Taking the Case in Hand

by IGIBAB

Chapter 3 - First Lead

"The first intern is the one who discovered the body," says Lyra to me while opening the door of the Ponyville's police station.

It's been years since I last approached this building. Still as stern as ever from outside, and as poorly charming inside. Of course, it's the evening, the place is almost empty, aside from a few agents on duty alerted by the case, in tumult, not really used to manage all the corresponding procedures.

Lyra and I walk pass the hall and the reception quickly to go further, in the rooms where they put the ponies in custody. Maybe they are full of dust because they're never used? Ah, well, someone's stranding in front of one of them, with a grave look on his face. Oh, I even know him, this old captain Whooves. For that matter, it looks like he recognizes me. And he doesn't seem to like it.

"Who gave you the permission to involve her in that case!?" he immediately yells on Lyra. "I said we should avoid spreading the news until tomorrow!"

"With all due respect, Whooves, half of the town is already aware of it, including the princess. So I kinda want to say that control over the information has already escaped you, just like the one over your subordinates."

Yes, it is I who said that. And in the calmest way possible. It is certainly not the answer that Whooves was expecting, and in no way the best start to a conversation, but it's kind of a habit for me to address him like that. You can tell that by the fact it barely angers him.

"Don't get yourself involved in something which doesn't concern you!"

"A murder took place in my town, it concerns me. It's the first time since you and I took our posts, we're talking about a life that was taken, and you would want to slow down the progression of this case solely by pride?"

"You're insinuating that we would be too slow without you!?" he boils over.

"Simply that each minute lost is another minute with a killer out in the wild. My help can't be harmful."

He wants to reply something, I can see it. But he finds nothing. He knows I'm right. This unique case needs all the help he can have, myself included. He ends up dropping a: "It's an exceptional collaboration," with a harsh tone, to which I reply:

"We agree on that part. If I can avoid to deal with you or your subordinates, that works for me."

I don't know why. I can't help myself. I have to say something hurtful. Not for Whooves, that I don't care about. But for the one right next to me, who doesn't even dare to turn her eyes towards me, or acts like she's going to pick up my words. How it angers me the way she pretends like nothing happened.

"Where is the intern?" I finally ask, chasing away my emotions to get back to the ongoing case.

Whooves gauges me for a few moments, with a severe look, then enounces:

"The door on your right. Avoid pushing her around, she has suffered a great shock."

"Thanks."

Without any consideration for that excess of gratitude from me, he turns around and leaves us. Turning to the door, I announce to my... sidekick:

"I take charge of trying to interrogate her. Stay out of it, two people at the same time could intimidate her."

"As you want," she answers with a voice that wants to appear neutral.

We enter the room, with its usual one-way mirror. Through it, we can see, collapsed on a table, the first intern crying. Pinkie Pie.

I know her a bit, as does everypony in Ponyville in fact. And I know enough to understand how that discovery might have affected her. But with how important the case is, I can't wait for her to calm down, especially if it were to take days. I go in and close the door behind me.

Her reddened eyes appear from in between her hooves to look at me with an imploring look, a few strands of her deflated mane falling in front of her face.

"Are you here to tell me it was a bad joke...?"

Yes. That's what I would love to answer. In fact, after seeing her face, it's the only thing I could say. But it would be a lie. So I stay quiet and I sit down in front of her.

"I need to know what happened this afternoon, Pinkie."

Not too abrupt, not too soft. I can't let her hope that all this was indeed a joke.

She sniffs loudly, starting to shake. I must follow up.

"It's really important. You have to tell me about it if we want to prevent it from happening again."

"B-Because it's going to happen again...?" she says to me, new tears coming to her eyes.

Bad choice of words on my end. I'm not use to handle them with such precautions. But I can rectify that.

"Pinkie, out there, there's someone. Someone who killed Mr. Cake and who is still free. And there are only three ponies that might have clues about him. Himself, the second intern... and you. You understand?"

She nods while sniffing again, with a sad little whine.

"Then I'm listening. Take your time, don't worry, the important thing is that you say it... Without forgetting anything."

It's half true. If she could hurry, that would be great. The night has almost fallen, at this pace, we won't be able to see the second intern before tomorrow.

But at least, Pinkie starts her story.

"T-The day started at six... Mr. Cake always wakes up... Well... Woke up..."

Her voice starts to shake on the last sentence. I drop a "Pinkie," a bit bluntly so that she stays focused. After a sobbing hiccup, she continues:

"H-He woke up early, s-so that even the early birds had something for breakfast if they walked by. Since Mrs. Cake was absent, I had to help, so I was there, a little tired. We served a lot of people until ten..."

"Who?" I say, taking advantage of her brief pause.

"I-I don't remember," she says, troubled, "There was... Derpy first, who wanted a muffin I think. Then Cloud Chaser took two cupcakes. Vinyl came for a cake she had ordered. Twilight came, with Applejack, to eat a bit and see me as well. Rainbow Dash joined them soon after."

Concentrating on her list made her forget a bit about the tragic event it seems, she's a bit more at ease. But it won't last.

"Sparkler came with Twinkle. At ten hours, a pony from Manehattan came and took Mr. Cake aside to talk to him. I don't know what they said, but the pony seemed angry when he went out, and Mr. Cake looked upset..."

Pinkie stops in her account, seeing that my expression suddenly changed.

It's a lead. But no need to rush, Bonbon, don't miss something important.

"Tell me more about that pony."

"He was blue... A unicorn. He said he was named Sweet Caramel."

I hear the door of the room open suddenly. Lyra must have gone inform Whooves. I can let them deal with that for now. I need to keep on listening, in case there would be other leads.

"And then?"

"Then, there were Rose and Cloud Kicker. Then Lyra, and finally Daisy. I finished my service at noon, so I went home."

Her voice decreases at the end of her sentence, her lips starting to shake. I move forward to lay my hoof on hers.

"It's fine, Pinkie... You did what you had to, it's over now."

She looks at me, tears forming at the edges of her eyes.

"Why would anyone do that...? Mr. Cake was so kind... He was always smiling... He was sweet with his children... They're orphans now... Why...?"

She bursts into tears again, burying her face into her hooves. I sigh slightly. I too wonder why someone would do that, Pinkie...

"But I promise that I'm going to arrest him. No matter what it costs me."

Author's Note:

If laughter turns into crying, who does it benefit?

FYI, for now, 11 chapters are written in french. 6 are translated.
And I'm looking forward to continue it all.

Comments

[MatTheBook]

"Who gave you the permission to involve her in that case!?" he immediately yells on Lyra. "I said we should avoid spreading the news until tomorrow!"

Isn't she part of your police force and special detective??

[IGIBAB]

11551406
She's a private. Sorry if I didn't made that clear in the first chapter

[MatTheBook]

Sweet Caramel huh.