8th Grade Murder Chapter 1

Cesar Rodriguez glanced away from The Early Show to look at his watch. 8:25 AM. His duty was almost over. He stuffed the last of his hamburger into his mouth and pushed his chair backwards harder than he needed to. It produced a subtle thump when it clattered into a waitress.

Four tables down there sat a man named Andrew Pham. Five minutes ago, he ordered a double cheeseburger and fries with a bunch of ketchup on the side. "A lot." He told the waitress. "I mean like, a lot a lot."

Now his food was splattered onto Cesar's new uniform. The extra ketchup was smeared into his hair, the cheeseburger was on his shoulder, and the pickles on his badge. "Oh my god," The waitress stammered. "I-I'm so sorry, sir."

"Its okay," Cesar said, sounding happier than he really was. "I've got a bunch of these."

"Where's my food?!?!?!?" Andrew Pham demanded impatiently.

Cesar's walkie-talkie crackled and the sheriff came on. "We've got an emergency situation at Eastgate Middle School; I need all available cops to come immediately."

While the waitress explained to Mr. Pham that his food would be late but he wouldn't have to pay anything, Cesar replied to the sheriff. "Uh Cesar Rodriguez here, I'll be there in about five minutes. I got a bunch of food spilled all over me."

Cesar walked to the trashcan, grabbed a huge pile of napkins and started wiping the ketchup and mustard and relish and pickles off of his suit, before walking out the door without paying for his food. He figured since the waitress ruined his uniform, he shouldn't have to pay.

Cesar walked out of the restaurant and climbed into his car. Turning on his lights, he did zero to sixty in three seconds. When Cesar had first gotten his driver’s license, his dad had bought him an old junker Toyota. It was the ugliest car in town, but Cesar loved it.

Now Cesar was twenty-five and was speeding like a big-shot in his sleek black police car. None of the radar or radios were underused, Cesar made a point to use every piece once a week, even if he was just cleaning.

Once Cesar’s car had broken down and he had to hitch a ride in another cop’s car. Cesar had been surprised at how dirty everything was. Dust was gathering on the radios and dried up food was on the radar gun. Cesar thought himself the most organized dude in the Kansas City Police Department.

Cesar arrived at Eastgate Middle School after four minutes. His duty was over but he wanted to see what was happening.

"What happened to your Uniform?" Cesar's friend and fellow Cop, Derrick Fulbright asked him slowly.

"Oh, uh the waitress at the burger joint on Metcalf dropped a tray of food on me." Cesar replied as he walked towards where the sheriff was.

Derrick tried not to laugh, but a hint of a smile appeared on his face, and Cesar knew he would laugh soon.

Cesar arrived at where the sheriff was. "What's going on?" He asked.

"Shooting." The sheriff answered simply. "Twenty eighth-graders killed or injured and-"

Derrick burst out laughing. Cesar knew he couldn't hold it anymore after seeing his uniform, but everybody else just stared at him wide eyes with their jaws on the ground.

Then Derrick stopped laughing as suddenly as he had started. "Sorry." He said in a serious tone just like nothing had just happened. Derrick did that a lot. He would be rolling on the floor laughing, the stop all the sudden and say something serious like 'no' or 'sorry'.

The sheriff explained further that eighteen were dead and two were in critical condition. Four teachers were also killed. Many bullet rounds were found at the scene, and it is being tested for fingerprints. "So," The sheriff said, "Search around and in the building for clues. A window was open in one of the classrooms on the third floor. He may have jumped out, and in that case he'd probably be limping away from the school. Go!"

The huddle of about thirty cops split into fifteen of sixteen groups. They searched the ground, looking for hair, boot prints, anything to give a clue.

"You've seriously got to stop doing that." Cesar told Derrick. "You might get fired."

"Yeah I know, I couldn't resist." He laughed a little at this, but Cesar stopped him.

"Did you hear something?" Cesar said in a hushed half-whisper.

"Uh... no." Derrick replied.

Then they both heard it. It sounded like a groan or something.

"I heard it that time." Derrick said, unlatching his gun holster.

Cesar did the same. "It might be the killer." He said.

"Yeah I knew that smarty."

Cesar and Derrick looked around but there was nothing. The sound seemed to be coming from around the corner. Derrick and Cesar Jumped around the corner and pointed their guns at the source of the sound, but what they saw might have been the most disappointing part of their careers.