Avery Trudge and Murder: Episode Four

((Sorry for the delay on this one. Some computer issues combined with scheduling issues (for getting NekoShogun to read this–as of now, he still hasn’t read it so it may be of below-average quality) got in the way. EDIT AS OF JANUARY 11TH: Gak, I keep forgetting that I put these in bold. Fixed!))

Avery snapped his head towards the voice–it came from his left, in the open doorway to his bedroom. Standing in that doorway was a large man, just barely visible in the scant light from a lamp to the right of Avery’s couch. The man’s skin appeared yellow in the glow–

It does not!

–and his long, dark, disheveled hair nearly hid a gaunt face.

“And you are…?” Avery said, slowly standing up.

“Who I am is not important,” the man said, and Avery grinned.

“Of course, of course. May I ask why you’re here?”

The man shrugged. “To kill you.”

“And you haven’t already because…?”

“I like to play fair. Draw your gun–I know you have one.” The man reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun, keeping it pointed at the ground.

“This isn’t a very efficient method of assassination,” Avery said as he pulled out his own gun, a 38 Colt Detective Special snub nose revolver.

“I haven’t lost yet.”

“But the question is, how many people have you killed?”

The man smiled lazily. “Come now, at least give me a challenging target.” The man gestured for Avery to move away.

Avery promptly stepped backwards, readying his gin—

As the man exclaimed some oath in surprise, Avery stared down at the new weight in his hand–a small shot glass, filled with what did appear to be gin.

“Damn!” Avery said before dropping the glass (it shattered against the floor, the alcohol soaking into the rug) and diving to his left just as the man fired his weapon–judging by the splintering sound, the bullet had crashed into the kitchen’s small island counter.

Avery swore again, now behind the couch. He was paralyzed a moment, entirely unsure of what to d–his entire plan had rested on shooting first, but without a weapon….

The man shot his gun again, and this time Avery heard the bullet embed itself in his couch.

What happened to my gun?!

I don’t know! I think it was… a typo!

What does that even mean? Avery paused a moment, waiting for an answer. And can you do it to his?

Footsteps now entered Avery’s ears, drawing closer. Cursing once more, he slowly stood up to face the man.

“Ah, given in, have you?”

“Right.” Avery gulped.

The man smiled, and Avery feared that smile would be the last thing he saw as the man raised his gum….

The man’s brow furrowed, and he looked down–in his right hand was a bright pink blob where there had previously been a gun.

Seizing his chance, Avery rushed forward and punched the man straight in the jaw; the man crumpled to the ground quickly, as would be expected from someone of his size.

“Right,” Avery said. “Well.” Feeling rather disoriented, he stepped past the man’s body to fetch some rope.

—–

“Nnn…”

The man was awakening, now tied to one of Avery’s few chairs in the center of the living room. After a few more moments, the man’s eyes snapped open, appearing to survey their surroundings before resting on Avery’s face.

“What, may I ask, happened?” the man said, blinking a few times.

“You’re not allowed to ask questions at the moment.” Avery couldn’t resist a smile as the man tugged at his bonds.

The man shrugged. “Fair enough.”

“Name?”

“No thank you.”

“Who sent you to kill me?”

“I don’t think he’d like me to say.”

“Ah, so it’s a he?”

“…Maybe.”

Avery scowled, stepping back from the man and sitting on the couch, careful to avoid the bullet hole. “I haven’t called the police yet. You can still go free.”

“I plan on it–but not through the means you’re implying.”

“For better or worse, the police trust me. We could have gotten into quite a fight before I stopped you.”

The man raised his eyebrows. “I’m not a weakling, Mr. Trudge.”

“Nor am I.” Avery let this sink in before saying, “once again: who sent you?”

“I really do think you’re bluffing.”

Avery sighed. “Very well.”

Ignoring the man’s futile attempts to free himself, Avery stood up and made his way to a wall mounted phone, dialing 911.

