when Detective Catherina's old school mate Sistina is accused of murdering her half sister Maria, it is a race against time to prove that Sistina is innocent and catch the real murder before they escape. Will Catherina be able to solve the mystery in time or will Sistina be arrested for a murder that she did not commit? Find out these answers and more in the Mystery of the Papapaloochi murder.

Twenty years had passed since both Mr. Pappaloochi and my father and mother had been killed. Maria and I, who never really got along while growing up, had gone our separate ways. She had married Mr. Pappaloochi's son Arthur and had become a co-owner their baseball stadium and team. However, a few years after the completion of the stadium Maria's husband met with an untimely death. Maria believed that he was killed by the mafia but there was never enough evidence to prove this claim.

It was around 3pm on a sunny afternoon. Maria was in her apartment planning next year's baseball season when she heard a knock on her door. She looked out the peephole and wasn't pleased with who she saw. Lilith Robbinso the loan shark she had borrowed money from was standing outside her door.  Barely opening the door Maria said in an irritated voice, "what do you want Lilith"? Now is not a good time."

Lilith pushed her way into the apartment and answers, "you know what I want.  The contract has expired it is time to pay your debt. I don't want to hear excuses you have had plenty of time to come up with the money you owe me."

"I had to spend a great deal of money on construction for the stadium this year."

"You finished building the stadium last year."

"The stadium was not up to code. The fire marshal and safety inspector would not let me open for the season until I met with this year's regulation. If I could just have an extension I know I can pay you what I owe after the beginning of next season."

"This is unbelievable. Every time your contract ends you come up with some excuse for needing more time. Last year you said you needed time to pay your husband's funeral expenses and that you would have the money at the end of this year's season. The year before that, you and your husband claimed to need time to find baseball players for your team."

"The year before that, you need time to finish building the stadium and now you have yet another excuse! There will be no extension to your contract this time. If you don't have the money then you will just have to come up with some other way of paying your debt. Since the stadium seems to be costing you such a fortune I should just take the building off your hands till you have paid your debt."

"Never! My husband and I worked too hard to build that stadium in memory of the times we spent at ball parks with our fathers. I will not just throw away that dedication to satisfy a stupid debt."

"You're father wasn't worth remembering. He was a looser just like your baseball team."

"How dare you talk about my father that way! He was a hardworking man who loved his family. He had lots of friends and was taken away from the world too early in life."

"I don't know what your mother told you, but your father was a thief."

"For your information Lilith my mother died when I was a toddler and my step mother died a few years ago. My Aunt, who raised me didn't talk about my father much and when she did, she never had anything nice to say. That's why we are at odds."

"Then let me enlighten you. At one time my father and your father were partners in an oil company. Your father had a gambling problem every week he would blow his money at different sporting events."

"When your father started collecting debts for his car, food and rent again my father took pity on him and set up a loan for him. When it came time to pay his loan he refused and threatened to "expose my father as crime boss".

"My father had been patient with your dad for years. Your father betrayed my father's trust and made deals with the company's competitors. When your father threatened to "expose my father as a "loan shark" my father realized that your dad would never change.

"He gave your father twenty four hours to pay the debt he owed or he would take him to court. My father warned the staff not to allow your father access into the office without my father present."

"Your dad swore that he would get "revenge for this insult to his honor" Your father broke into the office a night and stole five million dollars. He then set it up to look like my father had been embezzling from the company. Your father used the money to start a new life. My father gave him a chance and he used that chance to stab him in the back."

"However, my father loved your father like a brother. He didn't want to turn your father into the police, instead he chose to deal with your father himself. He hired a detective to find your father and when your father realized that his past had caught up with him, he decided to take the coward's way out. I guess your father couldn't live with the guilt of betraying his best friend."

"My father didn't commit suicide he was murdered as was my husband and his father before him. Someday evidence will be found to prove that my father was murder by the mafia. Who knows, perhaps the evidence will somehow be linked back to your father."

"You shouldn't talk about things that you do not understand. My father saved your dads life on numerous occasions and he paid him back with evil. He deserved what happened to him and so did that bum of a husband of yours."

"Like father like daughter. I guess the old saying is true the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. By the way, I wasn't threatening you, I was offering you a friendly warning."

"Take your deals and get out of my apartment! If you ever come here again, I will see to it that you are arrested for stalking."

"I should have known that you would be just like your old man, a thief. Everything you own belongs to my family, the stadium, the team, this apartment, even the clothes on your back. My family has paid for it all.  I've tried to be patient with you, I have given you every opportunity to settle your debt."

