Detective Cabrera

[TekindusT 3,809]

Table of Contents
Prologue: Introduction to Barnanova
Chapter I: A dead big shot
Chapter II: Some more pieces for the puzzle
Chapter III: Moving On
Chapter IV: Four Chinese Characters

Prologue: Introduction to Barnanova
Official name (in Catalan): Principat de Barnanova

Official name (in English): Principality of Barnanova

Official flag:

Motto (in Catalan): Filla del mar

Motto (in English): Daughter of the sea

 

Official languages: Catalan and English

Recognised languages: Spanish and Italian

 

Demonym: barnanovan

 

Goverment: Parliamentary Democracy

EU Accession: 7^th November 1986

 

Area: 208 sq.km. (192^nd in the world)

Population (in March 2010): 1,158,105 inhabitants (154^th in the world)

Population density: 5,567.81 inhabitants/sq.km. (5^th in the world)

 

GDP (nominal)
Total: 40.366 Million US$ (77^th in the world)
Per capita: 52.019 US$ (11^th in the world)

Gini Coefficient: 25.8
HDI (Human Development Index): 0.956 (8th in the world)

 

Currency: Euro

 

Time zone: GMT+1

Summer: GMT+2

 

Date format: dd/mm/yy

Drives on the: right

Internet TLD: .bn
Calling code: +425

Map of the Principality of Barnanova (click for full resolution):

UPDATES
Expect more or less one or two updates every two weeks; depending on how much RL work I have to do. I'm going to need time to think the stories fine...

DISCLAIMER
1) The only information I've got about the functioning of a homicide brigade is learnt from movies and TV series, so don't expect much accuracy here. I'll try my best, but if you find some details are wrong, please; leave a comment telling what's wrong and I'll fix it.
2) The region is still "incomplete" for me, so the map is still not definitive.
 

[TekindusT 3,809]

Chapter I: A dead big shot

Barnanova Metropolitan Police Main Precinct

I had my desk full of paperwork and with an empty cup of coffee near the edge of it. As usual, it was a controlled chaos. Everybody seeing it from the outside could think: "what an untidy woman" but the ones who know me well know I do my job as well as I can.

The telephone rang for the first time this morning.

"Cabrera, Homicides." I answered.

"We've got work for you, Virginia." said one officer.

"Perfect, I was beginning to get bored..." I said, with lots of irony

"A&V Building, Second Street."

"Wait, wait... A crime on the A&V Building?"

"I made myself the same question when I was called..."

"I'm coming."

I shut my computer and put on my jacket, while calling Felix, my Field Trainer Officer, my learner.

"Felix, we've got work to do..."

"What happened now?"

"An homicide."

"Very funny..."

I drove and Felix lightened up a cigarrette before getting in the road.

"This is going to kill you..."

"I know. But I like it." he simply said.

We went together out the subterranean parking and drove to the outside, going round the North Station; passing besides the St. Claudia Cathedral and trying not to get into the Old Quarter.

Felix and I spoke a little bit during the trip. We've got a cordial relationship, but never gone out together or have had a dinner together more than a few doughnuts inside the car. He kept smoking as I took the Grand Avenue.

The A&V Building is one of the most prominent structures in the Central Business District, occupeid by Autopistes & Viaductes corporation; one of the largest infrastructure contractors in the world. They also control toll roads and airport handling services throughout the world.

Two MetroPolices were discreteley waiting for us in the main entry.

"Good morning." I said, while taking off my sunglasses.

"Good morning, Detective. Please, follow us."

The two guys lead us to an elevator, we had to wait a few seconds for it. When the four cops were in, one of them pushed the 46th floor button.

"Who's the victim?" I asked.

"Alfred Negre, 41, A&V Chief of Operations."

"What do we know?"

"Nothing, only the info on his documents; until the Crime Scene guys are done with it."

We had to wait a little bit until we saw three men going out a bureau carrying some bags and boxes.

"It's all yours, Detective."

"Thanks. When do you think we can have some evidences?"

"Within three days we'll be able to tell you something."

"OK, have a good day."

"Same to you..."

Felix and I got into the bureau without any fear. The Crime Scene Investigators had taken all they needed.

Seeing a corps is always a shocking experience although you've seen a lot in your lifetime. Felix had seen less than me and he was more affected than me, but his face was better when he took his notebook.

"Stabbed in the back. Typical." I crouched to see better the knife. "Kitchen knife... seems to be no evidence of fight..."

"Everything seems to be on place in the desk." observed Felix.

"Yes... As always we find this situation, it has been made by someone who knew Negre very well..."

"Maybe we should begin interrogating his subordinates."

"He could have an army working for him, I prefer knowing him better."

