Murder Afar

By Selim Yenel

In this world, it is impossible to kill someone and get away with it, which is why it’s so stunning when not one but two murders occur. The killer left no evidence, and authorities are shocked. An emergency meeting is called as the Security Board investigates, but this case requires thinking outside the box—namely, bringing in an alien detective.

Remi Strand is a man from Earth. He is recruited to this world where no one has been murdered in three centuries to try to make sense of an ineffable mystery. It Remi accepts the case, he will embark on a journey to an entirely different planet. Here, as an outsider, he needs all his wits about him.

He must solve the impossible: how murder could have happened in a society seemingly “healed” of this universal horror. He pursues a brilliant killer, but Remi is no novice. In this place far from home, he will catch a criminal and hopefully make it back to Earth in one piece.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Aug 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781480880665

Selim Yenel

Selim Yenel is a former Turkish ambassador. This is his first novel.

Book preview

I

A re you sure? This was a rhetorical question as his partner was always serious and would never even jest on information from headquarters. As expected his partner ignored him. Then he turned with a quizzical look.

The information is quite clear, but this is odd. He said.

What is odd? Asked the younger of the two.

We are not getting instructions, but a request. They want us to get help; they request ideas on resolving this issue.

This is not an issue. This is a major problem. Even if they want to couch it in their usual bland style, this is something that is beyond all of our expertise. They must be really desperate if they’re asking for our help.

Look at the date of the incident, and they haven’t even found a clue yet. This has never happened before. It’s becoming an embarrassment.

How are we supposed to help?

I don’t know, but we should find some way. It’s about time we did something useful other than write reports.

II

S pring was in the air. Not only the weather, but also the atmosphere in the office was better for them. They had made headlines by solving a case.

So how do you feel? asked Elizabeth Kingsly.

Pretty good actually. answered Remi Strand.

"I suppose you are also happy that you put those guys, your old colleagues in their place. They were always making jokes about you. They were doing that to me as well. They never understood how I could work as your personal assistant. I was always upset."

Well, I never took them seriously. You shouldn’t have taken them seriously either. I knew what I was doing and their remarks never bothered me.

Whatever you say, but I’m just glad you showed them that your eccentricities or hobbies as you call them, can actually help you. By the way, there is a journalist that wants to interview you. she added.

What? Who is it? I’ve never given any interviews before. What paper is it?

"It’s not a newspaper, it’s a magazine called Mystery Solved."

Never heard of it.

I’ve checked it out. It’s pretty good in fact, or at least has interesting stories based on factual events. It concentrates on real mysteries that have been solved by unorthodox means.

All right. I’ll give it a try. I suppose it can help our business.

It shouldn’t hurt it, well, unless you go off the deep end. It might also be picked up by other news outlets.

Kingsly brought the journalist into Strand’s office. The office was rather small, as they could afford only two rooms. Kingsly had insisted that they should have an impressive office, while Strand had never cared for that. He always pointed out that the work he produced should override other considerations. Kingsly replied that he did not have a clue how people behaved as clients.

The journalist was a petite blond lady that was in her mid-thirties. She wore glasses over her hazel eyes, but Strand did not find her nerdy. In fact, he thought she looked attractive. He also liked her voice.

Thank you for agreeing to this interview. From what I’ve read in the newspapers this is a real story that would resonate with our readers.

And you are?

Oh excuse my manners. My name is April Corden and I’m also the publisher of our magazine.

So the publisher is conducting the interview! I have to confess that I’ve never heard of your magazine.

That’s quite understandable. We cater to a niche audience that is dedicated to solving mysteries. And the fact that you are a former Interpol officer that resolved a futuristic mystery only adds to the appeal. I chose to do the interview myself because of the case.

Let’s say that I was lucky.

I don’t know about luck, but you took a case where nobody else was interested in. The police did nothing and no other detective touched it.

