Looks can be deceiving

“There appears to have been a struggle.”

The captain and I were standing just inside the door to the apartment.

“I don't know, Cap. Don't you think it's a little over the top? I mean, look at that,” I said pointing to a shattered mirror.

“What about it?”

“Looks more like someone took a hammer to it than that it got knocked off a wall during a struggle.”

Cap walked over to the mirror and squatted down for a closer look. “You may be right, Les. But why make it look like a struggle?”

“To divert suspicion, of course.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, a struggle lends itself to thinking the victim fought off a stranger.”

“But you don't think so.”

“No.”

“You think the victim knew her killer.”

“You know she did, Cap.”

He slowly stood and faced me, his face a mask.

“The building security cameras were non-functional, but the neighbor across the hall has a door camera activated by movement.”

Cap paled.

“We have a clear video of the killer entering and leaving.”

Uniformed officers filed in.

“You don't understand. It was an accident…”

“Captain Maynard Brunson, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say…”