We spend some minutes later there, and after leaving, agreed making a visit to his home. I had to ask the guys outside for Negre's ID card. Alfred Negre seemed to live not very far from here, only four streets north. We didn't know if Negre's family were aware of it, but we had to do our job. We left the 42nd floor and found the forensics guys going to Negre's bureau.

It was a short trip for us, we spent most of the time looking for an empty parking place.

According to the ID card address, the Negres live in the penthouse; so we had to take an elevator again. Somebody opened us the door when we called the intercom without even hearing us saying "MetroPolice".

"I think this guy earned more money in a single month than the money I'll earn in all my life..." Felix said.

"You've chosen a bad career if you want to be rich."

"I know."

"I've never asked you whiy you wanted to be a cop."

"It's a long story..." he replied.

"Then don't tell me."

We arrived to the penthouse a few seconds later and a domestic worker opened the door.

"Good morning." She seemed very sad. "You're the cops, right?"

"Yes."

"Come in. Mr. Negre's wife is in the living room."

"Thanks."

It seemed she had been waiting a long time for us. There were no children on sight, or maybe they hadn't kids.

"Good morrning. Detective Cabrera and Officer Jiménez, Metropolitan Police." we shaked our hands "I'm very sorry."

"Thanks." she said. Now I had herself nearer, I couldn't see many signs of having been crying. Maybe she was still a little shocked. "Please, take a seat."

"As you may know, we've come to ask you some questions, miss..."

"Cardinali, Emma Cardinali." In Barnanova, the woman keeps its surname after the marriage, as in other countries with latin heritage.

"OK, Ms. Cardinali. The question is obvious... Who could have done it and why?"

"I have no idea..." she said.

"As we've seeen, he was a pretty powerful man... This usually means enemies."

"He barely didn't talk about his job, He said that he had had enough work at the office."

"I see..." Felix was writing.

"Do you suspect of somebody? We think that his homicide hasn't been by chance, the supposed murder knew well what he or she was doing..."

"I only know his secretary; I've seen her a couple of times."

"Do you know her name?"

"Victoria... I don't know her surname."

"Victoria, fine... Friends? Somebody you go out with and related with A&V?"

"Alfred and me used to go to play golf with Robert Schottky and his wife, as far as I know, he's another big shot in A&V."

"We'll begin with them, Ms. Cardinali."

We spoke a couple of minutes about Mr. Negre and we left the building. I had a strange sensation after all.

"What do you think, Virginia?" Felix asked.

"I haven't liked Ms. Cardinali."

"Is it something related with the investigation or about anything else?"

"Don't know..." I finally said.

[penguin007 27]

Im excited about this CJ the city you have built appears to be excellent can't wait for more

Will

[Korot 6]

1) The only information I've got about the functioning of a homicide brigade is learnt from movies and TV series, so don't expect much accuracy here. I'll try my best, but if you find some details are wrong, please; leave a comment telling what's wrong and I'll fix it.quote>

Duly noted. I shall report to you any wrong details I find.

2) The region is still "incomplete" for me, so the map is still not definitive.quote>

It also looks incomplete to me, with those empty areas only bisected by some roads, looking ready to be developed.

Barnanova Metropolitan Police Main Precinctquote>

Nice building. Where'd you get it?

I had my desk full of paperwork and with an empty cup of coffee near the edge of it. quote>

I wouldn't suggest putting a cup of coffee, or any cup what so ever, near the edge of a table: high change of it falling on the floor, ending up broken.

As usual, it was a controlled chaos. Everybody seeing it from the outside could think: "what an untidy woman" but the ones who know me well know I do my job as well as I can.quote>

That doesn't mean that you have to do it very good, though I'm willing to give you the positive side of the doubt.

The telephone rang for the first time this morning.quote>

Local time is? E.g: how long has she been at work already?

"Cabrera, Homicides." I answered.

"We've got work for you, Virginia." said one officer.

"Perfect, I was beginning to get bored..." I said, with lots of irony

"A&V Building, Second Street."

"Wait, wait... A crime on the A&V Building?"

"I made myself the same question when I was called..."

"I'm coming."

quote>

Being near that building stops you from being killed? That must be a very special design.

"This is going to kill you..."

"I know. But I like it." he simply said.quote>

What's going to kill him? The smoking, or letting Cabrera drive?

The A&V Building is one of the most prominent structures in the Central Business District, occupeid by Autopistes & Viaductes corporation; one of the largest infrastructure contractors in the world. They also control toll roads and airport handling services throughout the world. quote>

Still no reason why being near that building would stop you from getting killed...

Felix and I got into the bureau without any fear. The Crime Scene Investigators had taken all they needed.

Seeing a corps is always a shocking experience although you've seen a lot in your lifetime. Felix had seen less than me and he was more affected than me, but his face was better when he took his notebook.