I must also acknowledge that I needed the money, but the case piqued my interest, because I’ve always read about these stories in science fiction books or movies. I had never seen a cryogenic facility before, so I took the case.

Please explain to our readers how you approached this case.

Strand hated talking at length, especially relating a story more than once. He was the silent type that seemed reluctant to share his experiences, especially when it involved a case. For him once something happened, whether good or bad, it was over and he would either try to resolve it or move on. He never got stuck in the past.

"The police were not interested since there was no crime. George Norton, the son of Daniel Norton came to me to challenge his father’s wish to be frozen. You are no doubt aware that cryogenic freezing can happen only once someone has been declared dead. Not even the terminally ill are allowed for this, yet this company called Live Beyond somehow got permission to freeze whomever wished to be frozen. What’s more, when I found that it was affordable to even the moderately wealthy, well that aroused my suspicions."

What did you do? Corden asked as she was taking notes.

I couldn’t just go and search the company. I was now only a private citizen, so I posed as a potential client.

I’m sorry to interrupt you, but you were a decorated Interpol officer. May I ask why you left the force?

This was a touchy subject. Strand enjoyed his work and was happy to solve cases but the working atmosphere had become increasingly difficult at Interpol.

I’m from Turkish and German extraction and I thought that if I worked in an international environment I could mix in easily. After a while I found out that that was not the situation, so I decided to hit it on my own. Don’t read too much into that. I worked a long time there and learned a lot. I have no regrets. Strand paused and then went on to explain the case.

"Anyway I paid the company a visit and asked the kind of questions that somebody who wanted to be frozen would ask. They were surprised to see me as all their clients were old. They were interested to know whether I could keep on paying, since I told them that I had no relatives. I explained that I was well off, showing them some imaginary companies that I owned and that I would be able to pay for their services for a long time. I also wanted to see those who were in the cryogenic chambers. It was eerie. They seemed to be sleeping just like in the films. I was able to see one of them up close. He looked so colorless. They said that it was normal and gave some technical explanation that I did not understand.

George was anxious about his father. Daniel had left specific instructions to be woken up in twenty five years when he and his son would be the same age. George didn’t like that and I didn’t blame him. Yet, that was his father’s wish. So you can see that there was nothing that the police could do. Everything was quite legitimate and legal. At least that was the impression. George also told me that his father had given a share of his estate to the company to cover the costs.

When they told me that I would be the second ‘healthy’ client, I checked who the others were. They were all really ill without much hope. I went there for a second time as if trying to decide. The big problem was that no one had ever been revived. Therefore you could not be sure of success in the future. The time frame Daniel Norton asked for was pretty specific and when I had asked to see him, they had found an excuse to prevent me from doing so.

When I went for that second time, with a little outside help, I created some kind of diversion and was able to look at the other chambers. All those inside had the same fixed look. It was as if they wore a mask. When I found Daniel’s chamber he was no different from the others. Something was not right. There was also a strange glow emanating from the chambers.

After I left, I checked how much energy they used. They should have been drawing heavily. Yet, I found out that their electric bill was no larger than my own!"

How did you check their energy bill? Corden sounded doubtful.

I’ve made a few friends along the way and it wasn’t too difficult to find out that their consumption was minimal. Nevertheless, I still gave them the benefit of the doubt and assumed that maybe they had their own generators. I found out that they didn’t have any!

So it was bogus?

Indeed, to keep the chambers functioning and for a long period of time they would have needed to use a great amount of electricity. However, if all of them were deceased then all you had to do was give a false impression. Their excuse would be that you had to be legally declared dead to be frozen, but what about Daniel Norton? They should have never accepted him, but it was too lucrative to pass up and they did not bother even on making it work. They had covered all those in the chambers with wax masks. It was all a sham. George Norton now had reason to notify the police.

It made a big splash because there were quite a number of prominent people that no one knew were in there. said the reporter.

My secretary can give you the other details but that’s the gist of it.

