The mysterious package

I lay on the couch in my living room, carelessly staring at the television flashing in front of me. This kind of lifestyle feels alien, as an investigator, I’m used to constant motion, my mind always racing to resolve a mystery, to solve a puzzle. Spending hours watching television isn’t something I normally do. I’m always too preoccupied with thoughts and work, I don’t really relax but it’s not something I mind, at all. Even when certain things aren’t mine to solve, I can’t help but dig deeper.

Many people seem to notice this, and many get angry at me for it. This now finally caught up with me. Yesterday, I was fired for probing too deeply in a case that wasn’t assigned to me. I had been close, so close to uncovering something important when my boss found out and showed me to the door. 

The loud chime of the doorbell jolts me from my thoughts. I thought it was a pleasant interruption from my lazing. I excitedly jumped from the couch, onto my feet and walked to the front door. 

I opened the door and no one was there, only a mysterious brown cardboard box sitting at my doorstep. I pick up the box and search for information. No return address, no shipping label, nothing to determine its origin.

Inside, I find something that makes my heart race. A case file, the very case that had cost me my job. The case is about a series of sudden and unexplained deaths at a local nursing home. Each one suspicious, each one forming a pattern that no one has seemed to notice. 

Once I initially looked into this case, I noticed irregularities in the autopsy reports. The handling of the case was equally suspicious, each death was assigned to a different investigator. Never giving anybody the chance to see the full picture. 

I tried connecting the dots, finally realizing something strange was going on but I never got the chance to. My superior discovered my unauthorized investigation. Now here I am unemployed but the file is in my hands.

Over the next hour, I read and examine the case file. There has been information added, something I didn’t see before, new evidence. The toxicology reports were deliberately misplaced, showing traces of undetectable poison.

I try to pinpoint who would do this, or why they would but everything is leading me to a dead end. The pieces were here but the puzzle was still  infuriatingly incomplete.

Taking a breath, I set the file down and try to examine the box. Then, I come across a note, tucked at the bottom, almost unnoticeable. The note is from Sarah, a colleague of mine. She reveals to me that she secretly supports my investigation and that she as well has been trying to gather evidence on this case. She gathered crucial evidence but needed someone working outside the department’s watchful eye. She needed my help and knew I needed hers but also couldn’t be found helping me.

I sit down and try to think, my mind racing everywhere. This is all unnerving and frightening. I could get in even more trouble if someone finds out I have this. I quickly become extremely uneasy when I notice an unfamiliar car parked on my usually quiet street. It might simply be paranoia perhaps, but investigators are taught to trust their instincts.

Taking the file and my laptop, I head upstairs to my office, trying to shake the feeling of being watched.

After my short break, hours of intense work follows as I piece together all the new information. 

Then everything clicked into place, I finally solved it! 

The entire time, my former boss was behind it all. The changing of the investigators, my sudden termination, it all makes sense now! It was all a cover up. Though his motives are still unclear, the evidence was now undeniable.

Glancing out the window, I unfortunately see the same suspicious car. My instincts yelled that this was more than paranoia. I decide to ignore it once more.

Once all my evidence is well organized and clear, rather than going to the local police, where my former boss’s influence would hide the truth, I call my friend at the FBI. 

My friend willingly agreed to help. They noticed the pattern too and it was apparent to them that I was right. After reviewing my evidence, federal agents moved quickly. Soon after, they had my former boss in custody and brought him in for questioning.