"Stabbed in the back. Typical." I crouched to see better the knife. "Kitchen knife... seems to be no evidence of fight..."

"Everything seems to be on place in the desk." observed Felix.

"Yes... As always we find this situation, it has been made by someone who knew Negre very well..."

"Maybe we should begin interrogating his subordinates."

"He could have an army working for him, I prefer knowing him better."

quote>

The CSI's took al they needed, but did not take the body? I think that would be one of the prime things you need to take care of: it could tell you a lot about the cause of death plus any other anomalies.

We spend some minutes later there, and after leaving, agreed making a visit to his home. I had to ask the guys outside for Negre's ID card. Alfred Negre seemed to live not very far from here, only four streets north. We didn't know if Negre's family were aware of it, but we had to do our job. We left the 42nd floor and found the forensics guys going to Negre's bureau.quote>

Forensics isn't the CSI department? I though they were pretty similar.

Also, notifying the widow of the diseased is one of the most important things a detective has to do when he is investigating a murder case: the widow's reaction to his death could be an important clue.

"I think this guy earned more money in a single month than the money I'll earn in all my life..." Felix said.

"You've chosen a bad career if you want to be rich."

"I know."

"I've never asked you whiy you wanted to be a cop."

"It's a long story..." he replied.

"Then don't tell me."

quote>

If you want to be rich, you're indeed on the wrong side of the law if you're a cop. Unless you're a corrupt one, of course.

"Good morrning. Detective Cabrera and Officer Jiménez, Metropolitan Police." we shaked our hands "I'm very sorry."quote>

I think that 'We're sorry for your loss' would have been better. Not only does it say that your colleague also feels sorry, but it also makes clear what you're sorry for.

"Thanks." she said. Now I had herself nearer, I couldn't see many signs of having been crying. Maybe she was still a little shocked. "Please, take a seat."quote>

That's why you should be the first to tell her the bad news: then you'd be sure.

In Barnanova, the woman keeps its surname after the marriage, as in other countries with latin heritage.quote>

'Its' surename? Shouldn't that be 'her' surname? And: Hmm, I didn't know that. Nice fact.

"OK, Ms. Cardinali. The question is obvious... Who could have done it and why?"

"I have no idea..." 

she said.

"As we've seeen, he was a pretty powerful man... This usually means enemies."

"He barely didn't talk about his job, He said that he had had enough work at the office."

"I see..." Felix was writing.

"Do you suspect of somebody? We think that his homicide hasn't been by chance, the supposed murder knew well what he or she was doing..."

"I only know his secretary; I've seen her a couple of times."

"Do you know her name?"

"Victoria... I don't know her surname."

"Victoria, fine... Friends? Somebody you go out with and related with A&V?"

"Alfred and me used to go to play golf with Robert Schottky and his wife, as far as I know, he's another big shot in A&V."

"We'll begin with them, Ms. Cardinali."

quote>

She doesn't know much, does she? Perhaps that's why you don't like her.

Anyway, I think this is the first CJ with a detective story in it, which is quite interesting, and I think you're doing very good. Subscribed.

Regards,

Korot

[SounderBruce 173]

Woah...a serialized CJ! You are leading the way in introducing modern genres of CJs! Love the buildings, where did you get the A&V Building?

[Follarch 326]

Another story CJ! Me likey.

I'll have to come back to this one. The story is good, the region is great and the city looks like it had time put into it. All wonderful things. Well done!

[TekindusT 3,809]

Comment Replies

penguin007: Thanks for commenting!

Korot: Wow, thanks for that massive comment! I think I had never recieved such an exhaustive one... First of all, the building you say is the Ympyratalo [link]. About the time the phone rang, you're right, I should have written the time. On the crime scene procedure, another user gave me some tips in the new CJ section, I'm trying to improve in this aspect. And finally, about linguistics things, you may have noticed I'm not an English native speaker, so I try to make the less mistakes as possible, but I still make some...

ComputerGuy890100: Thanks for the comment! I don't know who was the first person that made a serialized CJ, but you can be sure it wasn't me. I simply do what I would like to see. The building I call "A&V Building" comes by default with the game in the Euro-contemporary tileset, it is a CO$$$ 4x4 building and it is an imitation of Frankfurt's Messeturm.

Archean: Thanks for your comment! I like stories too, although I don't follow your CJ's because I've never been really into Sci-Fi. Anyways, I hope you don't have any problem with an idea I've taken from you...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter II: Some more pieces for the puzzle

Previously, on Detective Cabrera:

Alfred Negre, Autorutes i Viaductes Chief of Operations; is found dead on his bureau. Cabrera and Jiménez began the investigation talking with his wife and she points two people, one of them, Negre's secretary.

-------------------

Second Street, City of Barnanova, 11:34 a.m.