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A few days later Kingsly rushed into Strand’s office.

Why the excitement? A client mayhap? asked Strand drinking his hot chocolate.

I told you to keep to the specifics with that magazine. But you had to tell them your hobbies didn’t you.

What’s wrong? All I said was my knowledge of science fiction helped me solve the case. I may have given a few anecdotal explanations as well.

Because you found her attractive right? Well, the headline of the story is ‘Sci-fi Detective solves cryomystery’. It sounds like a headline from those cheap sheets they sell at the supermatkets.

You’re the one who wanted me to do this interview. She told me that it was a niche magazine. Anyway I doubt if anyone will see it.

You may assume that, but I’m already getting calls from the press and I’m trying to correct the story.

Bosver.*

That’s what you always say. I just hope this doesn’t hurt our business just when we caught a break.

* Turkish for forget about it.

III

N ow tell me again how we should approach this and how do you expect to convince him to help us. he asked his partner. He continued, He will either throw us out or think that someone is playing a joke on him. That is if we survive the first few minutes.

I have done my research and you know how careful I am. I have discovered that he is open minded.

Open minded isn’t enough.

That’s not all. I found out through our means that he is interested in esoteric material and his hobby is science fiction. So I believe we can at least prepare him slowly.

His partner was not satisfied.

"You should also know that we have no authority to do this. In fact it’s against all our regulations. Everything that we have been instructed to do or not to do. Even if we convince him, which I still have my deepest doubts, how will we convince headquarters?’

Thus far HQ has been hopeless. At least we’ll be offering something no one else has. It’s expertise that none of them have. Don’t forget this is an area where we got the most requests for our reports. I believe that we can demonstrate to HQ that we have something to help solve the mystery that they have been incapable of doing for so long. They have nothing to lose.

Well, we have our jobs to lose.

You worry too much.

We will need to prove who we are as well. I wouldn’t like to go against the rules on this either.

Then we’ll have to find the minimum we can to show that we mean what we say. We need to prove who we are. We need to do that to convince him.

IV

T he small room was getting warmer and not because of the weather, but the body temperatures of the people waiting. Although Elizabeth Kingsly was happy with this interest, she was wary of those that were waiting. Except for the two well-dressed gentlemen, the others looked scruffy and she wondered whether they would be able to pay the bills. She therefore asked the two that she thought merited an audience to go in. Surprisingly, they refused on every occasion their turn came and said they preferred to wait until the end.

Every time Kingsly went into Strand’s office after each potential client she saw that Strand was scowling.

What’s wrong? Nothing of interest Mr. Bigshot?

Don’t patronize me Liz. I think that you were right. All of them have wild stories of either being kidnapped by aliens or knowing secret files about aliens or that they see aliens all around us. I start taking notes and then it gets crazy and I have to find a way to stop them talking and get them out of my office. The interview may have indeed harmed us. To put it bluntly, all of these are crackpots. I should have kept my mouth shut.

Well, there are two really well dressed gentlemen waiting outside. They have been waiting for over three hours and each time I told them to go in, they said they would like to be last. They said it would take a long time to present their case.

Look, I’m tired already. I need a drink. Strand pushed his hair back, went into his drawer and pulled out a bottle of single malt whisky and a glass.

Care to join me?

Now you look here. These guys have been waiting patiently. And they give the impression to be serious and possibly with good money. At least listen to them and if necessary you can ask them to come back again. Do you think that we are in a position to choose our clients?

All right, let them in. he said as he reluctantly put back the bottle and glass.

Liz was right thought Strand as they entered his office. They were really well dressed as if popped out of the Financial Times ‘How to Spend it’ supplement. They were also clean cut and clean shaven. One was blond, the other dark haired. No distinctive features, he also noticed. If it weren’t for their outfits you wouldn’t notice them in a crowd.

Good afternoon gentlemen. I understand you preferred to wait till the end. I appreciate this, but I do hope you are aware that its getting late, so please let’s get to the main issue as quickly as possible.

