text: Robi Crusoe It All Started At Four Corners I would like to dedicate this book to the great mystery writer himself, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Thank you, Mr. Doyle, for writing the great blueprint! 
   
   
   Chapter One 
     
   I have never been ordinary. It’s as if I’m a beacon for all sorts of trouble. So, a while ago, I decided to use my sixth sense for good. I became a private investigator. My goal is to help people, instead of hurt them, as I once did. I believe just as my dearest childhood mentor did that one truth prevails, no matter what the situation is. And as long as I remember that, no case will be too hard, and no crime will remain unsolved. Not for this detective, anyway. 
     
     
               The night was cold, dark, and damp, the perfect conditions for a heist. The Moriaritys had been preparing for this night day after day, and now, it was finally that time. It was time to strike. Their youngest member went up to the door of the shop, knowing what she was to do. She picked the lock in seventeen seconds, and then set to work helping the gang leader crack the safety system. Finally, they were in. The crew began to collect the riches from the cash register, the safe, and the other somewhat hidden places in the store that a scout found earlier in the week. 
               Just as they were about finished, a loud wailing echoed throughout the building. 
               “Run!” cried Jamieson, scrambling for the back door. The young lock pick tried to follow, but tripped on a trash barrel and fell to the floor. She reached up, hoping to receive a hand from her best friend. But to her dismay, he was already turning around and running away. 
               “Drake, please don’t leave me!” she called. Drake stopped, turned his head slightly, and sighed. 
               “I’m sorry, Addi.” he said. Then he walked away, leaving his once named partner to the mercy of the Four-Corner’s PD. 
                                       
               “All rise for the trial of Addison Avery Carter, charged with theft and breaking and entering.” commanded Judge Dillon. Addison smiled and stood. 
               “How do you plead, Miss Carter?” he asked. 
               “I plead guilty.” Addison said. Then she looked over at the policeman and held out her hands mockingly. “Officer, take me away.” 
               “Not quite yet, you still need to hear your sentence.” Judge Dillon said. “Addison Carter, you are hereby sentenced to twenty years in prison. Case dismissed. 
     
   
   Seven Years Later… 
   
   
     
   
   “The butler did it.” Addison stated, closing her manila folder with her left hand. Dari Stutter, Addison’s cellmate, looked up at her in surprise. 
               “How did you figure that case out so fast?” she asked. “It must have taken the police two full days to figure that one out and you solved it in fifteen minutes!” Addison laughed. She loved it when Dari asked her how she solved things. It gave her an excuse to explain her deductions. 
               “Well, first of all, the butler didn’t have a good enough alibi.” she answered. “He said that he was in his room sleeping, and he didn’t have anyone with him to prove he was in his room the entire time. Plus, out of the two possible suspects, he was the only one that was strong enough to hit the victim over the head with the murder weapon.”  Dari just continued staring. 
               “I still can’t believe that you can crack a case that quickly!” she said. “By the way, do I need to cover for you tonight? You look like you’re out of case folders again.” 
               “That would be perfect!” replied Addison. 
               
   That night, Addison, using her talent for picking locks, crept out of her cell and slipped silently into the back of the prison library. She immediately went to where she had left off, folder two-thousand nine-hundred thirty-seven. 
               “Ah yes,” Addison whispered. “The Case of the Estranged Doctor, this is sure to be an excellent mystery!”  She whipped the yellowing envelope from the shelf, taking a few other as well, just enough so that she would not have to come back for a couple of days. Quietly she crept back to her cell, tucked the stolen folders into her special compartment in the wall, and crawled into bed, making it seem as if nothing had happened at all. 
     
               Little did Addison know that her plan had not been as secretive as she had believed it had been. Outside the prison compound, a disheveled young man rose to his feet, a red notebook and pencil in his blistered hands. 
               “Yes, I believe she is the one.” he whispered. “I will conduct the final test tomorrow.” He then stood, dusted himself off, and seated himself on his Harley. As the middle-aged man drove away, he glanced back and smiled. 
               “I’ll see you in the morning, Ms. Carter.” 
     