"You owe me $25 million dollars. You'd better have the entire sum of money by tonight or you'll wish you had never been born. If you're not careful you might end up just like your father and husband, dead before your time." With that, Lilith stormed out of the apartment.

Not too much later, Jimmy arrives for an unexpected visit.  Jimmy has been secretly in love with Maria and has been planning to kill his wife Sistina so that he can get her fortune and marry Maria is in no mood to be swooned and pushed Jimmy away. "Leave me alone Jimmy! I told before I want no part of your plans."

"It's too late for that. You are already involved. You can't back out now."

"You're a dirt bag you know that Jimmy? I never wanted to be involved with your stupid scheme in the first place. Sistina and I have been best friends for years. You were the only thing that ever came between us. I told her that marring you was a bad idea but she wouldn't listen."

"That's because you were jealous that I asked her to marry me and not you."

"Don't flatter yourself Jimmy. Sistina has given you chance after chance and you've used those chances to stab her in the back. I won't be a part of your crooked schemes! I told Sistina that marrying you was a bad idea but she wouldn't listen. She loved you. I stand by what I told her on your wedding day, I warned her that You would break her heart. You were scum  back then and you are scum now."

"Watch your back talk!"

"I'm not your slave! I won't be ordered around, I'm going to call Sistina and tell her what you've been planning."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Just watch me."

"Why you little..." after a few minutes Jimmy calms down, takes the phone from her hangs up the phone and tries to reason with her. "Come now, you don't really want to get me into trouble do you?" Maria hesitates then insists that Sestina should know what Jimmy was planning.

Realizing that he cannot stop Maria, Jimmy hits her on the head with the phone. Believing that he has killed her he runs out of the apartment and accidentally bumps into Lilith. Upset and thinking that he has killed Maria he says rudely to Lilith, " Watch were you are going lady."

Lilith not use to people treating her with disrespect replies, "Do you know who I am? I am Lilith Robbinso daughter of Tino Robbinso."

Jimmy rolls his eyes unimpressed. "Oh sorry, I didn't realize I was in the presence of royalty". Jimmy replies mockingly.

Horrified by this treatment and agitated that no one seems to realize how important she is, Lilith frowned and replies with a growl "movie it buster!"

"Give me one good reason why I should!"

Tired of playing the patient business women Lilith balls up her hands into fists and shoves it in Jimmy's face, "How about I give you five good reasons."

Jimmy not wanting to get hurt quickly changes his attitude. "Ok, Ok you win."

With that, Lilith rushes by and entered the apartment. Immediately she starts searching for her ring. While searching she finds a letter stating that Jimmy is cheating on Sistina and planning to fake his own death as well as his gun lying on the floor.

"What a fool. He has left me the perfect way to set him up." Putting on gloves so not to leave any fingerprints Lilith takes the phone and hits Maria again.  She then pulls Maria in the living room, folds up the paper, and leaves out the fire escape.

The next morning, Sistina arrives to have tea with Maria. When Maria does not open, the door after a few knocks Sistina reaches for the hidden key under the rose plant by the door and lets herself in. What she does not realize is, that the next door neighbor is watching her every move. After Sistina enters the apartment, the neighbor calls the police and reports that Maria's apartment is being broken into.

It does not take Sistina long to find Maria lying on the floor immediacy she leans over to check Maria's pulse. When she is unable to locate it she picks up the phone to call the police unaware that the phone is the murder weapon. 

However, before she is even able to finish dialing the police arrive. "You're under arrest for breaking and entering, put your hand in the air where I can see them."

"I didn't break in officer. Sometimes Maria gets so busy working that she forgets the time and doesn't leave the door unlocked. We have an agreement that if she doesn't answer the door after a few minutes that I am to use the spare key and let myself in."

"You mind telling me why she is lying on the floor?"

"I don't know officer. I just entered the apartment a few minutes ago and found her in this position. I was just about to call for help when you arrived."

"A likely story." Since Sistina's prints are all over the murder weapon and has been accused of breaking and entering Melissa concludes that she killed Maria in an attempt to rob her. "You are under arrest for the murder of Maria Pappaloochi."

"You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say and do can and will be held against you. You have the right to an attorney if you cannot pay for one you will be provided with one by the state. In addition, you have right to one phone call."

Sistina takes this opportunity to call me for help but she is talking so fast I could not understand her. I told her to slow down and once I knew what was going on I hurried to Maria's apartment.

I was rudely stopped by the police and had to show both my detective's badge and explain that I was the deceased half sister before they would let me into the apartment.

Once in the apartment, I asked what the murder weapon was and why they suspected Sistina. The arresting officer replied, "It has been concluded that the murder weapon was the phone.  Originally we suspected her of killing Maria in attempt to stop her from calling us. Upon further inspection of the apartment we found a love letter to Maria from Jimmy."