Yes of course. My name is John McMillan and my partner’s Tim McKinley.

Are you Scottish? I hope this is not about Loch Ness. Strand said half-jokingly, although in his mind he was serious about the possibility.

Oh no, continued McMillan. This is far more interesting.

More interesting than Loch Ness, I really regret giving that interview thought Strand.

We have a proposition. It is in fact a conundrum, a real puzzle if you like and we believe you are the right person to solve it.

What kind of a puzzle? A cold case, a murder or somebody missing?

Strand wanted to point out that these were the kinds of issues that he dwells with and not anything related to his interview. He finally had gotten a bit flustered and wanted to get things straight early on.

McMillan and McKinley both had a surprised look.

It is indeed a murder. How did you guess? replied McMillan.

It was now Strand’s turn to be surprised. He certainly wasn’t expecting to hear a murder case. Not after so many strange requests. He felt bit more hopeful that this could be an actual issue.

An unsolved murder. It was McKinley who spoke this time.

Do you have police reports? Is it a cold case or something that the police have lost interest in?

It has happened some time ago and our authorities are continuing to look into the matter, but they have had no result and therefore we need some outside help.

I’ve just helped the police and I am an ex-cop, but the department doesn’t like outsiders, which I now am, to get in their way. When you say authorities you do mean the police, right?

Er, yes replied McMillan, but we need some, out of the box, as you say, thinking.

Some cases can take a long time to solve, so you might want to give your people some more space. Patience does sometimes work you know.

This is a rather unique situation for our people and our authorities do not have the proper expertise to solve it.

This is the second time that you say ‘our authorities’ and how can I have the expertise that they haven’t? Who are you? Who are your people? Strand was getting slightly suspicious as they were being circumspect about the police.

Now comes the hard part thought McMillan.

What we are about to say, to you may sound crazy.

Don’t you worry about crazy? I’ve had my full of crazy today. Just keep it short.

McMillan unbuttoned his jacket and he said,

Please keep an open mind, but really an open mind.

OK. Shoot.

What we tell you will sound, let me put it this way, outlandish, unbelievable, but absolutely true. Most importantly we have proof to back it up. So please bear that in mind when we explain the situation. We have been here long enough to know how sensitive this is and despite your literature on the subject, with all the movies and TV shows, the real thing will still be shocking.

Can you please just come to the point. said Strand. He was already bored. He had heard so many times that kind of beginning which just fizzled out in the end. He had listened to it all and was itching to open up the drawer to reach for his bottle.

Maybe you should have a drink before we continue.

Strand startled a bit. No, he can’t be reading my mind. I didn’t mention the drink, or did I, he thought. Please go ahead.

To begin with, we are not from here.

I guessed that much. When you kept on mentioning our authorities, I was aware that it was not our local guys. So, another city, another country?

How about another world. And McMillan paused for effect.

Strand also waited for a second; he didn’t mean it literally he thought. You mean far away like Australia or somewhere?

"Now please don’t throw us out. As I mentioned we have proof. We are from another planet."

Of all the strange things Strand had witnessed and heard, this was really the most farfetched and he was not prepared for such an explanation looking at their appearances. Then he thought these were most likely sent from his old station after that interview. Before he could say funs over McMillan continued.

We know what you are thinking. You don’t need to be a mind reader for that. We have been here long enough to know how absurd this sounds but to allay your suspicions let us please prove to you that we are not from Earth.

McKinley produced a small device from his pocket. It looked like a pen. He said,

This is like a flash drive in which instead of storing data from computers, it stores objects. Look. He pointed the device to the couch that was on the other end of Strand’s office and it just popped away. The couch disappeared.

"It’s in here, he said pointing to his device and pushing another button the couch was back in its place.