               “Addison, wake up!” shouted Dari, shaking her friend vigorously for the fifth time that morning. “The sergeants are coming! It’s almost time for inspection!” 
               “I’m awake, alright!” cried Addison. She forced herself up, and yawned. “I must have stayed up a little bit late last night. 
               “Well you had better pull your act together before the Feds come.” Dari said. “If they see you like this they will know that something’s up.” She helped Addison straighten out her hair and slip on her shoes. The duo then resorted to sprucing up their quarters. 
               They had just finished when Sergeant Flanders walked in for his daily inspection. His beady eyes scanned every corner of the room, looking for one hair out of place; one thing he could condemn the fugitives for. Finally, he gave up his search, and ordered the girls into the mess hall for breakfast. 
               
               The cafeteria was not exactly the “cleanest” place in the world, nor was it the safest. Masses of inmates crowded the flimsy wooden tables, getting into their well established groups, and growling at the newbies who would try and enter their cliques uninvited. As always, Addison and Dari made their way to a back table, far away from the battlefield at the front. They sat back with all of the nerds and weirdoes who had learned their lessons long ago. 
               “So, Addison, did you solve another one of your cases last night?” a girl named Janise Rosewell asked, leaning in closer so that she could hear well. She had entered the compound around the same time Addison did, so she knew all about her knack for solving crime. 
               “In fact, I did.” replied Addison proudly. “It was about this doctor who-.” 
               “Addison Carter,” yelled Sergeant Flanders, a wicked gleam in his eye. “You are wanted in the front office, immediately!” 
               “Do you think he found the folders?” Addison asked Dari. 
               “How could he have, they were hidden so well!” Dari answered. Addison shrugged, then turned around and walked up to Sergeant Flanders, her emotions unreadable, and her step unfaltering. Just as she was marched through the door by the sergeant, a shout arose from the back table. 
               “Good luck, Addison!” yelled Dari. Then the view of the cafeteria vanished, and all Addison saw was the long stretch of hall ahead. 
     
               “Well, if it isn’t Addison Carter!” exclaimed the man sitting in a burgundy armchair. Addison and Sergeant Flanders had just entered Officer Delaney’s study, where he and a young scraggly gentleman were seated. 
               “Ms. Carter, this man’s name is Detective Connor Doyle. He is a private investigator for the Four Corners Police Department.” 
               At the mention of the detective’s name, Addison’s breathe caught in her throat. It had been so long, but she could never forget the night that she had first met Detective Doyle. It was the night that Drake had betrayed her. As she looked into Connor’s eyes, she saw a sense of understanding, overlaid with a hint of mystery and a splash of trust. She then knew what he wanted with her. Slowly, she gave him a slight nod, signaling to him that she would do what he asked. 
               “Alright then, it’s settled.” Connor said. “Ms. Carter shall come to my manor tomorrow at noon. I will arrange transportation as required.” 
               “Wait a minute!” cried Addison. “I can’t go with you tomorrow, not without Dari!” 
               “Who’s Dari?” questioned the inspector, a gleam in his eye. Sergeant Flanders answered for her. 
               “Dari has been Addison’s friend during her time in this facility.” the sergeant explained. “They’ve been inseparable ever since they met.” 
               “That’s right!” Addison proclaimed. “Dari and I, we’re like peanut butter and jelly, Laverne and Shirley. We’re like Sherlock Holmes and Watson!” 
               “That’s quite enough, Ms. Carter!” shouted Officer Delaney. “Go back to your cell at once!” Addison gave everyone one last defiant look, and then she sulked back to her cell. 
               
               “Are you sure she’s the one?” questioned Sergeant Flanders. “I mean, I know Addison is smart and all, but still, you have to remember that she is a criminal, and she is liable to turn back to her old ways at any moment!” 
               “No, she won’t.” answered Detective Doyle. “Even if she didn’t know it, she has been training as a detective for these past seven years.” Dramatically, he produced a manila folder from behind him. 
               “But, those are our case files!” stammered Officer Delaney. 
               “Exactly, Addison Carter has been secretly pillaging these cases every night.” explained the detective. “Under our very noses, she has been solving countless numbers of these, keeping score on the wall by her bed.” 
               “I thought those meant days!” gasped Sergeant Flanders. “I never had any idea that she was actually solving murder mysteries in there!” 
               Connor snickered. 
               “She hid her stolen objects very well, by placing them inside a compartment behind a stone in the wall.” he explained. “It’s pretty ingenious, if you think about it. Now, how about those release forms?” 
     
