It Doesn't Make Any Sense

A few hours later, the research facility was on lockdown. The hallways buzzed with activity as police officers and forensic experts meticulously investigated Ella's office. The mood was grim as they gathered evidence around her lifeless body. Detective Rogers, a seasoned investigator, spoke into his walkie-talkie, "We've got a code red, request backup and secure all exits. No one in or out until we figure out what happened here."

Ella lay sprawled on the floor, her life cruelly extinguished. Her once-pale face had now taken on an eerie expression. The gruesome sight was centered on her head, where a bloody wound had torn through her skull, leaving a horrifying hole. Forensic Expert Smith, his brow furrowed in deep concentration, muttered, "This is unlike anything I've seen before. It's as if her skull was ripped open."

A brownish liquid oozed from this gruesome orifice, emitting a foul odor that hung heavily in the air. Officer Johnson, camera in hand, cautiously navigated the crime scene, documenting every chilling detail, "These blood spatters, they're everywhere. It's a bloodbath in here."

The investigators moved around the office, photographing the murder scene and collecting samples of the putrid liquid. Blood splatters could be found all over the office, a proof of the violence that had unfolded there. Detective Ramirez, with a determined expression, suggested, "Check her computer, maybe we can find some clues as to who would do this to her."

Forensic Expert Miller carefully collected a sample of the mysterious liquid, his gloved hands trembling slightly, "This liquid, it's not like any bodily fluid I've encountered. We'll need to analyze it in the lab."

Officer Davis, his voice hushed, whispered to a colleague, "I can't wrap my head around this. Ella was always so focused on her research, who would want to do this?"

Whispers could be heard among the investigators as they expressed their confusion over the strange and horrifying way Ella Bold met her demise. In this room of science and discovery, something sinister had transpired, leaving nothing but unanswered questions in its wake.

Detective Rogers, rallying his team, finally spoke, "Alright, let's secure this area and get back to the lab. We need to find out exactly what happned here and find out who or what did this to Ella." The facility, once a hub of scientific innovation, had now become the backdrop for a dark and perplexing tale that was only beginning to unfold.

Meanwhile, In the distance, a helicopter descended towards the research facility. Inspector Walter Sterling, the lead investigator, carried an air of authority. His salt-and-pepper hair, meticulously groomed mustache, and piercing blue eyes gave off intelligence. He wore a sharp black suit, a crisp white shirt, and a black tie.

The pilot's voice cut through the drone of the chopper's blades. "Sir, we've arrived. We'll be touching down shortly."

Sterling glanced out the window, his expression unchanging. "Is that so?"

Once the helicopter landed on the facility's designated area, Sterling wasted no time. He briskly disembarked, his polished black shoes meeting the solid ground. With a heavy sigh, he muttered to himself, "This is the third time this week. Hopefully, something would have been uncovered by now."

His footsteps echoed in the otherwise quiet landing area as he headed towards the heart of the research facility, already strategizing for the upcoming investigation.

As Inspector Walter Sterling strode towards the research facility's entrance, a voice called out to him. It was his dedicated assistant, Sarah Foster, dressed in a professional gray suit, her chestnut hair flowed over her shoulders. Her intelligent hazel eyes held a hint of excitement, even in the face of this grim investigation.

Sarah fell into step beside Sterling, holding a tablet in her hands. "Inspector Sterling, we haven't been able to learn anything new from the crime scene," she reported, her tone professional and grim.

"No progress? Security footage, fingerprints, footprints, audio recordings, witness reports... anything?" Sterling asked, his expression a mix of frustration and anticipation.

Her response came with a heavy sigh. "Regrettably, sir, we've come up empty-handed. All we have is this," she said, her fingers swiping on her tablet to reveal the last known footage from Ella's office.

Sterling nodded, his mustache twitching slightly as he absorbed the information. "Play it."

Sarah clicked the play button, and the video showed Ella Bold, alone in her office. She entered and then froze, as if she'd seen something strang. Her lips moved, as though engaged in a one-sided conversation, but no one else was in the room with her. They watched as she crumpled to her knees, and then a horrifying hole appeared in her forehead, with blood splattering across her office as she fell lifeless to the ground.

The inspector remained silent, his mind working to see if he could glean any insights from the video, but nothing came to mind.

Sarah glanced up at him, concern in her eyes. "What's our next step, Inspector?"

Sterling's eyes met hers, and then he let out a sigh. "We're going to uncover the truth, Sarah. We owe that much to Dr. Bold."

Arriving at the crime scene, Inspector Walter Sterling found all the other officers gathered around. With a commanding presence, Sterling instructed the officers to make way for him. He stepped forward and removed the yellow tape that cordoned off the area.

As he approached the spot where Ella's lifeless body lay covered under a white sheet, an unbearable stench reached his nostrils. He winced and quickly held his nose. Despite his years of experience, the bloody sight and smell of death always affected him.

Drawing a deep breath, he moved closer to the corpse. With a grimace, he lifted the sheet slightly to get a better view. What he saw sent a shiver down his spine. Ella's lifeless expression was haunting, her eyes rolled backward, and there, on her forehead, was the horrifying hole, evidence of a bloody and violent death. Sterling had steeled himself for this, but even he couldn't suppress a momentary feeling of horror at the grotesque sight before him.

Sterling pushed himself back to his feet, exhaling a deep sigh of frustration. "Honestly, I'm getting tired of this," he muttered to himself, the weight of countless investigations settling heavily on his shoulders. "I should be retiring soon, but I keep getting dragged into scenes like this. Never getting any sleep at night."

With a practiced hand, he retrieved a lighter and a cigarette, his motions methodical as he lit the cigarette. As the tip glowed with each inhale, he leaned against a nearby wall, gazing at the scene with weariness and seriousness.

Within the cluster of officers, one of them leaned closer to a comrade, his voice hushed in curiosity. "Hey, is he allowed to do that?" He motioned toward Sterling, who was now leaning against a wall and smoking.

The other officer nodded with respect in his eyes. "That's Inspector Sterling. He's the one in charge of this investigation, and he's solved many impossible cases before. This one will be no different."

As Sterling smoked, he decided on a course of action, ready to unburden himself. "Serah," he called out, addressing his dedicated assistant, "inform headquarters. I'm retiring today. They should hand over this case to Agent X. He'll be able to solve it in a matter of seconds." He pushed away from the wall and began his exit from the crime scene.

Serah, incredulous, tried to dissuade him. "You can't be serious, Inspector. You just got here."

Sterling's eyes, though weary, held a hint of resolve. "I'm already sick and tired of racking my brain over cases like this one. Honestly, I have a wife and daughter at home, worried sick about me. I can't keep working when I'm supposed to be retired." With that, he stepped away, heading outside and signaling the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

As Sterling walked away, Serah couldn't help but muse inwardly, "But will Agent X even agree to take on this case?" The enigmatic agent's reputation was well-known, but taking on a case as perplexing as this one would be a true test of his legendary skills.