—–

“That’s quite a story,” Felicia said once Avery had finished telling her what happened at his apartment–sans typos. “I assume the assassin was sent by whoever is trying to frame me?”

“That’s my guess,” Avery said, taking a sip of his drink and examining the bar around him, just in case.

“You were quite lucky to survive that.”

“I doubt it–he wasn’t a very good assassin. Those bodies in your apartment weren’t very effective, either.”

“So you think…?”

“Whoever’s got it in for you is only getting started.”

Felicia grimaced. “This won’t change anything, I assume?”

“It’ll change my paycheck.”

“Of course.”

Avery Trudge and Murder: Episode Three

The papers documented two missing persons; Yu Furukawa, a Japanese businessman who had gone missing three days prior; and Horace Princeman, an unemployed American. They were undoubtedly the two bodies in Felicia’s apartment; neither report had much information, but Avery now had the names and thus a lead. He left the police station immediately, taking care not to be seen by the tall detective. It couldn’t have been a coincidence that the papers were left on Krill’s desk; of all the detectives in the local police, Avery knew Krill to be the most incompetent. Whoever was trying to ruin Felicia had friends in the police. Or just some skilled burglars–either way, this person was powerful.

Avery’s first step was to speak with his contact, Mr. Ian Kilpatrick. Avery had qualms about seeing the bumbling, often useless man, but Mr. Ian Kilpatrick did have connections, and often knew things only rocks had the right to–and if there was any link between the two murdered men, Avery had to find out.

“Hello, Janie,” Avery said as he entered Mr. Ian Kilpatrick’s office; why he needed a secretary Avery didn’t know.

“Mr. Trudge!” Janie the secretary replied, her tightly curled red hair bouncing animatedly. “Mr. Kilpatrick has not seen you in some time!”

“No he hasn’t,” Avery said curtly. “May I go in?”

Janie looked perplexed as she peered up at Avery from her desk–then again, she had a tendency to look befuddled even when she had perfect knowledge of the situation at hand. “Yes, of course,” she said, picking up the phone on her desk then mumbling something unintelligible into it.

“I don’t think you–” Avery began, noticing she hadn’t dialed or pressed any of the numerous buttons on the phone’s base.

“He’ll see you now!” Janie said, giggling in a eerily maniacal fashion.

“Right.” Avery didn’t care to speak any longer with Janie, so he strode right past her as she stared intently at the door Avery had entered from.

Mr. Ian Kilpatrick was turned away from the room when Avery entered–Avery stared at the back of the tall chair in the back of the room for a moment before it slowly swiveled around, revealing an empty grey suit. Another one of Mr. Ian Kilpatrick’s tricks; Avery did nothing, itching for Mr. Ian Kilpatrick to reveal himself.

“Avery,” came a voice to Avery’s left; he turned in the voice’s direction to find himself face-to-face with a mirror. As Avery sighed, the mirror swiveled around to allow two passages on either side of it, both shrouded in darkness. Mr. Ian Kilpatrick soon stepped out of the left passage, wearing a suit identical to the one on the chair.

“Brilliant entrance,” Avery said, his voice dripping with sarcasm he knew Mr. Ian Kilpatrick would ignore.

“Yes, I do think so–are you here for any business in particular, or are you going to apologize?” Mr. Ian Kilpatrick strolled to his desk, carefully picking the suit from off the chair and sitting down.

Not knowing what he could possibly have done to warrant an apology, Avery brushed past the small talk:

“I need information on two men; Yu Furukawa and Horace Princeman.”

“You don’t say. I will need time, of course.” Mr. Ian Kilpatrick leaned forward, resting his hands on his desk. “What are you looking for?”

Avery thought a moment before speaking. “Any connection between them, between them and Felicia Spatt, or between them and anything that might get them killed.”

“That’s a quite extensive list of things to look for,” Mr. Ian Kilpatrick said gravely. “Sounds fun!”

“I expected nothing less of you.” Avery had expected quite less, of course, but flattery never hurt.

“Yes, well, that tends to happen. You may leave.”