                 “We’re in.” said Addison said as she walked into her cell, a satisfied look on her face. Dari looked up from her crossword, confused. 
               “What do you mean by ‘we’?” she questioned. Addison smiled at her. 
               “I have successfully convinced the ecstatic Detective Doyle to bail out both of us.” 
               “Really, we’re actually leaving this dump!” exclaimed Dari. “I can’t believe it… Oh, wait a minute, there’s a catch, isn’t there. There’s always a catch. 
               “Alright, you got me.” Addison said, raising her hands in the air. “He’ll bail us out, but only if I agree to become his ‘assistant’. The only reason you got included is because, being the amazing friend that I am, I stood up for you.” 
               “And you agreed to this?” asked Dari. 
               “Yes, yes I did.” whispered Addison. Then she said goodnight to Dari, and fell into a nice, mystery filled sleep. 
   
   
   
   Chapter Two 
     
     
   The next day, Addison and Dari packed up their things, and left the place that had been their home for the last seven years, for good. They loaded their bags into the back of Detective Doyle’s car, and pretty soon, the trio was driving through the desert at sixty miles-per-hour, heading towards the bustling city of Four Corners, Arizona. 
               When they arrived at the detective’s mansion, the two girls were introduced to his butler, a clammy old man who went by the name Niles. 
               “Niles, please show these young ladies to their quarters.” Conner ordered. The butler began walking towards the entrance. 
               “Follow me, ladies.” he said. They walked down the maze of hallways, finally stopping in front of two gilded doors, one with a rose on the door, the other with a lily. 
               “Ms. Stutter, your room is on the right.” Niles explained. “Ms. Carter, yours is on the left. Enjoy your stay, ladies.” As soon as he disappeared around the corner, the two girls proceeded to check out their new quarters. 
               As Addison stepped into her room, she scanned her surroundings, checking anything that could conceal a hidden microphone, or a camera. She had grown up learning from Drake that you should always make sure that there is no chance of you being monitored secretly, even in your own house. 
   “If someone can watch your every move,” he had said. “Then that takes away your privacy, and any time you would have had to plan your next heist.” 
   Addison sighed. Even though he had abandoned her, and gotten her into this whole mess, she still missed Drake. She missed his long lectures about crime and robbery; his laughter that rang out into the night when she would tell him a joke. Addison pushed the wave of memories back. 
   “It’s better to leave the past in the past, and to tackle the present as it comes.” she whispered to herself. 
   Leaving her past behind her, Addison resumed her thorough examination of the room she supposedly was to stay in for the rest of her apprenticeship. The walls were painted an iridescent green, with arches of white here and there. Up on the ceiling, some artist had portrayed a swirl of vines, all coming together in the center, where a bright silver chandelier was hanging. Addison inspected the closet, and found a wide assortment of clothing, all strangely close to her size. 
   “This man must have really looked into me.” she said with a grimace. Still, despite the strangeness of it, she took out an army green jacket and placed it over her shoulders. 
   When Addison looked in the trunk at the foot of her four-poster bed, she found a large collection of odd items. There was a large notebook and pen, an old pocket watch, and many different sized magnifying glasses. Among these she found a very large one attached to a string. Cautiously, she slipped the cord over her head, and let the device rest against her hip. 