The credit for the "movie style pic" idea is entirely for Archean. I liked it when I saw it and I thought it fits fine with the style I try to give to this CJ, but I insist I took this idea from Neo Follomer Syndicate CJ.

“Who do we interrogate first?” Felix asked.

“Let’s go interrogating his secretary. I guess she was the one who has to see first the people visiting Negre, so she may have seen or heard something.”

“I agree. Let me talk with A&V people.”

Felix took his cellular phone, and called the Main Precinct. In a few seconds, they gave him A&V information directory main phone number. He called and gave Virginia the cellular.

“A&V Information. Good morning.” a man asked. His voice was perfect for a radio programme.

“G’morning. This is Detective Cabrera, Metropolitan Police.” She had to shout because a motorbike without exhaust pipe passed by.

“Can I help you?”

“I guess you know what has happened here this morning or maybe yesterday...”

“Yes, we’re all devasted...”

“I know... Well, we’re going to interrogate some of your people, so we may need some information about them. I guess there will be no problem...”

“We can only share this kind of data with the police.”

“OK, then. We need the complete name and address of Alfred Negre’s secretary; and if possible, where she is right now.”

The information man seemed to be typing something on a computer. Some seconds ago she said:

“Victoria Montbau, Chief of Operations Secretary, lives in 135, East Grand Avenue, do you want her phone number?”

“Yes, please.” And she said to Felix: “135, East Grand Avenue”

“She has been sent home when the cleaners discovered... well, discovered the corpse.”

The man told the phone number and Felix wrote all. Cabrera finally hang up.

“I prefer going to interrogate Montbau at her home instead of making her go to the precinct... Do you know where 135, East Grand is?”

“I guess more or less near Little Tokyo Mall.”

“Easy. Let’s go.”

They took the car and took Grand Avenue again. They passed besides the lower part of the Old Quarter and along the first beach Barnanova had, there were some elder people into the water, the ones the TV interviews and they say they do this every single day of the year. Virginia Cabrera kept driving while Felix kept smoking.

“Where are we going to have lunch today?”

“I’m tired of having lunch in the dining room, I think I’ll go outside today.”

“Then I’m coming.”

They passed now along Two Avenues District, the neighbourhood that tried to be a touristic place 20 years ago and it failed. At least, you can find some good seafood restaurants here.

Only 300 meters forward you can find Little Tokyo. There’s not a Japanese community here, but Little Tokyo Shopping Mall and major subway hub was designed to “emulate” Tokyo. This is the greatest example of urban renewal in Barnanova, because only 15 years ago there was a lagoon and some fishermen shacks in the place where the mall and station, and one of the most cosmopolitan and modern districts stand today.

Number 135 was very near, in a towering condominium, so Virginia and Felix decided to park the car on the mall underground parking.

The information man said Victoria Montbau was at home, so the cops called the intercom.

“Who is it?”

“MetroPolice, can we go in?” the door opened.

They took an elevator again to the 12th floor. The building wasn’t as luxurious as the one the Negres live. Middle class.

Victoria Montbau was waiting for them with the door open. You don’t need to be very clever to see she was absolutely devasted. She was wearing no make-up and a simple track-suit.

“Good morning.” Victoria said, letting them go in.

“Good morning. We are Detective Cabrera and Field Trainer Officer Jiménez. As you may guess, we’re going to make you some questions...” Victoria sat on the sofa, they did it too.

It seemed Victoria lived with her boyfriend, there were several pictures of them scattered on the living room. Victoria could identify a dozen of  pieces of furniture bought on an Ikea store.

“OK...”

“First of all... Who found Alfred Negre dead?”

“The cleaners did. They arrive to the building three hours before the office workers.” She said, sure of this.

“What hour do you begin your turn?”

“Nine o’clock. Why?”

“We need this data to compare it with the forensics time of death and to see if everybody tells the truth.”

“I see... You can be sure of it.”

“Yes... Emm... and what time do you end?”

“Between five or six o’clock in the evening...”

“Did someone go into the bureau during the afternoon?”

“I don’t know...”

“Did you stay all the time in your place?”

She stayed in silence.

“No, I didn’t... I had to go to the bathroom...” she said.

“What time, approximately?”

“Maybe between four and half past four...”

“Could the killer have time to murder Negre while you were out?”

“I only was away for five minutes.”

“Enough.”

Silence again.

“Talking about another thing... how would you describe your relation with Alfred Negre?”

“Professional. He was the boss, I am his secretary.”

“Nothing else?”

“Yes, nothing else! What are you thinking?” she shouted, she seemed offended.

“If you lie to us we’ll know sooner or later, and this is going to be your fault; so we’re going to believe your words from now on.” Cabrera said, without losing her temper.

“I only was her secretary. Maybe we shared five or six meals during the last year, always because of the work.”