Strand didn’t, couldn’t respond. Was this really happening. He had immersed himself into sci-fi literature and watched whatever was out there. He had witnessed how fast technology was advancing with computers, smart phones and wi-fi, all becoming part of our lives but this was far too advanced.

Then he said. I don’t know how you did that. But this doesn’t prove you are from another planet. That must be secret technology that hasn’t been put into the market yet, although I don’t know why you came to me.

Because we had a murder on our planet. A murder unexplained which hasn’t happened for centuries and we are unable to solve it. We can also show you how we come and go as additional and irrefutable proof. This is not a joke Mr. Strand. This is very serious for us and we need the work of a serious detective. McMillan said.

Why come to me? Why not what you call the real authorities or some other fellow?

You, of all people should know what would happen to us if we went to the government. Any government. No, you are the one. We canvassed everywhere and you are the one with an open mind and a believer in other possibilities. At least that is what we hope is true. At least you haven’t kicked us out. You are also an accomplished police officer. And in the end even if you refuse to help us, no one will believe you. But, we want you to believe yourself and at least give us the benefit of the doubt and come help us.

My partner believes you to be our contribution to finding a solution. said McKinley, I was against involving anybody from Earth, but as time passed without any result, I too believe that we have no choice but to go as you say, outside the box.

The reason of our urgency is that another murder has occurred, which also remains unexplained. There is no soul breacher to be found. Added McMillan.

Soul breacher, what are you talking about? Asked Strand. He was bewildered with all that was being said. They looked so serious and that little demonstration, if not some kind of Houdini like trick, had him at least interested. Interested, but very, very skeptical. They had asked him to have an open mind and he would humour them. Up to a point.

It is a long story, but we have to explain it to you as it is not only part of our history, but goes into the heart of the investigation.

Then let’s do the explaining at a more convenient place. Replied Strand. He felt like he had to get out of the office. And while we’re going, can you pick up that pile of files for me into that device of yours.

Mckinley pressed a button and the pile of documents disappeared. They are all in here. Let’s have our most definitive demonstration for you. Where do have in mind to go to?

"It’s a relatively quiet place called The Circassian. Said Strand.

"Then The Circassian it is." And suddenly all three of them found themselves in front of the restaurant. They had just in one moment moved from Strand’s office to where Strand intended to go. Strand now understood that this was no ordinary situation, far from it. He had to be dreaming, dreams always felt so real. He was waiting to wake up. However, it was all too real as they entered the restaurant. It was run by Circassian emigres, but the place was not only famous for its cuisine, but its specialty was providing privacy for its patrons.

Remi, my good friend it has been a long time since you came here. I suppose you want to get away from the limelight now that you are famous. Said Nart Buruki.

Please Nart, not you too. What I need is a lot of drinks and whatever you have cooked today for me and, he looked around him, hoping that they were only a figment of his imagination, and my guests here.

"You can go to your usual table and I’ll bring you some haliva and mataz as starters and we’ll follow it up with fried chicken with onions."

I leave the food in your hands but bring me a bottle of scotch immediately.

Rough day eh?

You have no idea.

They went into a room on the second floor and closed the door behind them. A bottle of Strand’s favourite, Famous Grouse was brought with three glasses. When they were alone Strand asked half seriously You do drink on your planet I hope.

We have been here for decades and we have immersed ourselves in your culture and yes we do drink alcohol. Replied McMillan.

How come you are like us, I mean you are human right? Not an android I hope.

No, we are quite like you but with an important difference that is actually fundamental to understanding what we are up against. We are not little green men or on the pursuit of taking over your world. We are not stronger or weaker than you. We are what you would call benign observers.

The basic difference is in life expectancy and the way we die. Added McKinley. He continued We like you, are in the dark about our origins. We have evolved in a different way and we are still not aware of how we became this way. While you believe that people have souls we actually know we have them. We noticed this early in our history when the inevitable conflicts took place and wars were being waged.