   “Perfect, this may come in handy someday.” she whispered. Thinking about it, she placed a smaller looking glass into the breast pocket of her coat, and then, closing the trunk, she walked out into the hallway, heading towards the dining room. 
   After having settled down to a warm supper of russet potatoes and smoked ham, Addison, Dari, and Detective Doyle began discussing what would happen in the days to come. 
   “Ms. Carter, the reason that I have called you here is because I have been monitoring you for some time now, and I feel that you have the skills to be a very qualified detective.” Detective Doyle explained. “All you need is a little bit of professional training.” 
   “ I knew you were stalking me,”  Addison thought, a hint of a smile crossing her otherwise expressionless face. 
   “So, for the first part of your training, you will learn all of the basic subjects from Mrs. Porter, the teacher I hired for you.” Connor continued. “She will teach you arithmetic, geometry, and of course, problem solving.” He paused when he caught a glimpse of Addison fingering her newly found magnifying glass. 
   “I see you were exploring your room.” he said cheerily. “This is very good, Ms. Carter, very good indeed!” 
   “Thank you.” replied Addison, blushing, and placing her looking glass back down at her side. 
   “Now, to continue on, the second part of your training-.” Detective Doyle began saying, but at that very moment, the doorbell rang. 
   “I’ll get it, sir!” called Niles. It was a few minutes before the butler returned to the dining room, a stranger tagging along behind him. 
   “Sir, this woman’s name is Rita Whittington, and she wishes to speak with you.” Niles explained. 
   “Ah yes, Ms. Whittington,” Detective Doyle cried, standing up to shake the young lady’s hand. “It is a great honor to meet you.” 
   “It is an honor to meet you as well, Detective Doyle.” replied Rita. “But please, could we go into your study? I have a few matters that I wish to discuss with you in private.” 
   “As you command, Ms. Whittington.” said Connor with a nod. The two of them walked into the study, not returning until almost twenty minutes later. 
   “I guess I will see you tomorrow morning, Mr. Doyle.” Rita said as she walked out the door. 
   “I guess so.” called the detective. “Goodnight, Ms. Whittington!” After she left, Connor walked back into the dining room and sat down. Addison and Dari stared at him, silently pressuring him for details. When Connor saw what they were doing, he laughed. 
   “Fine, I’ll tell you everything.” he sighed. “Let’s just say this tale involves a hanging, supposed murder, and two very jealous suitors.”  Addison gasped. 
   “That sounds almost exactly like one of the case files I read at the prison!” 
   “You mean, stole from the prison.” added Dari. Addison gave her a pointed look, quickly quieting Dari’s tongue. 
   “You are both right.” replied Connor. “Don’t worry, Addison, I won’t report you for your past crimes.” Addison breathed a sigh of relief. 
   “Thank you very much, Mr. Doyle.” she said. 
   “You’re very welcome. Now then, let’s return to the case.” proposed Connor. “The date was October thirteenth, just about a week ago. Ms. Whittington walked into her house on Shillington Square, only to find a corpse hanging from the chandelier in her living room. The murdered man’s name was Fredrick Muldoon. Ms. Whittington told me that he had been one of three suitors that had been trying to win her hand in marriage for the past few months. She thinks that one of the remaining suitors, Mason Parker or Johnny Hartwell, may, in fact, have murdered Mr. Muldoon.” 
   “I wouldn’t put it past someone,” accused Addison. “Especially, I wouldn’t put it past someone who has the motive to commit a crime like that. Now, when are we going to go and thoroughly investigate the scene of the crime?” 
   “Tomorrow morning, so you’d better get some sleep.” Connor said, ushering Addison and Dari into the hall. “So, I now say goodnight to you both!” 
     