"It is known that Jimmy is Sistina's husband, so this gives us a new motive. She is a jealous wife who went crazy when she found that her husband was sending her so called best friend, love letters and in a rage she killed her."

While the officer was talking I looked around the apartment. I checked the body to determine the time of death and dust for fingerprints. While doing so I came across some evidence that Melissa had missed and knew right away that a proper investigation had not been made. I sighed, 'your conclusions are all wrong. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you found that letter in the trash."

"So what if it was in the trash. My guess is that she crumpled it up and threw it away hoping that we wouldn't find it"

"Wrong again, this letter is years old, it was written back when the four of us were seniors in high school. Sistina is innocent.'

"What makes you so sure that she didn't kill her?"

"The body is cold so Maria had to have been murdered last night.  We know that Sestina just arrived here this morning, besides, if she had killed her do you think that she would be cooperating with this investigation? I have also found a few items that you missed in your search of the apartment. Although, I highly doubt that you did a thorough investigation."

Defensively Officer Melissa replied, "I didn't have to, the evidence lead us straight to her."

Annoyed with her attitude I replied, "Because you failed to do a thorough search you missed finding important clues, including proof that Maria was killed last night. I have also concluded that there were two people here last night, a woman and a man.  The man was obviously Jimmy." 

Snottily Officer Melissa replied, "how do you know that?"

"There is a bottle of sparkling wine on the counter and some fresh flowers in a vase. Jimmy always was the romantic type even when he was strictly on business. He may have stopped by for a meeting with Maria."

"I also found a gun with Jimmy's initials. On the living room table I have found a pen, a contract and a ring that belongs to someone with the initials L.R. By the way, officer have you read the Trojan Times this morning?" 

"What does the Trojan Times have to do with the case?"

"It has a great deal of importance. The deceased was the sole owner of the Poodles Stadium and team. It states here that as of yesterday Lilith Robbinso has gained ownership of the stadium and team. I find this intriguing since Maria had often told me that should anything happen to her the stadium and team would be transferred to her only kin and can you guess who that might be?"

"She was a widow, she didn't have any siblings and no children. Her parents have been dead for years so, she doesn't have any living kin."

"Wrong again. Seriously how did you ever become a police officer? Maria has a half sister. They haven't seen each other for a little while I can assure you, that she is alive and well."

"Next your going to tell me that your her next of kin."

Catherina smiles and hums in approval. "Anyway, the pen and the ring are evidence proving that Lilith Robbinso had been in the apartment in the last few days." I then went on to explain that I believed that Lilith wanted Maria to sell her the stadium but she refused.

"From what I gather, Lilith left in huff and dropped her ring. At some point either before or after her visit Jimmy visited and had an argument with Maria. Due to the state of this apartment someone ransacked it in search of something. So one of them had to have killed her."

"How are you going to prove which one of them killed her?

"It is simple. We were going to get the suspects at the scene of the crime and question them. Pretending to be a reporter, I called Lilith. Our conversation went something like this, "Hi Lilith, this is reporter Catherine Crenne. I am here with Maria and she says that the will you have is a fake. She says that you forged her signature last night while she was unconscious."

"How can that be? Never mind it doesn't matter. I'll be right over." After hanging up with Lilith I proceeded to contact Jimmy.

"Hi Jimmy, this is Catherine.  I'm over at Maria's apartment for tea. Maria found your gun and she wants you to teach her how to use it. She's afraid that someone might try to break into her apartment and steal important information about her team. She wants to learn how to protect herself."

"I told her that was a good idea. I wonder what made her change her mind. It doesn't matter I'll be right over. Thanks Catherine."

It did not take long for the two suspects to arrive at the scene however it did take a few minutes to stop them from arguing over why each other was there and who was going to talk to Maria first.

After trying a few times I finally got their attention, long enough to set things straight. They were both upset to find that they had been tricked into coming to the apartment and wanted to leave however, I convinced them to stay. I then explained to them that Maria was dead and since the two of them were the last people to see, her alive I thought it best that we give them a chance to explain what happened while they were in the apartment. I decided to talk to Lilith first.

The scenario played out something like this: "I have some idea of what happened but I need you to clarify a few things for me. Lilith, you were here early in the evening but left in a huff and dropped your ring. Am I right?" It was then that Lilith decided that she did not want to give straight answers. 

"Maybe I was. Maybe I wasn't." Since we did not have all day I insisted that she give yes or no answer to the questions I asked. I asked her again if she had been in Maria's apartment yesterday afternoon.  Still being stubborn she replied, "I have a busy schedule I don't remember everything that I do every single day. I could have been her yesterday or I could have been here last week."

