Justice
By Kurun t’Gath
Translated from the Kashlanin
(99.3% accuracy)
© 2026 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  morgdl


Eight.



My vehicle headed back to the Constabulary station, and I relaxed in my seat and began to think.

Determining what motivates a Person to kill another is a large part of my occupation, and there are several standard motives such as sex, revenge, money, and hatred. Set against these standards, what motivated Yifan g’Zherin’s murder?

Yezhef had related that when his daughter first chose to have sexual relations, she had chosen her mother. He had no objection, but what about the other two fathers? What were their relations with Veridh? Was everything consensual?

Money I could provisionally discount. There didn’t seem to be any sign of discontent regarding money or bequests.

Hatred and revenge might be viable motives. Yezhef and Yifan were often arguing, and Yifan had been insulting toward Yezhef’s [birth-daughter]. I was unsure about this; it didn’t appear to be sufficient cause to contemplate, let alone execute, a criminal act like murder.

“Any progress, Captain?” Sergeant Zhamur asked.

“No,” I replied. “Is the simulator available?”

“Yes, Sir,” and she led me down to the chamber. “Will you need any assistance?”

“No, thank you(sincere), Sergeant,” and the Sergeant left me alone.

I summoned the simulator’s keyboard and had the simulator display the g’Zherin residence’s upstairs bedroom area. I then instructed the display to place Vikan-ma’am in the bed with her husbands lying to either side of her in accordance with the interviews I had conducted. Tags appeared in midair to label each of the People.

Responding to instructions, Yifan-sir got out of bed, put on a robe, and moved toward the stairs. The display of the house’s interior (shifted/changed) to show the kitchen and I said, “Stop.” The simulator’s computer obeyed, with Yifan-sir in mid-stride. He was two, perhaps three steps from the spot where he had been killed.

I stepped behind Yifan-sir, extended my right second fingerclaw, and used it to indicate the entry site of the murder weapon. The display altered, making Yifan-sir’s body transparent from his shoulders up and showing the wound channel. The angle and pressure required were not conclusive, so the murderer could have been either right- or left-handed. A tailspur could be discounted, as it is neither long enough or shaped like the murder weapon.

The angle of entry was interesting as well. Based on [precedent], a slight upward angle would imply a male delivering the blow, while a downward angle would imply a female. This was exactly perpendicular.

My ears went back and I used the keyboard to display the reports of the search. The cleaning drones had all been examined, true.

I called the station commander’s office. “Sergeant t’Kon,” a male said.

I blinked. “Sergeant Zhamur is off duty now?”

“Yes, Captain-Inspector. May I be of assistance?”

“This is in connection to the g’Zherin murder.” The male gestured affirmatively. “I want to interview the technicians who inspected the house’s cleaning drones.”

“One moment, Sir.” Sergeant t’Kon glanced aside before facing me again. “They are off duty until tomorrow, Sir.”

“I will speak with them tomorrow,” I said. I also planned to speak with the family members again. I needed more information.

“Yes, Sir,” the sergeant was saying. “I have included it in their briefing notes for tomorrow.”

“Very good. Thank you(sincere), Sergeant,” and I ended the conversation. I then returned to the simulation and stood facing Yifan-sir’s image.

There are, of course, other motives for murder. Irrationality, for example, although I had not observed any overt signs of [madness] in any of the family members I had interviewed. People are generally stable, but only statistically. I did have my [sidearm], and I decided that I would wear it [openly] when I revisited the g’Zherin residence.

I shut down the simulation and left the station, directing my vehicle to take me to the hostel. I decided that I would have lastmeal there while studying the interviews I had recorded as well as examining the crime scene and what evidence was there.

Lastmeal was a local game bird, served roasted with roasted vegetables and flatbread, with henal to drink. I was off duty and the alcohol content of henal is low, so I was in no danger of becoming impaired. With my meal concluded, I activated my [personal access device] as it began to signal an incoming call.

It was my superior officer and [overall] commander of the Constabulary on Grevchak, General v’Radha. “General,” I said.

“Captain,” he said, “has there been any progress in your current case?”

“I am beginning a second set of interviews tomorrow, Sir,” I replied, “as well as reviewing the crime scene reports and analyses again.”

“Good,” the General said. “We have detained two Persons at the spaceport in accordance with your directive. After investigation, they have been released. We have their statements and contact information.”

“Thank you, Sir.” He ended the connection. I was pleased that my instructions regarding travel off-planet were being followed, although the General had no obligation to report this to me personally.

I contacted my mate Yezhim’s [personal access device] and left a message to let him know that I was alright.

Several cycles after lastmeal were spent going over each interview, muting the volume so I could study their gestures and expressions. I took careful notes for the questioning I planned to do the next day.

When I finished that task, I removed my [sidearm] from its secure case and examined it. Both magazines were fully loaded and the weapon activated as it sensed and verified the pattern of ridges on my palm and fingers. I put the weapon away and got ready for bed.





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