Zy's Novel Post 25

Novel total =
Post total = 363 words


The vehicle stopped on the dusty street in front of a two story syntha-wood town house. “I do not see the sense in this. Goumbi swore he did not go to Fudlack’s office.” D’pa climbed out of the vehicle and waited for them.

Zy eased out of the vehicle, trying to keep from stretching his stomach muscles. It didn’t stop the bruises from aching. “Look, there are three people singled out as the last who saw Fudlack alive and dead: you, Strual, and Goumbi. You’re all the first suspects.” D’pa’s face darkened but Zy ignored him. “The killer or more accurately whoever watched Fudlack’s head explode had feet.” She pointed down.

D’pa glanced at his feet, and Zy retracted her pointing finger. “Feet, not leg tetacles. I found clear footprints in the blood moving from where he stood to the door. I thought it would be more diplomatic to question Goumbi before swabbing your bathroom for blood residue.”

Xeryl stepped closer, probably to intersect an angry D’pa. “And questioning Goumbi accomplishes what?”

Zy shrugged as she turned her attention to the townhouse’s front door. “Liars are always suspicious when they lie during a murder investigation.” A thick layer of dust coated the steps up to the front door.

D’pa looked up from his feet. “You cannot think I killed Fudlack.”

“Xeryl, explain motive to him.” Zy bent closer to the steps. No footsteps had disturbed this dust recently. She put her foot down on the first step and picked it up with one clear foot print left behind.

Mealte was already at her side when she looked down for him. “The house is too still, has no life.”

Zy looked back at the tarmac street butting up to the dry, sandy ground before the house. How long would it take for it to get blown across the steps and trapped in the corners? That depended on local weather conditions, but something else felt wrong about this place. It didn’t have the same hum as its neighbors. She pulled her gun out of its holster.

Xeryl reached her side. “What are you doing?”

“Something’s wrong. And nobody’s been in or out of here for possibly the last two days.”

“He could have another door.”

“Then why is the power shut off? I don’t like it and would prefer to treat it like a hostile location. If that’s okay with you?” He stepped back and Mealte stepped forward.