//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 "Sweet as Coco" // Story: Equestria Noir Season 2 Case 15 "Manehatten Rain" // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Chapter 4 “Sweet as Coco” One look in the phonebook led me to one Coco Pommel’s address. Well, specifically, her design studio. Turns out Miss Pommel was an aspiring fashion designer as well, but hasn’t quite made her break yet. All of this I gathered from the smallish building in front of me. It was a small storefront, with some very well-made fashions on display, with a discrete sign on the front of the shop. It had her name, of course, and advertised that she also did theatrical costuming. Some of the design elements, and some of the decoration on the storefront reminded me of Rarity’s design style, but not as overblown and baroque as the Carousel Boutique. I gently pushed open the door, the bell rang, signaling my arrival. I looked over as...no way! A cream colored mare, with a cute little purple sailor collar, and two-tone turquoise hair, with the softest, and kindest turquoise eyes that anypony’s seen this side of Fluttershy. She wore a flower in her mane, and her cutie mark was a rather stylish hat. Almost exactly how Potso described that mare...it can’t be… “May I help you sir?” She asked kindly. “Um, sorry,” I said, refocusing. “I’m Private Eye, a detective investigating the murder that happened up near Elk Ridge High School.” “Oh my gosh, you’re the Private Eye? As in Rarity’s friend?” She asked, getting a little starry eyed. “You know Rarity?” I asked, a little surprised. “Yes! She helped me get away from my mean former boss Suri Polomare.” Polomare, now that name I’ve heard before. Heard rumors of some shady business going on with that mare. Thank Celestia Rarity was able to get this mare away from Suri. “Rarity also helped me get my break into theatrical costuming. I worked on the costumes for ‘Hinny of the Hills’. I’ve been asked to do the costumes for ‘The Tiger Queen’, ‘The Mare and the Monster’, and even ‘Despicable’. I’ve got some great ideas for that one. They never made the clothes look like proper boarding school uniforms, honestly…” Coco continued, looking thoughtful. They must’ve met when Rarity was here for Fashion Week. I haven’t heard much from Twilight since I got here. She sounded rather tired on the phone, to be honest. Even so, it sounds like an adventure I’ll have to ask about. “Anyways,” She continued. “You said something about a murder?” “Yes, a murder that occurred last night, we found your purse at the crime scene.” I said. Coco looked thoughtful for a moment, then her eyes grew wide. “Oh my gosh! That was a murder going on!?” “So you were a witness,” I said, pulling out my notebook. “Tell me everything.” She nodded and began her story. “I was picking up a late order of fabrics last night. I remember running home quickly because of the rain. I tried to take a shortcut through the alleyway, that’s when I heard yelling.” “Did you see who was there?” I asked. Coco started to look frightened as she recalled what happened. “I remember, there were two ponies standing over two ponies lying on the ground. I didn’t get a good look because it was so dark. One of them was a really big muscular pony, the other was a mare, kind of skinny.” “The ones on the ground?” “No, the ones standing up and arguing.” Coco said. “They were in a very heated argument over the two ponies laying down on the ground. I didn’t see who the ones on the ground were, but neither of them were moving…” She started tearing up. “Oh my gosh, did I witness a murder and...just…” “Hey, don’t go getting worked up…” I said reassuringly. I reached into my trenchcoat and levitated out a hanky for her. She blew on it and wiped her cute blue eyes. “Sorry, *sniff*” She said, still a little teary. “I, after I saw the pair, they noticed me and the mare started yelling. I turned and ran off, dropping my purse. I didn’t even look back until I was in my shop. Oh my gosh I feel so terrible about all this. I should’ve come forward to the police but I…” “Again, don’t fuss up over it.” I said, trying to be gentle. “You were just scared. Anyways, did you catch a glimpse of the mare or the stallion? Even a little tidbit?” “I… The stallion had a brown coat, and also I remember the mare was wearing, a weird little hairclip, I saw it when lightning flashed for a brief moment. It had, a tiny little bat on it.” Like the one found at the crime scene! The pieces were starting to form together...I just needed to clear one thing up before I head back to Insight with our killer. “Um, before I go Miss Pommel, can I ask you something?” “Of course Private, and please, just Coco is okay,” She said with a smile. “Did you...ever meet a rather portly stallion at a train station about ten years ago?” I asked, a little nervously. Coco started smiling brightly and blushed a little. “Oh yes, I did, and he was just the most handsome stallion I had ever seen. I never forgot the first time I saw him. Him with his bright red coat, a cute little mustache just growing in, and that Bitalion accent he had was just music to my ears when I heard him talk with his family.” She blinked and then said, “Why do you ask?” “Just uh,” I said, trying to reel in my shock.”Stop by Ponyville when you can. Specifically the Pizzeria that opened a few months ago. I have it on good word you’ll find who you’re looking for.” “Really? Do… do you know him? Oh my! I hope I do get to meet him,” she gushed, blushing all the more. “He seemed so nice, and caring… And I have been meaning to visit Rarity. She talked glowingly about Ponyville being so very inspirational. Maybe I could take a vacation, after I finish my theatrical jobs…” I left the fashion studio, leaving behind a smiling and giddy Coco. ________________________________________________________ I returned to the police station to find it once again swarming with activity. I could hear Insight shouting obscenities from his office. Something about the perfect suspect down the drain, but with a