Mystery of the Blue Moon

“Mystery of the Blue Moon”

Chapter 1

It was a bright sunny day when all of a sudden it became stormy as rain pounded outside like cats and dogs. The rain was echoing off the walls in the kitchen of a local high school in a small town known as Hendertucky. It was the first day of school and the cafeteria was serving spaghetti and meatballs. All the students loved the meal before they all went to their next class. Then all of a sudden the electricity was cut and the students were all confused.

“What is going on?” one Senior asked.

“I have no clue! I think the storm made the power go out!” a Freshman replied.

“Can we go home?” a Junior asked.

“No! You may not!” the teachers said.

After all the teachers took roll and the school went on lockdown, one kitchen worker had stayed after hours to clean up a giant spill over by the dishwasher. The spill was a gallon of tomato sauce and all the other workers had left from food poisoning, all of them except for Heather Shaperstine.

“Thank goodness I did not eat the meatballs. I can not go home sick if everyone else left from eating the bad meat. This spill will take forever to clean up with no one to help me,” Heather said.

Jason Knowlington was a janitor at Knight Grave High School. He had stayed after to lock up the kitchen and do other janitorial things. Little did Jason or Heather know but a female student was lurking in the kitchen dressed in black. Elizabeth Grungington watched from behind a trashcan as the janitor took out a knife and snuck up on the kitchen worker. Jason stabbed Heather in the heart before slitting her throat. He then left the knife and looked around. Elizabeth quickly ducked behind the trashcan and held her breath.

"Who goes there? Come on out! NOW!" Jason yelled.

Elizabeth stayed hidden and quiet as Jason left the room. He had left Heather lying on the floor dead. After Jason left Elizabeth ran home and told her parents what had happened. Meanwhile, Jason finished cleaning the school and went home for the night.

“Mom! Dad! Come quickly! The janitor just killed the lunch lady at school!” Elizabeth yelled as she ran into the house.

“What are you talking about Elizabeth?” her mother asked.

“The janitor at school just killed the lunch lady!” Elizabeth cried.

“Elizabeth! Calm down. Why would the janitor kill the lunch lady?” her father asked.

“You two never believe me! I will just have to figure this out with the help of a few friends!” Elizabeth cried as she went upstairs to her room.

After slamming the door shut Elizabeth picked up her cell phone and called her two best friends, Kay Everstine and Polly Longville. Kay and Polly decide to meet Elizabeth at the park the next day. After the storm passed that night everything calmed down. The next morning Elizabeth met Kay and Polly at the park by her house. It was the weekend and the girls had no homework. Elizabeth told her friends what had happened the night before at school.

“Are you sure the janitor killed that lunch lady?” Kay asked Elizabeth.

“Yes! I saw him kill her last night during the storm. Will you both help me prove that he killed her?” Elizabeth asked her friends.

“I believe you, but how will we prove that the janitor did it?” Polly asked.

“He left the knife at the scene of the crime! If we can get it and fingerprint it then we will have our proof!” Elizabeth exclaimed.

A cop pulls up to the park and gets out of the vehicle. Elizabeth and her friends continue to talk about school while looking at a bunny. The officer walks over to them and saw that they were acting suspicious. The three girls looked at the rabbit as it ate a carrot not noticing the officer approaching. The rabbit watched them talk before hopping back home.

“So cute! I love bunnies!” Kay said.

“Yeah! Me too! Uh, Can we please focus on the matter at hand?” Elizabeth said.

“What seems to be the matter here? I was informed of a domestic disturbance coming from this area.” The policeman said.

“Uh, no disturbance here. My friend Elizabeth just saw the janitor murder our lunch lady last night during the storm. We do not know who to turn to for help.” Polly said to the cop.

“I see. Well, I would like you three to show me where the murder took place and any clues you may have.” The officer said.

Elizabeth did not trust the officer but she knew they had no other person to turn to. She walked to the school with the officer and her friends. They all entered the kitchen to see the body still in the same spot with the knife laying next to her.

“Tell me exactly what happened last night during the storm.” Officer Truffles said.

“The janitor stabbed her in the heart with the knife and then he slit her throat. I was hiding behind this trashcan watching the whole thing.” Elizabeth said as she pointed at the trashcan by the staff break room.

“There is evidence and a body so he must have been an amateur killer. I will have to have you file a police report in order for a case to be made.” The officer replied as he studied the body from afar.

“What is the red stuff around the blood?” Kay asked.

“Tomato sauce. Remember we had pasta yesterday for lunch!” Polly said.

“Hey! This was not here last night. Did the janitor leave it behind?” Elizabeth said as she saw a paper on the lunch lady.

The officer called for a forensics team and put on white gloves. He then picked up the paper and unfolded it. He saw that it was a love letter from the janitor. The forensics team showed up and began roping off the crime scene.