And so Avery left, ignoring Janie’s attempts at a conversation as he passed by her desk. His destination was now his apartment; all the traveling of the day had taken time, and it was now early afternoon. He didn’t have specific plans, but he found that important things tended to happen just as he began to relax, which was occasionally useful.

Avery’s apartment was shrouded in darkness when he arrived, the drapes shut tight and the lights all off. He flicked on the nearest light as he entered, putting his coat on its rack and moving into his living room, where he turned on the light as well before sitting down on his couch.

And, sure enough, just as his mind drifted from the case and he begun to relax…

“Mr. Trudge. You haven’t been expecting me, I assume?”

Avery Trudge and Murder: Episode 2

((Just to clarify, this was intended to be posted on Thursday or Friday, but I planned badly and didn’t start writing till Friday and wasn’t able to finish it till today–and even then it’s not quite as good as I wanted it to be because, like I said, I planned badly and didn’t have enough time. Sorry! UPDATE: As of today, October 23rd, this has been edited to improve quality.))

“What? No, that can’t be right,” Felicia said as she walked through the doorway. “Oh… Yes, there are. The larger one wasn’t there before. I don’t assume this will change matters?”

Avery stared at the two bodies laying on the floor of Felicia’s living room. One was smaller, lying face up–an Asian man wearing a suit, quite young, and quite dead–apparently from a bullet hole in his chest. The other body was normal sized, face down and wearing a trench coat, black gloves and tall boots. A mane of black hair blocked any other details from view.

“Hmmm…” Avery looked up from the bodies and examined the room itself. It oozed the same dangerous, mysterious aura as Felicia: the walls and floor were painted in dark colors with deep colored wood furnishings.

“Avery?” Felicia repeated.

“This room is ugly,” Avery said. “And expensive-looking. How do you afford this, anyway?”

“Never mind that, Avery–it isn’t your business. I repeat: I don’t assume the additional body will change things?”

“It’ll double the price, that’s for sure.”

Felicia stared at Avery; he stared back.

“Fine. Get on it right away, though.”

“Of course. I’ll need someone to examine the bodies…”

—–

Avery returned to the apartment an hour later, a dark-haired woman in tow.

Just as they reached Felicia’s door, Avery spoke. “There are two bodies in here and I need you to perform a basic autopsy or whatever it is you do.” He rapped on the door.

“You want me to do what‽ I have no tools! What do you expect me to be able to tell you?” the woman exclaimed.

Avery began to reply, but was interrupted by the door opening.

“Who’s this?” Felicia demanded, staring down the woman.

“Kelly Kramer, city morgue. Avery–“, she jerked her head at Avery, “–here decided to use the… favor he won from me to have me perform an autopsy with no tools or proper environment.”

“Really.” Felicia smiled coolly and gestured for Avery and Kelly to enter.

Avery scowled at Felicia as he entered behind Kelly.

“Were the bodies originally in these positions?” Kelly said, peering down at the bodies.

“No, the big Caucasian was lying face down before,” said Avery. Before his departure, he and Felicia had turned over the body to do a basic examination, finding that the man’s face had been bashed in, obscuring most other details. “There are Polaroids on the coffee table, though.”

“Yes, I can see them.”

“Then why did you ask…?” Kelly ignored him, however, as she crouched down by the bodies.

Felicia tutted. “This is all quite distasteful. If you don’t mind, I’ll be in the kitchen. Avery, care to join me?”

“Of course.” Avery followed Felicia past Kelly and through a swivel door into the kitchen. In stark contrast to the living room, the kitchen was airily colored, with white, marble-like counter tops and cool blue furnishings.

“You’re sure she can be trusted?” Felicia said as she filled a kettle with water.

“She doesn’t owe me a favor–I have evidence that she’s been taking bribes. Tea, is it?”

“Blackmail… smooth. A clever move, for once.” Felicia put the kettle on her cook top. “Yes, tea. You may have some.”

“Tha–“

“I’m done,” came the voice of Kelly from the living room.