“Any journeys? I mean, to congresses and this kind of things...”

“No. Only his fellow Robert Schottky went abroad. Alfred didn’t liked flying, he was kinda aerophobic...”

“I see. You may know better than his wife if he had enemies...”

“I couldn’t tell...”

“Who was Negre’s closest person? More than his wife?”

“If he was close to somebody, Schottky is the man.”

“Where can we find him?”

“As far as I know, he’s away now.” Victoria said, thinking.

“Then we’ll call A&V again...”

They stayed in silence for a few seconds.

“I think we’re done with you, Ms. Montbau...” Felix took a business card from his pocket and gave it to Victoria while Virginia kept talking “but please, keep this card because we may ask you something more when we’ve got more details... And if you remember something relevant, don’t hesitate on calling me, day or night.”

Virginia and Felix left the apartment quickly as they thought they had disturbed Victoria enough.

“Seems things are getting clear...” Felix said, while walking towards Little Tokyo Mall.

“Not so fast, my Padawan.” She answered with some humour.

“You’ve reminded me Yoda now...”

“I prefer to remind you princess Leia. At least, she’s a woman...”

It was lunch time, so they drove to the Main Precinct with the intention of having lunch on a nearby resturant; following the Cabrera Rule: “talking about work during lunchtime is absoultely prohibited.”

During the afternoon, Cabrera did all the paperwork for the case; you know, the boring part. She discussed the next steps to make with Felix, some other investigators and some cups of coffee. The forensics results would be ready late tomorrow, so; since then, they’ll have to work with the information they got.

Finally, after that afternoon meeting, they all headed home. Virginia was lucky to live near the Metropolitan Police Main Precinct just in front of the Metropolitan Goverment Building. The place where serious decisions are taken.

Virginia arrived home and had to turn on the heating system, the laptop and the TV. It was cold as she had been out all day long and she lives alone. Always alone.

[SounderBruce 173]

Interesting episode...the movie-styled pics are really cool too!

[Korot 6]

Korot: Wow, thanks for that massive comment! I think I had never recieved such an exhaustive one...quote>

Thank you! I don't have the time to make such an extensive one this time 'round, though it won't be a small one either. And thanks for the link! About the native English thing: I can't remember that you've put it in one of your updates, though now I know.

The credit for the "movie style pic" idea is entirely for Archean. I liked it when I saw it and I thought it fits fine with the style I try to give to this CJ, but I insist I took this idea from Neo Follomer Syndicate CJ.quote>

What's so movie style about them? (I somehow think that isn't a good English sentence...)

“A&V Information. Good morning.” a man asked. His voice was perfect for a radio programme.

“G’morning. This is Detective Cabrera, Metropolitan Police.” She had to shout because a motorbike without exhaust pipe passed by.

“Can I help you?”

“I guess you know what has happened here this morning or maybe yesterday...”

“Yes, we’re all devasted...”

“I know... Well, we’re going to interrogate some of your people, so we may need some information about them. I guess there will be no problem...”

“We can only share this kind of data with the police.”

“OK, then. We need the complete name and address of Alfred Negre’s secretary; and if possible, where she is right now.”quote>

How can that man be sure that they are real cops? Anyone could claim they are over the phone...

“She has been sent home when the cleaners discovered... well, discovered the corpse.”quote>

How else could you call it?

They passed now along Two Avenues District, the neighbourhood that tried to be a touristic place 20 years ago and it failed. At least, you can find some good seafood restaurants here.quote>

Why is it called Two Avenues District? I can see only one in the picture.

Only 300 meters forward you can find Little Tokyo. There’s not a Japanese community here, but Little Tokyo Shopping Mall and major subway hub was designed to “emulate” Tokyo. This is the greatest example of urban renewal in Barnanova, because only 15 years ago there was a lagoon and some fishermen shacks in the place where the mall and station, and one of the most cosmopolitan and modern districts stand today.quote>

That station doesn't look modern to me.

Victoria Montbau was waiting for them with the door open. You don’t need to be very clever to see she was absolutely devasted. She was wearing no make-up and a simple track-suit.quote>

Why is someone devestad when she wears no make-up? What's wrong with women not wearing make-up?

“We need this data to compare it with the forensics time of death and to see if everybody tells the truth.”quote>

In other words: you need it to check her alibi. I think that would be a simpler explanation.

“Could the killer have time to murder Negre while you were out?”

“I only was away for five minutes.”quote>

Please tell me: if the cleaners found the body, they did so during the morning. So, why is she asking Montbau about her day? He would already have been dead by then, or am I missing something?

“Yes, nothing else! What are you thinking?” she shouted, she seemed offended.quote>

Well, you need plenty of hands to count all bosses who have had affairs with their secretaries. I'm just saying...