“I see….a love letter from the janitor to the lunch lady. Well I will talk with the principal on Monday and see what this is all about.” Officer Truffles said as he put the note in an evidence bag.

Officer Truffles then picked up the knife and stuck it in another evidence bag. He then took out a small container and a pipette. He squeezed some of the sauce into the container and put it into evidence as well. Polly and Kay had heard a truck outside so they went to see who it was. They saw that it was the janitor who had returned. Jason had forgotten that he left his wallet at school and he had wanted to buy a pizza for dinner that night.

“Elizabeth! He has returned! The janitor!” Kay hissed.

“Yes. He must have forgotten something.” Polly said.

“Stand aside children. Actually you three can go home now.” Officer Truffles said.

“Aw….Why can’t we help you?” Polly asked.

“This is official police business now. It is no place for children.” Officer Truffles replied.

“Fine! Elizabeth! Come on! We should go to the movies!” Kay said.

Jason had found his wallet and he had already left by the time that Kay, Polly and Elizabeth had decided on what to finally do that day. The officer and the forensics team had already covered the body and taken fingerprints of the surrounding area.

“Hey! Who wants pizza?” Officer Truffles asked.

“Me! I do!” Elizabeth said.

“Yum! Pizza!” Kay exclaimed.

“Are you sure we should be eating pizza here? It is a crime scene after all.” Polly said.

“It is on me! Come on! I will take you out for lunch.” Officer Truffles said as he called up the pizza place and had a pizza delivered.

The pizza man was the janitor’s twin brother and he was the one delivering the pizza. Kay, Elizabeth and Polly all assisted the forensics team by giving them explanations of what Elizabeth had seen the previous night. As the pizza man arrived and brought the pizza to the door of the kitchen, Officer Truffles and Polly waited to pay him for their lunch. The pizza man hit the buzzer and Polly opened the door to let him in. Officer Truffles paid the pizza man and told him to step over to the side so he could question him on his whereabouts the night before.

“What are you talking about?” the pizza man said.

“I am talking about a murder taking place here in this cafeteria. The janitor is our only suspect right now and you are acting suspicious.” Officer Truffles replied.

“I was out delivering pizzas until 10:00 last night. I then went home and fell asleep! I know nothing about a murder, but my brother did not get home until 2:00 in the morning. His name is Jason Knowlington.” Jason’s brother replied.

“Thank-you for telling me your brother’s name. Okay, I believe you, but please if you have anything else let me know immediately.” Officer Truffles said as he handed Jason’s brother his card and the money for the pizza.

“I will let you know immediately if anything comes up. Thank-you.” The pizza man said.

Officer Truffles let the pizza guy leave before turning back to the forensics team, Elizabeth and her friends. They all ate the pizza outside the cafeteria as a little lunch break. Before returning back to work the officer got a call from his dispatcher. A bank robbery was happening nearby with hostages.

“This is Truffles. I am on my way to the destination.” Officer Truffles said.

“Do you have to go now?” Polly asked sadly.

“Unfortunately yes. A bank is being robbed and it is a stand off situation. I am sorry Elizabeth. The forensics team will help you from here on. Good luck.” Officer Truffles said as he returned to his police car and drove away.

“Bye Officer Truffles! Stay safe!” Kay called after him as she waved.

“Come on Kay! It is time to return to the scene of the crime!” Polly said.

Elizabeth, Kay and Polly returned to the kitchen with the forensics team and they continued to dust for prints, as well as take photographs of the crime scene. When they were finished four hours later, Elizabeth and her friends thanked the forensics team and returned to Elizabeth’s house. Meanwhile, Officer Truffles had finally caught up with the janitor and saw that he was the one behind the bank robbery.

“Why is the janitor robbing the bank?” he thought to himself as he watched Jason leave the bank with nothing. It had gone from a bright sunny day to a cloudy day with a blue moon. Was this strange weather that was happening or was it a conspiracy.

“Freeze! Put your hands in the air!” Officer Truffles yelled as he took out his gun.

Jason stopped walking to his vehicle and did as he was told. Officer Truffles walked over to Jason and tried arrest him for the murder of Heather Shaperstine, but Jason took out a gun and shot Officer Truffles in the head. The swat team then moved in and successfully arrested Jason. After calling Elizabeth, Kay and Polly, Officer Grappling told them the sad news about Officer Truffles.

“What? No! He was helping us with a murder case!” Elizabeth said into the phone.

“Were there any witnesses or other suspects?” Officer Grappling asked.

“Yes. The janitor’s brother, uh he is a pizza man!” Kay said.

“Thank-you. We have arrested the janitor and we will bring in the pizza man for questioning. Good work you three! The funeral for Officer Truffles will be held soon. I will call you with the details when I find them out. Stop by the police station to receive your official cadet badges.” Officer Grappling replied before hanging up.