   After a fairly peaceful night of rest, Conner and his two apprentices loaded up into his car and began the forty-five minute journey to Whittington Manor. On the way there, Addison thought through what Detective Doyle had told them about the crime last night. Who murdered Mr. Muldoon, and more importantly, why did he do it? 
   “The criminal mind is dark and strange, murderous, and cold.” she whispered to herself. “But in the end, even it is fooled. No matter how smart any villain thinks he or she is, he will always leave behind something; some clue that can incriminate him and put him in his place. The good side will always prevail.” 
   They arrived at the manor in due time. As Conner approached the door, it was answered promptly by Ms. Whittington. 
   “Ah yes, Detective Doyle, I’m so glad you could come!” she exclaimed. “But, why did you bring  those  two along?” 
   “ We  are Mr. Doyle’s apprentices.” announced Addison. “So wherever he goes, we go too!” 
   “Fine, I guess you can all come in.” Ms. Whittington said with a dismissive wave of her hand. She led them through the door and into the living room, where within sat two gentlemen in pristine suits. 
   “The one on the right is Mr. Parker, and the one on the left is Mr. Hartwell.” Addison told Dari. Dari looked back at her, eyes wide. 
   “How do you know?” she asked. Addison grinned. 
   “It’s simple really,” she replied. “I remember reading that Mr. Hartwell was a victim of a burglary once. There was a struggle, and Mr. Hartwell ended up with a nasty scar on his hand. I saw the scar when I came in.” 
   “Oh, now I get it!” Dari exclaimed. 
   “Of course you do.” Addison laughed, placing a hand against her forehead. Just then, Ms. Whittington glared at them, so the two girls stopped their shenanigans and proceeded to follow Rita and Detective Doyle to the scene of the murder. 
   As they entered the room, Addison gasped. Hanging at the dead center was a man’s body suspended by a rope. The ground under him was covered in blood. Addison took in every visible detail, and then started hunting around for the non-visible ones. She used her large magnifying glass that hung by her side to hunt for evidence. It was not like she needed to look though. She already knew who had killed Mr. Muldoon. Now all that was required was for her to prove her theories. With Dari’s help, the whole investigation would take only an hour. Then the murderer would be revealed, and Addison could go home and rest. But until then, she would let Conner have his fun, doing his thing and going over all the steps that she had done instantly when she had first encountered the murder scene. So slowly, Addison sat down in one of the many armchairs situated around the room, and began her long wait. 
   Meanwhile, Connor was trying tirelessly to solve the case. He knew that if he let Ms. Whittington down, that he would never get his paycheck. And if he didn’t get paid, then he would never find out just how smart Addison really was. So, he pushed on, trying in vain to solve a crime that just refused to lend him any hints. 
   “I need to go get a drink.” announced Ms. Whittington. “Johnny, Mason, will you boys come and help me?” 
   “Of course, my lady.” replied Mason with a smile. 
   “Just follow us.” said Johnny. The threesome exited into the kitchen. They had been gone for some time when suddenly a loud scream rang out. The three detectives rushed to the scene. In front of them, Ms. Whittington laid soaking in a pool of her own blood, a large kitchen knife shoved into her back. The two young men were pushed back against the kitchen counter. Behind them, the large glass doors were swinging on their hinges. 
   “There was a break in!” cried Mr. Hartwell. “The killer was dressed all in black, so we couldn’t see his face. He sprang through the glass doors, grabbed a knife, and stabbed dear Rita in the back!” 
   “I don’t think that’s exactly true.” said Addison. She stepped up to the front where everyone could see her. “In fact, I am now certain that you two have been lying to us all along!” She turned towards Conner with a mischievous smile. 
   “My dear Detective Doyle, you probably don’t believe me, but I know who the murderer is.” Everyone looked over at her in shock. 
   “How could you possibly know that?” questioned Johnny. “It has only been a couple of minutes since this murder happened!” 
   “I wasn’t just talking about this most recent murder.” explained Addison. “I was talking about the murder of Mr. Muldoon as well. Now let me explain my reasoning.” She led the group back into the living room, where she sat down in a chair and folded her arms in her lap. 
   “The murderer, or more precisely, the murderers, are you two fiends!” she said, pointing at Mr. Parker and Mr. Hartwell. 
   “But why would we want to murder Ms. Whittington? One of us was supposed to marry her!” 
   “That may be true, but you two are still the killers. I can prove it.” Addison replied. “You see, on the night of October thirteenth, at precisely two-thirty in the morning, you, Mr. Parker, led the unsuspecting Fredrick Muldoon into the study. There your accomplice, Mr. Hartwell, had rigged a noose that you two used to hang Mr. Muldoon and hence, eliminate him from your competition for Ms. Whittington’s hand in marriage. But your evil plot didn’t end there. Even after Ms. Whittington recruited us, you still decided to continue on with your evil scheme. To you, we were just your simple witnesses. After we arrived at the house, both of you, along with Ms. Whittington, went into the kitchen to get a drink. This was when you committed your second act of villainy. You both grabbed the knife at the same time and plunged it into Ms. Whittington’s back. See, I found Ms. Whittington’s will upstairs in her room, and I was surprised by the fact that the envelope that it was in had been opened. But when I read it, I knew the truth. Ms. Whittington wrote that whoever her husband was would inherit her fortune when she died. But, if she happened to pass away before one of you became betrothed to her, all of the remaining suitors would inherit her fortune. That was what you were after, not love, but money. And you were determined to get it, even if it meant killing somebody.” 
   The two men laughed. 
   “That is a mighty fine story, Ms. Carter, but I can assure you that none of it is true. I mean, you don’t even have proof!” 
   “Actually, I think I have enough evidence to put you two away for good! Dari, come here please!” Addison called. Dari Stutter then came rushing into the room, carrying a test tube, and a sheet of crisp white paper. She handed them off to Addison, and then waved at the crowd. Addison rolled her eyes, quickly returning to her explanation. 
   “This test tube contains a sample of blood from Ms. Whittington’s shirt. What surprised me though was that the sample did not just contain one person’s blood. It contained  two,  yours, Mr. Hartwell, and the victims. I figured that this was because as you and Mr. Parker plunged the kitchen knife into Ms. Whittington’s back, the wound on your hand was reopened, and some of the blood fell on Ms. Whittington’s back. Just to prove my theories even further, I checked for fingerprints on the hilt of the knife, and found a set of yours and a set of Mr. Parker’s. Do I need to explain further, or will you just go ahead and let my friend Detective Doyle cuff you up now.” 
   Both of the young men were scowling now, so Addison knew that everything she had said was one-hundred percent true. She cast a sidelong glance at Conner. 
   “Their expressions speak for themselves.” she concluded. “Constable, take them away.” 
     