“Seems things are getting clear...” Felix said, while walking towards Little Tokyo Mall.

“Not so fast, my Padawan.” She answered with some humour.

“You’ve reminded me Yoda now...”

“I prefer to remind you princess Leia. At least, she’s a woman...”quote>

Grammar errors make last line look weird, but I wonder what is getting clear according to Felix. In my eyes, you know nothing more now, than you did five minutes ago, apart from a new name.

And I think that'll be it for today. I suggest you keep working on your grammar, as there are still many mistakes. I decided not to highlight all of them, though I did have to suppress the urge to do report them. Anyway, I do like the story, though it appears to have the same cliché as other detective series from tv: the older one always knows best, and the younger one is always incorrect. I think it would be really nice if someone tried a different approach for once, though I think it would be to late for that in this story, isn't it?

Regards,

Korot

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Great flag, nice city and cool story. A fine way to start a CJ. Rock on!

[TekindusT 3,809]

Comment Replies

ComputerGuy890100: Thanks for your comment! Remember the movie-styled pics aren't an idea from me...

Korot: Whoa, another comment full of questions, thanks for it! The movie-styled pics are this ones with the two black bars on the top and the bottom, giving a panoramic effect and thus, resembling seen on TV or in a cinema.

The Two Avenues District is crossed by two avenues you've got to believe in me, and Cabrera asks the secretary about her day to know if there was something out of Negre's routine. Suming up, OK, you've caught me in some storyline details, but if I was a real writer I would be writing a novel on my own and not a CJ. Anyways, I'll think on what you've told me about Felix's role.

Schulmanator: Thank you for commenting, hope to see you around here again!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previously, on Detective Cabrera...

Cabrera and Felix went to Negre's secretary apartment and interrogated her. They only took more questions from there, so the cops have to investigate a little bit more.

Chapter III: Moving on

Virginia's alarm clock rang at its usual time, 7:00 a.m. The sun was rising outside and the first commuters were heading to their workplaces.

She got up and went straight to the bathroom, she turned on the radio and got into the shower; thinking on what she had to do today. Felix and her yesterday agreed on making different tasks. She would go to the security agency where A&V's security camera recordings are kept and Felix would head to the A&V building again to make some more questions.

When Virginia was done with the shower, she started her netbook and ran Google Earth, typing "Segurpros" and a couple of pins popped up. One of them was pointing to Segurpros HQ, outside the City of Barnanova, and the other one was pointing to an industrial enclosure inside the City. They called yesterday to Segurpros telling the Metropolitan Police would make a visit, but Cabrera didn't knew the way to get there by car.

Half an hour later, Felix Jiménez was taking his breakfast in front of the TV after having had his shower and shaving. He had to take a train to the City from the Borough of Port of Barnanova, where he lives; but during rush hours trains run every ten minutes.

Cabrera had her breakfast as fast as she could and switched off all her electronic devices except her iPhone, which would tell her the way to the Segurpros facility. She went down the street and looked at the Metropolitan Goverment building just in front of her apartments building, without any activity inside because "politicians begin their workday at 11:00".

Felix took his train in Fennel Street Station, very near the Port and called Virginia when the train started moving.

"Good morning, Virginia."

"G'morning. I'm driving, Felix." she replied, a little bit nervous. In Barnanova, using a cellular phone while driving is only allowed if an integrated hands-free system is used.

"Everything allright?"

"Yes, I'm going to the Segurpros facility. What about you?"

"I'll be on the CBD in half an hour if everything goes fine." the signal faded for a few seconds as Virginia was driving along an underpass below the rail tracks.

"Maybe a little bit early, don't you think?"

"I don't want to disturb the workers very much..." he said.

"OK. When do you think you'll have finished?"

"Don't know... I guess I'll be at the Main Precinct at noon, more or less..."

"Then see you there, have a nice day."

"Same to you, bye."

Virginia drove along North Avenue and passed besides the Metropolitan Police Main Precinct, some meters later she arrived to Cemetery Place and took Parliament Avenue to the right. The morning news were terrible as usual, but at least traffic was pretty decent today.

Meanwhile, Felix was trying to get some sleep while his train was running towards the City and besides Barnanova's seaport. His girlfriend and him went out last night and he hadn't slept enough.

Virginia still had to go across the West End District, which is a traffic nightmare during rush hours. She changed her radio station, from morning news to music. The West End was, as its name suggests, City of Barnanova's edge, but the construction of the A1 and A3 highways and later, the underground A5 and Little Tokyo Station made this part of the city grow drammatically. Nowadays, residential hi-rises dominate the West End skyline.

Cabrera finally arrived to the Segurpros facility nearly three quarters of hour after she had left her apartment. Three Segurpros workers, all dressed with a grey uniform, seemed to be waiting for her, but two of them left when she parked her car.