This whisky is very good. Interrupted McMillan as McKinley was taking a sip and continued to explain,

If someone dies naturally, the soul just leaves the body and goes where we don’t know yet, but if someone is killed by another, the soul somehow reaches the killer and goes into his soul, harassing him and driving that person crazy and eventually killing him. We witnessed this in our wars which obviously did not last very long. It took some time to find out how and why this was happening. Because we had conflicts and battles before, but nothing of this sort happened. Then somehow this phenomenon took place. Our religious leaders and scientists came together in the end and after let us say many unfortunate events, it was discovered that the deceased soul would find its slayer and take revenge or hence kill that person. In the end, this stopped warfare as you know it. Conflicts did continue for some time, but without lethal weapons until we finally have decided to overcome all clashes. Warfare became anachronistic and we were able to concentrate on other things such as the technology you witnessed.

This is all fascinating and with my second glass it all seems a bit more believable, but how do you know it’s a soul and not some, I don’t know, a bodily reaction. By the way, you still need to tell me how you came here, where is your planet and I have so many other questions.

We will explain whatever you need to know. Replied McKinley.

"Whatever you want to know. We will be fully transparent. We want you to trust us, so you may do your work convinced and come back with us." corrected McMillan.

Strand was drinking his third glass when he almost spilled it. What do you mean come back with you?

To Siores. Our planet.

You want me to come with you to your planet! He exclaimed.

How else can you solve this murder? We need you there.

Strand was filling up his glass again when the door opened and the enticing smell of food was put on the table. Strand didn’t feel he had the stomach to eat anything, but he continued to drink. He was still waiting to wake up.

McMillan continued.

As I was saying, eventually all warfare and conflicts and killing stopped, since it became obvious that if you killed someone you would not be spared. Even if you used a bomb or killed from afar, you would still not be able to escape the soul searching for the culprit. It was much worse for those who killed more than one person with a bomb. So our history took a much different path than yours as violence virtually ended and we concentrated on other things.

Not only did we make new discoveries which gave our scientists a significant status, but spirituality also gained popularity. Said McKinley.

On Earth we know the debate about souls and whether it exists or continues after death. We understand it’s a matter of belief. On Siores, our planet, it is a fact that has been proven scientifically as well. The scientist and the religious order somehow worked together and discovered that we had an organ which we call the soul pouch.

McKinley added And some call it the divine pouch.

McMillan proceeded When we die it shrivels. It is obviously very delicate to handle. At death it all but evaporates quickly so you could not see it fully during autopsies. Eventually it was discovered and its special purpose or action was accepted by all.

So, a little bewildered by all this information, Strand said, if you have someone killed and you are sure that the soul of the deceased enters that of the killer and drives him crazy and eventually kills him too, you must have the murderer in your hands. What’s the problem?

"You have understood it perfectly. The problem is we have no culprit. No one has been affected."

You said that it was impossible. Maybe somebody was killed by remote, really far away. Is there a limit of distance?

No. Answered McKinsey. Whatever the distance the soul knows its killer and reaches it instantly. In ancient times when they tried exactly that, it didn’t change anything. It’s really amazing.

So, who got killed? Some politician or famous person?

That is the other interesting issue. The first victim was what you would call a regular person of no particular interest, while the second one is rather infamous.

When did it happen? Day or night? You do have a day and night right?

"Yes our planet rotates on a thirty hour period and like your planet we have a number of seasons. We have a winter followed by summer and then another winter, after which we have a somewhat lighter period, but not like your spring. The seasons are based on light rather than temperature. Anyway these are details. Both were killed at night time as far as we know. The first one was found a few days later while the second almost immediately.

The authorities that deal with security matters found nothing anywhere. No delirious person."

What about somebody finding a way to overcome this soul of yours. With the new technology of yours, doing it from really far away like the drones we have. Maybe the soul would have no way of finding the perpetrator.

That I’m afraid has been ruled out.

Why?

"Because the first victim had been stabbed