanagedtoputthebitsandpiecesofdeductiontogetherto

formulateatheory.Butitwasstillcrude.Theyneededtoentrapthemurdererastheyhadntgot

sufficientevidenceasyet.Fivedayswasthedeadlineforthem.

Skyhadbeenreleasedonbailandhehadcomebacktothehosteltocollecthisbelongings.

Hewas

going

home

to

California.

He

had

been

under

great

mental

stress

in

these

last

couple

of

days.

Hewantedtogetawayfromallthismess.Hewasabouttoexitthecampuswhenhiscellphone

rang.

HeySky,thisisEd.

HiEd.herepliedindifferently.

Iwantyoutocomeovertotheschoolassemblehallimmediately.Itsimportant.

ReallyEd,isthisnecessary.

Yourpresenceisindispensable.

Ok,Illbethereinfewminutes.

HesawAnna,Trevor,RonnieandEdalreadywaitingforthemonacoffeetable.Hetooka

chairandbesideEd.

Sowhyhavecalledushere?askedTrevor.

Justtoinformyouthatoneofthethreeofyouisthemurderer.saidRonniecalmly.

What?You

cant

accuse

us

just

like

that.

shouted

Sky.

Wehaveconcreteevidence.Ifyoucomeforwardnow,wewonttellanyone.

Youmeanyouhaventtoldthepoliceyet?inquiredTrevor.

No,itsIamthesolepersonwhoknowsaboutthemurderer.

SuddenlyEdscellphonerang.Hewentoutsidetocatchthesignal.

Haveyourcoffeeandthenwecandiscussthematterspeacefully.saidRonnieashewenttothe

nearbysink

to

wash

his

hand.

The

other

three

followed

suit.

They

sat

down

at

the

coffee

table

with

apprehension.Annahadbeensonervousthatshehaddrunkhalfofthehotsizzlingcoffeeinjust

onegulp.TrevormerrilysippedhiscoffeewhileSkyindifferentlyglaredatthecupinfrontofhim.

SoonhetoosippedthehotcoffeetowarmhimselfastheyallwaitedforEdtoreturn.

Edwardeventuallytookhisplacewiththeothers.Ronniebroughtthecupnearhislipsand

tiltedit.Hewasjustabouttodrainitscontentswhensomecleanerscameintothedesertedhall.It

wasEdssisterSera,AllanandJackindisguise.

Wehavebeenorderedtocleanthishallfortomorrowsassemblysir.Wellmoveyourcoffeecups

tothenextroom.saidJack.

Theydidso.


21/26

21 CyberMurders

InthesmallanteroomwheretheywerenowseatedEdspoke:

Nowwecandiscussaboutthethreemurderspeacefully.

EveryonesippedtheircoffeeexceptforTrevorwhowasperspiringalot.Hewasjustglaringintohis

up.Ronnie

asked

inquisitively:

DrinkupyoucoffeeTrevor.

No...NoI..amnotinthemo..mood.

Iknowwhyyoudontwanttodrinkit.saidRonnietauntingTrevor.

Wh...Why?Trevoraskedinaweakvoice.

Comeon;spillthebeansitsover.

Severalpolice

officers

armed

to

the

teeth

came

rushing

into

the

room

pointing

their

pistols

at

Trevor.

Whatdoyoumeanbythis?Trevorspoketerrified.

YouhadaddedcyanideintoRonniescupwheneveryonehadgonetowashtheirhandsinthe

assemblehall.

NOshoutedTrevorlookingaghast.

THENDRINKTHECOFFEE.perseveredEd.

Trevorfellonhiskneesandbrokeintotears.Hespokehalfsobbing:

Ok,Iconfess.Icommittedthethreemurders.Takemetoprison.Givemeadeathsentence.

Jackbrokeinsharply:

Noyoudidntcommitanymurders.Weknowthatyouwerecertainlyapartofthemyoudidntkill

themyourself.Weknowyourwholeplan.

MeanwhilethepolicehadhandcuffedTrevoranddraggedhimintoachair.Hewashidingisfaceby

buryingitintohishandswhininglikealittleboy.Hespokeagain:

ButItellyou,itwasIhadwhoengineeredthemurdersofHermione,IsabelandBret.

Edlookedbemused.Hesaid:

OnthecontraryIsabelJacobsoncommittedthethreemurders.Notyou

InspectorJervislookedpuzzled.Hesaid:

ButIsabelJacobsonisdead,isntshe?

No.Shes

very

much

alive.

replied

Ronnie.


22/26

22 CyberMurders

Butwhataboutthegirlwefounddeadinthehostelroom.Iknowherfacewasdisfiguredbutshe

lookedverymuchlikeIsabel.Sameheight,blondehairandclothesyoutoldyousawherinthat

evening.