“Already?” Avery looked quizzically at Felicia for a moment before leaving the kitchen. “What’s your verdict?”

“He,” Kelly jerked her thumb at the Asian man, “appears to have been strangled in some fashion, though I can’t tell if it was the cause of death or not. He was definitely shot, from what I believe to be close range. He appears to have been dead for two or three days.

“He,” she pointed at the large man, “was bashed in the face with a thin object–no other physical trauma or signs of a struggle. Slightly later time of death, if I’m not mistaken.”

“That’s all?” Avery said.

“That’s all.”

Avery frowned. “I expected better of you.”

“Goodbye, Kelly,” said Felicia, walking into the room and interrupting Kelly’s burgeoning response.

“Oh, yes. I’ll… I’ll be going now. Bye, Avery.” Kelly left the apartment, looking slightly confused.

“Very intimidating, Felicia,” Avery said sarcastically once Kelly was out of earshot. “I wonder what’s up with her?”

“Who knows? Or cares, for that matter–she was no help. What’s your next move?”

“Police station.”

“Of course.”

—–

Half an hour later, Avery stood outside of the police station. As always, the dark stone walls emitted a sense of foreboding, as if they might at any second animate and eat the passersby alive. Avery ignored this sensation, however, and entered. Walking quickly, he briefly nodded to detective Krill, who was jumping up and down trying to snatch a set of keys from a tall detective who was swinging them in the air, laughing.

“Oh, Avery! How are you?”

Avery ignored Krill and quickened his pace, slipping through the entrance hall just before the tall detective looked around, confused.

Now in the area where all the detective’s desks resided that Avery could never remember the name of, Avery continued along at his brisk pace –until he glanced down and noticed a sheaf of papers, right on detective Krill’s desk. Stopping suddenly, he picked up the papers and read them intently.

“Ah ha.”

Avery Trudge and Murder: Episode One

It was a dark yet clear night, but in the city life, and therefore light, teemed. People rushed about their business; late night shopping, partying, crime (though this was largely done in darkness), among other things. But who were these people? Women, men, certainly, but also shoppers, and partyers, criminals…

In a darker, but definitely still light portion of a city, there was a bar. In this bar were, of course, people, and among them was Avery Trudge, sipping his drink. Alone. As usual.

“An atrocious opening and a jab at my social life? Are you trying to kill potential readership?”

Yes.

“I… What?”

Before any other actions could possibly take place, a woman walked up to Avery and sat down on the stool next to him.

“Felicia. Always a pleasure.” Avery said.

The woman, Felicia Spatt, looked at Avery gravely. “I doubt that. However, I do require your assistance.”

“Really? What for?”

“I discovered a body, quite dead, in my apartment. I need you to fix it.”

“Splendid. Give me ten minutes?”

Felicia slid a wad of cash across the counter, towards Avery. “Now.”

“Of course.”

The drive to Felicia’s apartment was silent, save for the tapping noise of Felicia’s fingers drumming on the seat beside her.

“Would you please stop that?” said Avery, briefly turning back to glare at Felicia.

“If I must.” Felicia’s fingers fell still, and she looked out the window to her left. “Nearly there.”

“Great.”

Three minutes later, Avery parked his car in a fortuitously–

Oh, are you using big words now?

–empty space directly outside Felicia’s apartment and got out of the car. Felicia followed suit, then walked briskly up to the building and let them in. She kept up the fast pace as she and Avery climbed the stairs to the fourth floor.

“So, how did you find the body?” Avery asked, breaching the silence.

“It’s in my living room. It wasn’t exactly a thrilling discovery.”

“Right.”

More silence.

I think they get it.

Not when I don’t narrate it!

“We’re here,” Felicia said as she pulled a key out of her trench coat. She unlocked the door and opened it, gesturing for Avery to go first.

Avery tentatively stepped through the doorway and groped at the wall next to him for a light switch. Finding it, he flicked it and the room was bathed in light.

“Felicia? There are two bodies here.”