Fanatic ⇒ Only Murders In The Building

09 → Sparring Partners

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'Sparring Partners'
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Callum was definitely too tired to be sitting on Charles' couch discussing murder. And yet, he was there, cradling coffee like it was a lifeline. He hadn't slept well after the whole rescuing Lucy from a murderer in the walls fiasco.

"Kreps is Glitter Guy," Mabel told Charles as the older man pinned a photo of the police officer to the ✨murder board✨. "Oh. It's ASL for 'glitter'," she explained the motion in response to Charles' confused expression.

"That's kind of fun," Charles stated and repeated the motion. "But why would Kreps kill Bunny? I mean, did he want her painting?"

"I don't know. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would kill for a piece of art," Mabel said, her face scrunched in thought.

"I say he's all bark, no bite," Callum interjected. "No way he'd actually kill Bunny."

"Money is a very strong motive," Charles argued as he glanced between the two podcasters.

"I could see stealing the painting. Especially being on a police officer's salary in New York," Callum added and wandered over to the pair at the board, still clutching his coffee.

"True, if he even got the painting, but why would he frame us?"

"And this is the brilliant mind behind the whole set-up? I don't think so," Charles agreed.

"Yeah, something is not right. But, if so, someone's
puppet-mastering a cop? I mean, how?"

"Blackmail or sex," Callum suggested. "And I know which one I'm putting my money on," he added as his gaze wandered over to the photo of Kreps. A look of disgust passed over the Brit's face before he took a sip of coffee.

"I think I know who did this," Charles ominously stated. While the older man turned around to grab a flashcard, Callum and Mabel looked at each other with matching confusion. "That is a great name for a TV show," Charles said, pinning 'criminal mastermind' to the board.

Disappointment flooded Callum. "Brazos, I thought—" The Brit was cut off with a beep from Charles' phone.

"Remind me that 'Criminal Mastermind' is a great name for a TV show." A guilty look made its way onto Charles' face when he saw Callum's glare.

"When people say 'I know who did this', you expect a name, not an archetype," Callum stated, his glare loosing its intensity slightly, but the underlying annoyance was still very much felt.

"What about Kreps' backpack? And what is this logo?"

"Another two questions to add to our never ending list," Callum muttered pessimistically in response to Mabel holding up the backpack in question.

"I feel like I've seen it somewhere. Chickens are so weird-looking," Mabel said, ignoring Callum.

"I know. I mean, who was the first person who looked at a chicken and said, 'Yum! I'll bet that's delicious.'"

"After everything that's happened. I don't know if I have what it takes to go up against a cop." Valid thought.

The trio stood staring at their clue board in silence for a few moments. Callum didn't know what he expected to happen in those seconds. Maybe the sudden realisation of who the killer was? That would be nice.

The sound of Charles' front door shutting pulled the trio from their trance.

"I know what you're thinking. 'Have we reached that
point in our friendship when we can just show up at each other's apartments in our nightclothes?'" was the first thing Oliver said when he entered the living room.