LetmeexplainsaidAllan

Hecontinued:

RonniehadaskedmeacoupleofdaysbacktolookintoIsabelsbackground.SoIpokedintoher

pastlife,herhomeetcwiththehelpofinternetandgatheredinformationfromheracquaintances

throughDSDdetectives.Herparentshaddiedinmotoringaccidentwhenshewasfiveleavingher

eldersisterAlexandherallalone.Theymovedintotheirspinsterauntshousewheretheystilllive.

TheirAuntLisaBurnetrecentlydiedofaheartattack.Alexbecamealawyerbutlostallherinitial

casesbringingherreputationdowndrastically.Shebarelymanagedtoearnameagreincome.

MeanwhileheryoungersisterIsabelwasstudyinghereinAtlantainthisexpensiveschool.Uptill

nowtheir

aunt

who

had

considerable

amount

of

money

had

been

paying

her

fees

but

after

her

demise,herwillastonishedeveryone.Shedidntleaveasinglepennytoherniecesanddonatedall

themoneytocharity.Alexwasincessantlyaskinghersistertoquitschoolandstartworkingto

supplementtheirincomebutIsabelwasadamantinstayingatschool.

Allantookadeepbreathandcontinued:

ThenbyastrokeofluckIunearthedinterestingnewsarticlewhenlookingintoMicrosofts news

archivesinitsofficialwebsite.ItstatedsomethingaboutasoftwaredesignedbyIsabelJacobson,

TrevorMurdochandBretBoltonwhichhadthecapabilitytocalculateexactweatherconditions,

windpressureandvelocity,temperatureetcofparticularplaceaccuratelythroughdatainputsfrom

satellites.Thiswasbreakthroughsoftwareifitreallyexisted.Exactweatherforecastingwithout

inaccuracyisstillnotpossiblebycurrenttechnology.Soourwholegroupqueriedaboutthis

softwarefromotherstudents.Buttheywereunawareabouttheprevalenceandprogressofany

suchsoftware.SoIwasforcedtostealTrevorsdiaryfromhisroom.Iwouldliketoquotewhathe

hadwrittenonJune10,2007.

Allantookouttwosheetsofpaperfromhisbackpocketandclearedhisthroat.Hestartedtospeak

whileotherslistenedwithallyears.

Iamfullofecstasyandjubilancetoday.WehavefinishedcodingthelasthalfourDurandproject.BretisbusyfixingupthebugwhichiscausingtheprogramtocrashwhilecalculatingWindVelocity.IamsurewellbereadytodisclosethedetailstoMicrosoftbytheendofthissummer.Man,itmakesmefeelunearthlywhenIthinkIllbeamillionaireafterwereleasethissoftware.Twoyearsofhardworkhasfinallybareditsfruit.Ourdiligenceanddedicationtowardsourworkhasbroughtusveryclosetowardsourgoal!ThefollowingiswhathewroteonJuly1,2007:

Ourdreamslayshattered.Ourworkhasbeenstolen.Durandhasbeenerasedfromallourcomputers.IamahundredpercentcertainthatitwasHermionewhodidthis.Shewastheonlyoneotherthanthethreeofuswhoknewaboutoursecretproject.WerequestedhertoaskherDad,whowasAtlantasmayor,ifhecouldsendalettertoMicrosoftsheadofficeinSeattle.Shestoleour


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23 CyberMurders

work.Sheknewitwouldsellandmaketonnesofmoney.Whydidshedothis?Sheisalreadywealthy.Itsuswhoreallyneedthemoney.Wehaddevelopedthissoftwareafterdayswithoutsleepingandlearningmoreandmoreaboutprogramming.

Shemusthavedeletedallthedocumentscitingourcopyrightsandsentittosomecompanyclaimingthatthiswasherwork.Brethadbeenswearingalldaylongyesterday.HeandIsabelaredesperatetoretrievewhatisours.Welldoanything,literallyanythingtogetitback.Allanplacedthediarypagesbackintohispocketsandspoke:

YouransackedHermionesroomafterthatdidntyou?

Trevorwhohadbeenlisteningattentivelyspokeincalmvoice:

Ididnt.IsabelwastheonewhowentintoHermionesroomthatnight.IandBretcouldntpossibly

getintothegirlshostel.ShefoundoutthatIsabelhadbeeninherroom.Shethreatenedtolodgea

complaintin

the

office.

They

would

have

certainly

expelled

Isabel.

Ransacking

someones

room

was

aseriousoffense.Wedesperatelywantedthatmoney.

RonniecontinuedfromwhereTrevorhadleft:

Soyouguysdevisedacunningplantoeliminateher.Youkidnappedherandbroughthertwoa

desertedwarehouse,afewmilesfromhere. Youconvenientlykilledherandfilmeditontape,puta

livetagonitandbroadcasteditfromIsabelslaptopwhichshehadreportedaslostaboutfifteen

daysback. ShehadtakenadynamicIPconnectionunderapseudonym.Sheknewonceinawhile

herIPwouldmatchwiththeoneatcybercafeatsomepointintimeandyouwaitedpatientlyforit.

