(Sorry my chapter 4 Got deleted😖)
**CHAPTER 5: THE GIRL IN THE TRASHCAN**
**A Brutal Discovery**
The stench of rotting garbage filled the alley as Shams and River approached the crime scene. Yellow police tape cordoned off a dented trash can, its lid half-open. Inside, **Yana Macas, 13 years old**, lay curled like a broken doll, her school uniform soaked in blood. A deep wound split the back of her skull.
Shams' stomach twisted. **"She was dumped here, but not killed here."**
River nodded grimly. **"No blood pool under the body. Someone moved her."**
Captain Reyes rubbed his temples. **"Schoolgirl, no known enemies. Parents are devastated. We need answers fast."**
Shams pulled on gloves. **Time to use that 160 IQ.**
---
### **The Evidence**
1. **The Weapon:**
- **No murder weapon at the scene.**
- Shams examined the wound. **"Sharp, heavy, metal. Maybe a pipe or a wrench."**
2. **The Trash Can:**
- **No fingerprints** (wiped clean).
- **Tire tracks nearby**—small, like a bicycle or scooter.
3. **Yana's Last Moments:**
- **Schoolbag missing.**
- **Phone gone.**
**This wasn't random. Someone knew her.**
---
### **The Interviews**
Shams and River split up, questioning Yana's classmates at **St. Agnes Middle School**. Ten girls stood out in their testimonies—but one was *too* calm.
**Clara Smith, 13.**
- **Last seen arguing with Yana the day before.**
- **"We just disagreed. No big deal."** (But her jaw clenched when she said it.)
- **Her alibi?** *"I was home alone."*
Shams' instincts screamed. **"Bring her in."**
---
### **The Interrogation**
The precinct's fluorescent lights buzzed as Clara sat across from River, her fingers tapping the table.
**River:** *"Where were you really, Clara?"*
**Clara:** *"I told you. Home."*
Shams leaned against the two-way mirror, watching. Then he noticed it—**a fresh scratch on Clara's wrist.**
He stepped in, sliding a photo of Yana's wound across the table. **"This was made by something heavy. Like a *wrench*."**
Clara's breath hitched.
Shams pressed. **"You ride a scooter, don't you? The tracks near the trash can match yours."**
A beat of silence. Then—
**Clara's voice cracked.** *"She kept making fun of me. My hair. My clothes. I just… wanted her to stop."*
A confession.
---
### **The Aftermath**
Clara was led away in cuffs, her fate now in the hands of juvenile court. Yana's parents wept—**relieved, but shattered.**
As Shams left the station, his phone buzzed.
**Kristel:** *"So… date night? You've earned it, Sherlock."*
River smirked, nudging him. **"Lucky bastard."**
Shams rolled his eyes, but his chest felt lighter.
**TO BE CONTINUED…**
*