Mind Games: LoopHole's Chronicles, #1

By Charlie Becker

As the investigation into a wealthy businesswoman's murder unfolds, a telepathic detective must navigate conflicting witness accounts and uncover the truth behind the crime. But as multiple perspectives of the murder come to light, the detective is left questioning the true nature of the crime, and one question fills their mind: Who done it?

Join detective Rowan Moore in this short story, and try to find all the clues to uncover the truth behind what really happened.

 

Approximate number of pages: 70

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charlie Becker
• Release date: Mar 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215955383

Charlie Becker

Charlie Becker nella vita scrive, il che non è davvero una sorpresa considerato dove state leggendo questa cosa. Passa troppo tempo a fare questo invece di studiare per l’università. Unica mente dietro alla saga "LoopHole". Se vi piace davvero la biografia dell'autore, buon per voi. Se vi piacciono anche i supereroi, allora è probabilmente la persona che fa per te. Ora, però, torna a leggere. Dai, vai via. Buona lettura. Persona orgogliosamente supportata da chi legge le sue opere. Se avete guadagnato qualcosa dai libri, perché non considerare di reintrodurre un po' di valore nel progetto? Potete farlo a: patreon.com/charlie_becker00 ko-fi.com/charliebecker

Book preview

The husband's version

W hat do you mean, 'discrepancies' ? Inspector Moore asked, scanning the street in front of the house through the study window. Forensics were recovering every little trace the protesters might have left, but with that number of rocks thrown, it was going to take hours.

Small things really. Second class constable Cooper hastily replied, leafing through his notebook. Let's see... they seem to have different ideas about what the victim was wearing, or how they found the body. And... ah, yeah. The TV. he added finally, adjusting the folds of his uniform. The inspector turned to the boy with a questioning look, not noticing, however, that her raincoat was caught on the handle, which prevented them from fully completing the rotation.

Ah... frick... she whispered to herself, freeing from the grip of the precious handle. They looked back at their subordinate, slowly sliding her hand across the mahogany desk in front of the window. What did you say about the television?

Distracted by the improbable scene, it took Cooper a couple of moments to understand what she just asked him. He'd only been working with Moore for a couple of months, and still hadn't quite gotten used to their... 'clumsiness' was the word that came to his mind. Um... of course, the TV. he finally said, clearing his throat. Well, it seems each of the suspects remembers something different about what was on air. One of them even claims it was turned off.

And was it? Off I mean. She asked, looking around. It hadn't happened to them often to visit such an elegant house, and she couldn't help but wonder how much of her salary it would have taken to afford the long bookcase, which entirely covered the wall to the left of the entrance. They preferred not to look for the answer.

According to our people who intervened immediately... no. When the butler ran out warning of the discovery of the body, two constables ran inside, noting the situation. They did it all by the procedure. And both of them and the others who entered later clearly remember the TV on. On a newscast. Do you think... well... Cooper bit his lip.

Speak freely. the inspector reassured him, giving him a warm smile. It was almost curious how friendly that person was. Especially when he thought back to the other inspectors he had worked with, all the kinds of people who were mostly stiff and of few words. To be fair, it's not that he had that much experience with other inspectors, after all.

I was wondering... do you think that's an important detail? The TV I mean.

What do you think? they retorted, carefully examining the different volumes on the shelf.

I think they experienced a traumatic event. It seems more than natural not to remember some details in such a situation, right? Being face to face with a dead body isn't exactly an experience for everyone.

Not really, yeah. she confirmed with what the boy thought was laughter. But something's off to me, so better make sure we collect all the data.

Something's off? Cooper repeated, following their wander around the room with his eyes. But... wasn't it just an accident? Well... if I may... he stopped, but they smiled at him again, signaling him to continue. Well... the dynamic seems clear enough to me, though? The environmental protest in front of the victim's house has been going on for almost a week, and a couple of hours ago it degenerated. They started throwing stones at the facade of the house. Some of these broke through the windows, and one hit the victim on the head, causing her death instantly.

This woman... the victim... she was a millionaire, wasn't she?

Exactly. She was at the helm of a company that ran gas, oil, and similar pipelines throughout Ontario and Quebec. Which is also why the environmentalists were here. She was pushing for the construction of a new pipeline, which would pass through several indigenous First Nations territories.

And she could do it? asked the inspector, halting.

I understand she had all the needed permits, yes. for an instant he thought Moore had almost scowled slightly, but the next second she put on their usual optimistic face and reassured him.

And the cameras? I've seen three different ones just on the entrance side of the house. They should have recorded the moment the stones broke through the window, right?

The registration is only partial. Apparently, a rock hit the switchboard that connected the cameras to the home network, and they've stopped recording ever since.

Don't you say...

That said, we already know many of the names of the protest participants. I'm sure we'll trace who threw the guilty stone. Some fled when our colleagues arrived to disperse them, but it won't be long before we identify all of them. he added, seized by a wave of optimism himself.

Yeah, sure, sure. Still, I think it's a good idea to hear again from the people who found the body first. Four, right? they asked absently, reaching for something in her pocket.

That's right, inspector: it's the husband, the butler, the victim's personal secretary, and... one environmentalist. he finished explaining just as she finally found what she was looking for a hair tie. They tied their straight brown hair back into a small, low bun.

Oh? And what was one of them doing inside the house?

Looks like he's the victim's colleague's nephew. She led him inside herself when the police were called. Cooper explained, reviewing his notes. A moment of silence followed and, taking advantage of the inspector's good mood, he finally asked her what he had thought as soon as he found out he was going to work with Moore. "Sorry if I'm curious... the thing is that I haven't completely memorized the new