Thenyou

broadcasted

it

over

the

internet,

the

other

day

creating

asolid

alibi

for

yourself.

Youarecleverarentyou?Ineverthoughtyouwouldbedetectiveswhenyoufirstcameintothe

hostel.remarkedTrevor.

InspectorJervistoowasmesmerizedbytheseyoungkidsintellect.Heaskedthemtocontinue.

ButafterfinishingoffHermione,theysoonfoundoutthatshehadalreadysenttheirprojectto

somecompanyandhaddeleteditfromherlaptopsharddisk.

SowhydidtheykillBretBolton?interruptedtheofficer.

Iwas

just

coming

to

that.

Now

Bret

Bolton

got

cold

feet

when

he

faced

his

conscience

which

hauntedhimdailyforcommittingacoldbloodedmurder.IsabelandTrevorrealizedthathewasno

longerintheirside.ShepanickedwhenBretsuggestedtheyshouldgotothepolicestationand

confesstheircrime.SheandTrevordecidedtogetridofhimandthoughtoutyetanotheringenious

plan.Theyhadbeenpartofadramaclubintheirpreviousschool.Isabelknewaboutchampagne

bottlesmadefromsugarandchocolateusedinplayswherecharacterssmasheachotherwiththese

falsesugarbottleswithoutcausingactualphysicalharm. Eddeducedandpresentedthistheoryto

mewhenhesawsimilarbottlesbeingusedinatheatricalplayinanIndianrestaurant,theother

night.LikeHermione,theyfirstkidnappedBretfromhisroombychloroforminghimandbrought

him

to

the

old

cottage

which

they

had

rented

under

the

pseudonym

of

Kirk

via

a

car

at

about

half

pastfourintheafternoon.Atexactly5:20pmTrevordressedinwhiterobessmashedoneofthis


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24 CyberMurders

falsesugarbottleonBretsforeheadwhichactuallydidntcausehimanyharmwhatsoever.They

returnedtothehostelleavingBretgaggedandtiedtoachair.Thesneakedofffromthehostelat

midnightandthistimeactuallymurderedBretwitharealchampagnebottleatround3am.Thatis

whytheautopsyreportsuggestedthatthemurderhadbeencommittedbetweenthreeandfivein

themorning.Youusedthistimetocombinethetwosequencesofthefalseandactualmurder

ultimatelycreatingamoviewhichsuggestedthatthemurdertookplaceat5:20inthemorningwhen

youweresleepingtightinyourbedscreatingaconcretealibiforthetwoofyou.Butyoucommitted

threemistakeshere.First,ifyouhadfilmedthetapeinthemorningfromtheangleyouused,the

reflectionoflightfromtheglasstowerwouldhavecreatedhalos.Butinthemovieyoubroadcasted,

aclearpicturewasvisible nohalostherewhichisntpossibleinthemorningclearlyindicatingthat

themoviehadbeenfilmedintheevening.ThisintriguedmewhenIfirstenteredthatroom.

Secondly,younevercleanedupthecottageproperlyleavingpiecesofthosesugarbottlebehind

whichattractedants.Theplacewasinfestedwithantsevenwhenwecamethesecondtimearound.

ThatprobablyhelpedEdinformulatinghissugarbottletheory.Third,whenyoucombinedthetwo

movies,you

forgot

to

wear

gloves.

All

this

while,

you

guys

had

been

wearing

gloves

to

make

sure

youdidntleaveanystrayfingerprintsbehindbutIsabelforgottodosowhenshewasbusy

combiningthetwomoviesleavingherfingerprintsbehind.Shehadreportedherlaptoptobe

missingbutstillshehadfreshfingerprintsonitsoitwouldhaveclearlyindicatedthatshehad

committedthecrimewhentheautopsyreportcameout.Whenanyoneelsewouldhavebeen

ruffledbythisgravemistake,thesetwocameoutwithaningeniousplan.LetEdexplainthispartto

you.

Edwardbegan:

Isabelknewthatshewouldcertainlybecaughtsoshedecidedtofakeherowndeath.Hersister

Alexwassupposedtovisitherthatnight.Buttheincessantrainhadcausedherflighttobe

cancelled.IsabeltoldeveryonethatshewontbecomingandtookmeandSkytodinnerthatnight.

Shewantedtocreateanimpressionthatsomeonehadimplantedthosefingerprintsonthatlaptop

inordertoframeher.Inreality,shewasframingpooroldSkyforhercrime.

Skysittingacrossthecoffeetablewasfullofchagrin.