lot more curse words sprinkled into the sentence to make it positively unprintable without some serious editing or bleeping. I was thankful no foals were nearby to hear. I then saw Yang pop out of the office, shaking her head a disgusted look on her face. She took a look at me and waved, “Hey Private, nice to see you again.” “Insight still pissed at the thrashing I gave him?” I asked. “No but that had him pretty mad before we found out an awesome clue. Turns out, Even has absolutely zero motive for killing Star Flair.” My eyes grew wide. “How did you find it out?” “I got the DNA results back from my friend who works at the nurse’s office. Turns out, Even isn’t the father at all.” She reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a form. “Says here that the batpony DNA didn’t belong to Even.” Even isn’t the father. That’s a relief but it raises so many questions. Who is the father? “So? What did you find out?” She asked. “A witness testified to seeing what happened last night. Her name is Coco Pommel, you can find her over on 5th and Parnel, little fashion studio. She’s the one who left the purse behind,” I answered. “I’ll get uniforms to pick her up for her official statement.” Yang said. “By the way, Forceps wanted to see you about something. Said he found something interesting about Star’s body.” Now things were getting interesting… ________________________________________________________ The morgue was the coolest area in the station. The wall was covered with doors where bodies would be stored. Tables stood in the middle of the room, where autopsies were performed, counters lined the walls, and cabinets was where some if the tools of the trade were stored. It was white, clean and very sterile, because, currently there were no bodies on the tables, thank goodness. There are some ponies that are fascinated with this sort of thing. Guess coroners had to come from somewhere, but I was always grossed out by autopsies. No clue why. Forceps used his magic to gently unveil Star’s corpse. Death had marred what was once a pretty teenaged mare. Forceps looked up at me from across the table. “I was doing my standard look over little miss stiffy here, when I found out something truly bizarre given the nature of the case.” “Aside from it not being a suicide?” I asked. “Oh no. I got a real kicker of telling Insight that.” The old unicorn said with a chuckle. “No, the strange part is there is no possible way she could’ve conceived that little foal.” “Uh? What are you getting at, Forceps?” I asked. “Well, because frankly, this lady is a virgin.” Forceps said. “Wait?! What?!” I yelled. “You’re telling me this mare is a virgin!? How did you-” “Well, I cut her open and look in he-” “Forget I asked that part,” I said, not wanting to think about Forceps at work. “But, she and the foal have the same color coat.” “That’s what we thought,” Forceps opened a file and pulled out a picture. “Somebody did a coat dying spell on the little thing. It was through so we couldn’t pick it out at first.” He brought it over to me, “This is what the feller’s real coat looks like.” I looked at the picture, and my eyes went wide. The pieces started to fall together... __________________________________________________________ Principal Standard was pacing in her office, glaring at Field Goal. “Mister Goal, proper ponies do not allow their prejudices, and tribalism guide their actions. This is neither a democracy, nor will I allow this school to descend into the chaos of mob rule. If there was hard evidence for Evenstar to have committed the murder, he would have been turned over to the police. Not turned over to you, and your cronies, so you may form a lynch mob. You, Mister Goal, are suspended for two weeks, and will be barred from any sporting activities until you learn not to judge ponies because they are not exactly like you, do you understand?” “But Mrs. Standard! He totally killed my girlfriend! He was there at the crime scene! Everypony knows he’s the-” “Actually Mr. Goal, I think you are sorrily mistaken.” I said as I came in. Field Goal looked up at me in shock. “Oh man! Look don’t shock me again dude!” “No, I’m here to take care of a few things,” I said, coming face to face with him. “Private what is this all about? I am already suspending him,” Standard said. “Yeah? Well, I’m arresting him…” “Look man! I didn’t kill the guy! We were just going to beat him up!” Goal shouted. “Not that, there are some things about your story that just don’t add up. I have a witness that puts you at the scene of the crime. Also, where were you last night?” I asked pointedly. “I was at football practice!” He yelled back. “Yet Football practice gets off before Star Flare made the call,” I said. “Wait? You saying that Star Flare called before she died!?” He said. “What did she say?” I closed my eyes and said, “She was calling 911, in the hopes somepony would pick up her foal…” Field Goal’s face went from shock, to contemplation, to absolute rage. “THAT BATPONY BASTARD KNOCKED UP MY GIRL! No wonder she disappeared! It was to hide her being pregnant from her parents! They have no idea she got raped by that bastard! I’ll kill him this time!” “Private? Are you certain this is what happened? Even is the father?” Standard asked worriedly. I shook my head…”No, the Foal doesn’t belong to Even. In fact, it doesn’t belong to Star Flare either...the foal had a red coat that was dyed using magic. It threw us off the scent for a while. But you can’t fool a well done DNA test.” “Wait, you’re not making sense dude, you’re saying Star Flare didn’t get raped?” He asked. “No, in fact she died a virgin…” I said firmly. Field Goal looked down, and shook his head, “She, always said we were gonna wait till marriage…” “So, if the baby isn’t Even or Star’s, then whose is it?” Standard asked. I reached into my trenchcoat, and held out the picture. The picture showed the foal, with tubes attached to her to keep her little lungs going. But her coat...was distinctly brown… “It’s yours, Field. You are the father of the foal.”