"Good morning. Metropolitan Police Detective Cabrera." she said, offering her hand to the worker.

"Hello, good morning. I'm Max Torres, from video recordings department. Please, follow me."

Max Torres leaded the way to the video archive, Cabrera felt she had been walking for hours inside an intrincate labrynth occasionally interrupted by a metals detector.

"I guess you're looking for an A&V's recording..."

"Yes, I need to watch the recordings from the cameras placed nearly Alfred Negre's bureau, on the 46th floor. At least, the ones in front of the elevator and the stairs and, if possible, the nearest to the bureau door."

A couple of minutes later, Felix's train was passing besides Shipyards Stadium, the home field for Athletic Barnanova F.C.

The technician searched the system among yesterday's recordings following the criteria Virginia imposed. Only three cameras were suitable for what Cabrera had asked, so they took the three DVD discs and proceeded to watch all of them.

"What time do you think this man was murdered?"

"We will know exactly this evening, but we suspect he was killed between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m." the technician pushed some buttons and the recording went fastforward to 3:30 p.m.

After three more stations, Felix arrived to King's Mills Station, the southern transport hub in the City of Barnanova. He was in a bad mood because he had been waken by an elder woman yelling this was the terminus station.

Felix went off the station and breathed deeply. He prefered going to the A&V building by walk instead of taking the Metro, because he had to take the Metro everyday for his commuting.

Meanwhile, Virginia and Max Torres discovered an strange thing on the recordings. The nearest camera didn't focus directly on Negre's bureau, so they couldn't see anybody getting in or out the bureau, but they were agree in that there was an employee which had a strange behaviour.

All the employees on the pics walked along the corridors in a normal pace, but the strange employee was walking faster than the others. Furthermore, he was wearing an extensive black beard which covered half of his face while no other employees wore a beard.

"I bet this beard is a fake one."

"Do you think?"

"Absolutely. Can you focus the image?"

"Yes, but don't expect the outstanding results you can see on the CSI series..."

"I know, I know..."

They noticed something strange on the suspect's right side of his neck, seemed a tattoo, some Chinese characters. Fortunately, the man passed very near a camera and it could record the tattoo perfectly.

"Please, print the tattoo..."

"OK."

A nearby laser printer began working and in a few seconds Virginia could have the picture on her hands.

Felix got into the A&V building and he headed to the reception trying to ask the reception guy; but he was being scolded by a woman, who seemed to be a human resources boss. Felix patiently waited until the woman was done and she had dissapeared.

"Good morning, I'm Field Trainer Officer Jiménez... What an argument, right?"

"Yes... I think I deserve it..."

"Why?"

"See? I haven't had time to get shaved this morning and we aren't allowed to grow a beard more than a discreet moustache or a well-cared goatee... You know, corporation policies..."

"I see..." Felix replied. And he began his questions.

[MR.X.1 1]

Hi

looks pretty good. where did you park these markers actually prohibited, the office tower of building 3? Beautiful set is the kings cross station and the bank a quarter of the penultimate building.

the port you is not managed so well, because as far as I know, drive boats do not like the side and already not at all backward. I also think that there are too many maxis-building.

but I am looking forward to another update.

[Follarch 326]

I really am digging your style of CJ showcasing here. This single Law Aand Order episode is showing us many areas of that mega city.

Kudos to this! Now all this needs are the dun dun transitions.

[TekindusT 3,809]

Comment Replies

MR.X.1: Thanks for your comment! Let's see if I can answer your questions... I think you're saying the zig-zag parking places on the fourth picture; they come with the lot where Gare du Nord by xannepan stands. About the port, I have to say I'm not very happy with it. SOMY's stuff is greatly BATted but (unfortunately) is not very varied and I have to make my ports very small. You're right on the ship issue, but this is my best... Finally, about the "Too Much Maxis Syndrome" I have to say this is my building style and I have a very limited hard drive, so I like and I have to play with the default buildings but I'm aware that sometimes it can be quite repetitive.

Archean: Thanks for your comment! I know this is not your favourite style, so I'm even more glad you like it...

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Chapter IV: Four Chinese Characters

Previously, on Detective Cabrera...

While Virginia Cabrera was watching the recordings in Segurpros, Felix Jiménez was making some questions inside the A&V Building. They agreed meeting at the Main Precinct.

Felix's cellular phone was ringing when he was about to take a little rest.

"FTO Jiménez, Homicides."

"Hey, it's me, Virginia."

"Hey, have you found something useful?"

"We're near. I've got on my hands a picture of the presumed murder and it shows he has a tatoo on his neck."

"Ouch... Well, that's cool, doesn't it?"

"And I suspect his beard is a fake one, but I'm not sure about it." she said.