Edcontinued:

Buthersisterwascomingtothemeetherbytrain.AlexhadbeenwaitingforIsabelinherroom.

Whenshe

was

casually

sitting

facing

the

other

side,

Isabel

grabbed

an

USB

chord

and

strangled

her.

Shealwayshadchemicalsinherroomassheoftenperformedchemistryexperimentstheresoshe

uncorkedabottleofsulphuricacidandpoureditalloverherdeceasedsistersfacecausingdeep

scarsleavingherfaceunrecognizable.Shechangedherclothesandworehersisterswhilegavethe

clothesshehadbeenwearingtoAlexcreatingtheimpressionthatshehadbeenmurderedwhile

IsabelimpersonatedAlexJacobson.Theirexternalfeatureswereverymuchthesame.Allanhasa

photoofthemandifyoudontconsidertheirfaces,theywouldlookidentical.Theybothhadblond

hair,samesortofhairstyleandwereofthesameheight.Aftercommittingthemurder,shetookthe

firsttrainforsomefaroffstate.Whenshewassafe,shecalledmeandmadethosehorriblesounds,

thuscompletingherplan.IsntthatthewayitwasallworkedoutTrevor.

YouguesseditrightEd.


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25 CyberMurders

Guessed!Theythoughtitout!saidofficerJervisjubilantly.

Actuallyno.Wethoughtthistheoryseemedfeasibleenough.Hercallingmeandmakingthose

remarksaboutthosebottleswerediabolicallycunningbuttheywereherundoing.Ihadnever

consideredhertobeacriminalbutthoseremarksmademesuspicious.Thentheuncoveringofthis

softwarething

and

her

financial

problems

all

seem

to

fit

together

ButweneededaconfessionfromTrevortoactuallycreateasolidcaseagainstyouatcourt.Our

theorywasbasedbroadlyonassumptionsandweneededconcreteevidence.Bretwasdeadandwe

didntknowwhereIsabelwassowedecidedtoentrapTrevor.SoEdcalledeveryonetoteaincluding

AnnaandSky.Yousmeltsomethingfishyandkeptabottleofcyanidecloseathand,justaswe

expectedyouwould.Weknewaboutyourhabitofusingcyanidetokillanycockroachormicethat

daredtoenteryourroom.Wehadreflectedhardwhetheryouwouldswallowastoryaslameas

Ronnieactuallytoldyou.Hesaidthathehadkepttheidentityofthemurderertohimselfandhad

notdisclosedittoanybodyelse.Youweredumbenoughtofallfarit.SeraandJacksawyouadding

cyanideto

Ronnies

cup

and

intervened

as

soon

as

Ronnie

was

about

to

drink

it.

They

had

disguised

themselvesascleaners.MysisterSerahasaphotographicmemoryandknewwhichcupwas

Ronniessoshespecificallyplacedthatverycupcontainingcyanideinfrontofyou.Whenyousay

everybodyelsedrinkingtheircoffeewithoutdying,youknewthatthefatalcupwaslyinginfrontof

you.Youhadntthegutstocommitsuicidesoyougaveyourselfaway.

TrevorgrowledwithangerandagitationandwasabouttoheadbuttInspectorJervisbutwascaught

byonepolicemanmidwaythrough.Theyforcedhimoutoftheroom.InspectorJervisstraightening

histie:

Weretaking

him

to

the

station.

Well

inform

you

as

soon

as

we

can

about

Isabel.

Thankyouofficer.repliedJack.

IknewyouDSDguyswouldbeabletosolvethecase.Thankyouforsolvingthecase.

Theofficerdepartedwiththehostageleavingthedetectivesbehind.Seraspokejovially:

WearegoingtoClassA

Yeahweare!saidtheothersecstatically

VAfewdayslaterthefollowingheadlinewasprintedinboldlettersinThetimes:

PrimeaccusedoftheCyberMurdersCasecaughtIsabelJacobson17,wasarrestedonLosAngelesAirportyesterdaywhenattemptingtoflee

toEurope.ShehasbeenaccusedofmurderofthreestudentsHerhearinghasbeenscheduledfor

17th

ofSeptember2008.

EdandSerawerereadingthisheadlineintheirhomeinDenver.Serasaidtoherbrother:


26/26

26 CyberMurders

Ireallyfeelforthem.IwouldntenjoyitifsomeonestolesomethingwhichIhadworkedfor

diligentlyandmyfuturedependedonitandIhadnowaytoretrieveit.

Butmurderingeveryoneforyourownselfishreasonisntthebestsolutionisit?repliedEd.

Itisnt

but

they

really

had

their

back

against

the

wall.

Lifeoftenputsyouinsuchsituations.Butweallknowthatthereisalwaysspringwaitingroundthe

corneraftereveryharshwinter..

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Cyber Murders