"Unbelievable, this is friggin unbelievable" Bobby bellowed pacing in his office as Inv. Gordon entered.

"What the hell happened?" he questioned.

Bobby took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before answering. "He's  dead, he's friggin dead. Our case against him is ruined" he told Gordon.

"Not that it's any great loss, but we have to investigate it Bobby. And the case itself is not ruined, we still have evidence from the journal" Gordon replied. "Grab your gear and let's head over to the jail. Is it still on lockdown?"

Bobby grabbed his keys, vest and gun "yeah, the body is still in the visiting area. The inmates have been placed back into their cells. One guard was injured but doesn't appear life-threatening " he told Gordon as they headed to the car.

Gordon drove to the jail, for whatever reason this incident was irritating Bobby more than most. "You want to tell me what's going on with you before we get there. These things don't usually affect you like this " he commented.

Bobby stated "shit like this doesn't happen here. And it doesn't involve people you know" he replied.

Gordon had to agree. No one had been assaulted in their jurisdiction like Caroline had been, and he couldn't remember if an uprising had ever occurred in their jail.

Walking in they crossed under the crime scene tape, observing the body face down in a large pool of blood. Lt. Connors, the jail administrator, stood to the side talking with the guards on duty, conducting his own investigation. Inv. Gordon walked towards him as Bobby began to photograph the crime scene.

"Lt. Connors, can I speak with you" he asked.

"Sure Steve" he replied before advising the guards to wait outside the visitation area.

"Todd, what the hell happened, what started this whole thing" Gordon asked.

"Apparently after meeting with his lawyer he began boasting about how he was going to be getting out within 24 hrs and was going to be looking to finish what he started" the Lt. told him.

"Finish? Was he planning on going after Caroline? " Gordon asked.

"Her and Foust. Said he was going to make sure Tim was finally out of the way and Caroline would be giving him what he'd been waiting for all these years, saying she was well worth the wait of being in here " he replied "he started describing all the foul things he planned on doing to her".

"So how did this happen...who did this" Gordon asked as Bobby stepped over to them.

Lt. Connors flipped through his notebook "a Christopher James. Apparently he was in for a felony DWI and marijuana posession."

"Topher...Topher did this" Bobby asked unsure of what he was hearing.

"You know this guy" Gordon asked him.

"Yeah, me and Tim went to school with him. Decent guy, this doesn't sound like something he'd do though" Bobby answered.

"Guards say he stepped up to him and they had words till it got physical" Lt Connors told them. "This James guy got him in a choke hold and the next thing they knew, he pulled a knife and stabbed him repeatedly. "

"How did an inmate have a knife?" Gordon asked.

"That's what I'm still trying to determine. He was brought in two days ago, arraigned and remanded awaiting sentencing.  The whole thing is full of holes" the Lt. replied.

"Where is James now" Bobby asked.

"Solitary confinement, for his safety and the other inmates" Connors told him.

Bobby stood there shaking his head, trying to make sense of it all. He finished taking the photos and retrieved the murder weapon, tagging and bagging it as evidence. He handed that to Gordon then stated he wanted to interview James.

"You think that's a good idea? You're kinda close to this whole thing, between Tim, Caroline and now this guy. You've gotta keep you're head on straight Bobby" Gordon advised him.

"I'm good, really...I think we may get more answers if I question him" he retorted.

Gordon had to agree, Bobby did have a connection that could work to their advantage, but one screw up based on emotion instead of fact, and this could end before it starts.

"Ok, but first we set up cameras in the interrogation room, get this whole thing recorded, make sure he hasn't  lawyered up, otherwise its a futile attempt " Gordon advised. Bobby agreed and headed out to get the room set up.

****

"Topher" as Bobby new him had been brought to the interrogation room and shackled to the chair and table in front of him. He sat quietly, looking at and playing with his fingers. A guard stood near the doorway. The video camera was set up in the opposite corner facing the table.

Bobby entered while Inv. Girdon and Lt. Connors watched through the two way glass. He advised the guard he could wait outside the door. Bobby pointed the remote he was holding, activating the camera as he sat down across from James.

For a moment they sat in silence before James raised his head to look at him.

"Bobby" he greeted with a nod.

Bobby acknowledge before advising him of the recording of the conversation and asking if he would like an attorney present.

"No, I'm good with this " he replied.

Keeping is composure as professional as possible, Bobby began asking questions, beginning with his name then others pertaining to everything they had already been told by Lt. Connors.

"What was you're involvement with the victim, did you know him before you were incarcerated" Bobby asked.

"Personally, no. Only from what I'd heard around town and read about in the papers " he answered.

"Did you have any interaction with the victim prior to today's incident. Any verbal confrontations in common areas such as the visitation and cafeteria areas or near either of your cells" Bobby continued.

James answered no.

"Can you describe to me what occurred today causing you to incur the fatal injuries to the victim" Bobby furthered his inquiry.

Again, James answered exactly with the description that had been provided by the guards to the Lt.

"How, when and where did you obtain the weapon used to cause these injuries " Bobby asked.

James hesitated a moment before answering. Both Connors and Gordon watched from the other side of the glass as he looked up at them then back at Bobby. "The cafeteria, yesterday. I took it while one of the staff turned to fetch me a bowl that was on the shelf behind them, they didnt see me take it. I hid in inside this jump suit till I got back to my cell" he replied.

"Why did you take it" Bobby asked.

James looked down at his hands again, silent. Bobby waited as he began to say something, he answered " I had to, I had to stop him Bobby. All the horrible things he did to Caroline and how he planned on hurting Tim. I couldn't let it happen. Tim is my friend. He helped me when we were young, he stood up for me, you both did. I heard what he did to others elsewhere too. I...I ..had too get in here to get rid of him, whatever the cost too me. That's why I planned it so I would get arrested, then I took the knife. I planned to make him pay for what he did to that sweet girl Caroline. It wasn't right Bobby, he started bragging he was getting out and going after both of them. They didn't deserve any of this. I don't care what happens to me, that's why I stood up to him and made him pay"

Bobby looked at him, sympathizing with his reasons, but knowing his friend had sealed his own fate.

Connors and Gordon stated in unison "premeditated murder".