   Later, after Conner, Addison, and Dari had all given statements in court, the team decided that they would all celebrate with a well deserved trip to Carmelo’s Ice Cream Parlor down on South Tenth. 
   “That was an amazing feat that you pulled off at that last case.” exclaimed Conner. “I didn’t know that you had such good deductive reasoning. You’re a natural young Sherlock Holmes!” 
   “Thanks Detective Doyle!” replied Addison. “But I couldn’t have done it without Dari.” The girls smiled and high-fived each other. 
   “Well, also, if you hadn’t gone to prison and read those police case files, you probably never would have ended up in this position!” said Dari. 
   “That’s true, for if I had never gotten arrested, I never would have met you two!” Addison affirmed. “But still, I wonder what happened to Jamieson, Drake, and the rest of the Moriaritys?” Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Addison saw a flash of movement in the window of the closed convenience store across the street. 
   “I’ll be right back.” she said. Then the young detective raced to Conner’s car, grabbed his gun from the glove compartment, and rushed over to stop the burglary of Casey’s Convenience Store. 
   She kicked open the doors and held the gun out threateningly. 
   “Whoever’s in here, you should come out with your hands up! I have a gun, and I’m not afraid to use it!” Addison called. Slowly, a shadowy figure emerged from behind the counter. 
   “Addi, is that you?” he asked, seemingly surprised. “Is it really the young girl I knew from all those years ago?” 
   “Drake?” Addison questioned, her eyes growing wide. “What are you doing here?” 
   “What does it look like I’m doing?” Drake laughed. “I’m robbing this convenience store!” Addison glared at him and held her weapon higher. 
   “So, after all of this time, you’ve never changed.” Addison sighed. “Well, I’m sorry Drake, but if you’re breaking the law, I will have no choice but to turn you in.” Drake looked at her skeptically. 
   “Addison, honey, why would you do a silly thing like that?” he said calmly. “Hey, I know, why don’t you join back up with me? We could forget all of the events that happened seven years ago, and start a new, crime based life! Come on Addi, just say yes.” 
   The more Addison thought about it, the more she wanted to agree. She hadn’t seen Drake in so long! But then, her thoughts turned back to Conner, Dari, and her escapades in the prison. She couldn’t give that up, not even for her old friend. 
   “I’m sorry Drake, but I cannot go with you.” Addison answered. “But, just this once, I will let you go free. Though, if I ever catch you stealing again, I will turn you into the police, no questions asked.” 
   She gave him one last hard look, and then watched as he ducked out of sight and out of her life forever. Slowly Addison smiled, running out the door, and back towards her future, solving crimes with her best friend Dari, and crazy Detective Conner Doyle. 
     
   
   Well, I guess my life couldn’t be any better. I have an amazing job, an awesome best friend, and a fairly decent employer. So for now, I guess I will go to bed, and ready myself for my first study session with Conner in the morning. To everyone reading my case files, this is Addison Carter, Junior Detective, signing off. 
   
   
     
   
   
     
   
                                                    The End 
   
   
   Text: RC Productions Editing: Grandma Betty and Me All rights reserved. Publication Date: April 20th 2013 https://www.bookrix.com/-lilliannagirl101