Felix stayed in silence.

"What happens?"

"I've spoken with the reception clerk and he has told me that the employees working with the public aren't allowed to grow a beard?"

"I guess this narrows the circle..." she said, not very convinced.

"Or not. What's your plan now?"

"It's going to be difficult to convince the inspector... I want an officer on every tattoo parlor in the nation."

"Have you thought that this tattoo could have been made anywhere in the world?"

"I know, but we've got to begin with something..." she took a breath "Go to the precinct, now."

"OK, OK. See ya."

"Bye..."

They both headed to the Main Precinct by their own means, Virginia by car, Felix by Metro.

The meeting with he Inspector, while having their lunch; was easier than Cabrera thought, and fifteen minutes later, Metropolitan Polices from all the Principality were on the move. Cabrera and Felix were going to make some questions in the City of Barnanova.

Their first stop was Beach Tattoo, on West Grand Avenue and very near the sea and the old downtown. All tattoo studios had a registry where the name, ID number and tatoo they had made were kept. The owner had no problem on showing the registry to two MetroPolices, and they surfed through pages and pages of names, numbers and impressive drawings, from tiny butterflies to back-covering dragons. Several of them resembled the Chinese characters the suspect had on his neck, but they had no luck.

They got into the car to their next tattoo parlor; it is placed inside Barnanova Galleries, they had to take Grand Avenue again and then, running through the chaotic city center. Cabrera started the radio and tuned an information station. They were talking about the football game tonight. Athletic Barnanova F.C. was playing its Champions League match against Olympique Lyonnais and the French team was on town since the morning.

"Are you going to watch the match to the stadium?" Felix asked.

"If we're done with all this soon, yes." Cabrera was an Athletic Barnanova supporter, while Jiménez was a hardcore Stowers Sports Union, supporter. Football and American football are seen as religions in Barnanova, and they both avoided talking about sports in order to keep their sanity.

"Too bad the Stowers will never reach the Champions League..."

"Who knows what could happen?"

It was a good time to get into the tattoo studio. People was still at home, at their workplace or at their school and the mall wasn't as crowded as it usually is. The tattoo studio only had one customer, and he had to wait until the MetroPolices had all their questions answered.

The registry show some other Chinese characters, even one made on a neck, but the characters didn't seem to be the same.

"Do you have any idea of what do this characters say?"

"Well, I don't know Chinese but I've made lots of tattoos so I recognise some of this characters at fist sight. The second one stands for "Eagle" and the third one for "fly" or something like this."

"I see..."

Cabrera and Felix went back to the parking and got into the car again. On the radio, they were talking about how Barnanovese athletes were performing on the Simlympics, and everybody agreed they were succeeding. In 12 days, Barnanova had won four medals, one silver (mens greco-roman lightweight) and three bronze (wrestling mens greco-roman bantamweight, fencing mens teams epeé and swimming womens 200 meters individual medley). Some other athletes had been very near of winning a medal, anyways they had performed very well. Now, the radio commentators were making jokes about Barnanova's wrestling team, "what do this guys eat for breakfast?".

They headed to the CBD now, taking Third Street to the south. Among the skyscrapers and Starbucks, there were some small rowhouses remainining, where some liberal professionals do their job. There was a tiny tattoo studio inside one of them.

Suming up, they had no luck this time, but they got some worth information. The tattooer gave the cops the address of a Chinese tattoo parlor, specialized in characters, dragons and other Chinese mytology. Maybe they could find the suspect there. That place was placed in West End Main Street, more or less two kilometers northwest the CBD.

Heading north again, they took East Grand Avenue while commuters were going out their offices taking the streets and clogging them with cars. Virginia and Felix decided to take The Bridge and taking West Grand Avenue.

The West End was, as usual, crowded and the tattoo parlor was a good example of this. The billboard on the door said clearly it was a tattoo parlor specialized on Chinese motifs. There were three customers waiting for their tattoos and there were three workers on duty. The cops had to persuade the owner to pay attention to them.

The cops explained the same thing for the fourth time this afternoon and the owner and them went to see the registry. There were a ton of Chinese characters and they needed an entire hour to surf through the massive database this place had. But finally, they found it.

"Here it is." the owner said. "I fly higher than an eagle."

"Name and ID, please."

"Marc Banderes, 28818..."

"Gotcha..." said Felix.

"Not so fast, man."

"Well, at least we've got a name; we can put a search and seizure order over him, don't we?"

"First of all I want to know everything about him, and then, we'll see. We don't even know where is him right now, he could be anywhere in the world."

They went out to the street.

"It's still early, let's go to the Precinct. I guess the forensics results will be there now." she said.

"What about the game?"

"I'll call my dad to see if he wants to come... It's kinda boring going to see your team alone...