"I believe that you were here yesterday. You tried to convince Maria to sell you the Pappaloochi stadium."

"Not quite Einstein. Maria and I were discussing how and when she would pay me back for the money I loaned her to build the stadium and create her team."

"So you were here yesterday."

"You are putting words into my mouth. I said that we were discussing how much money her family owes mine I never said that I was here."

"Stop playing games and just answer the question. Some people have things to do and places to be. Now were you or were you not here yesterday?"

"If you really need to know yes, I was here yesterday but I left around 4:00 pm and did not return."

After thanking her, I turned my attention to Jimmy. "Soon after she left you arrived Jimmy.  You have been unhappy with your marriage lately because you realized that it was a mistake for you to marry Sistina instead of Maria.  You have been sending Maria flowers leaving a note that was signed from a secret admirer and she kept them until she figured out that they were from you."

"When she confronted you about the letters you told her that you loved her and wanted to spend the rest of your life with her. She reminded you that you were already married but you insisted that you had thought about that already and that you were already planning ways to get rid of Sistina. She was horrified by this statement and insisted that she was going to tell Sistina everything. You had to find a way to convince her not too tell Sistina."

"Well I..." Jimmy looked over at Sistina nervously. She glared at him daring him to answer. Not wanting to give him more time than I had given , I insisted that he give me a yes or no answer. Lowering his head and drawing a deep breath, he replied "Yes." This made Sistina blow her lid.

"Why you too timing, no good, double crossing, backstabbing, ..."  I interrupted her before she could say anther word knowing that this outburst would make Sistina look guilty all over again. Officer Melissa who crossed her arms as if to say I told you so. I reminded Sistina that now was not the time for her to be blowing her lid and once again began questioning Jimmy. "Jimmy what did you do to stop Maria from calling Sistina?

"At first I tired reasoning with her when that did not work I hit her over the head with the phone."

"Did you think that you had killed her?"

"Yes and I panicked and ran out of the apartment."

"Around what time was that?"

"I believe it was around 4:30 pm."

"Would you mind telling me when and where you first met Lilith?

"Knowing that this conversation was heading in a direction that would prove she was the murder Lilith asked in a shrill irritated tone, "of what importance is that?"

"It is of great importance."

"I don't see why." She mutters.

Irritated that Lilith seemed to be once again attempting to stall the investigation trying to stall the outcome of the case I replied "listen, I would like to end this investigation sometime today, so can I continue with my questions uninterrupted? I know you have to get back to your busy schedule. What is it you do again?"

"That has nothing to do with this case let's just get back to the questions."

"Could you ask me the question again? I forgot what we were discussing."

"We were talking about the time you left Maria's apartment and I asked you when and where you first met Lilith

"I met her outside Maria's apartment."

"When?"

"When I was leaving the apartment, I accidentally bumped into her and she acted like I had committed some huge crime. She was irritated when I told her to watch were she was going and told me that she was the daughter of Tino Robbinso. Like that name was supposed to mean anything to me." Jimmy said with a slight scoff.

"He's obviously mistaken besides, I am all over town he literally could have met me anywhere. Besides he has already admitted that he hit Maria over the head with the phone what more could you want. Arrest him already.

Ignoring here I continued with my questioning. "Jimmy is this your gun?"

"Yes it is where did you find it?"

It was at this point officer Melissa spoke up. "It was found near the body and we had originally thought that it was the murder weapon. I fail to see the relevance of the gun since we now know that the murder weapon was the phone. It looks to me like this case is solved. I admit I was wrong Sistina was not the murderer Jimmy has made it clear that he was responsible for her injury from the phone. You know the drill Jimmy; you have the right to remain silent...."

"I'm not done yet officer."

"Now what?" Replied both Officer Melisa and Lilith irritatedly.

"There are a few more things that need to be cleared up."

"Like what?"

"Did you have a meeting with the Trojan Times editor yesterday?"

"No. I don't even know who the editor of that paper."

"Have you had a chance to read today's Trojan times paper?"

"Not that it is any of your business, but no I have not."

"Then let me read you the headline. Maria Pappaloochi killed in a tragic fight with a mysterious man.  The new owner of Pappollchi Poodles Stadium Lilith Robbinso.  Right here on the front page is you and a picture of Maria's will."

"So I talked to editor. I fail to see your point"

"You just said that you did not talk with the editor yesterday. Are you now changing your mind?

'I fail to see how the paper has to do with any of this."

0I know that Maria was reported as saying that she would never give or sell you the team. In fact, ownership of the stadium and team were to be transferred to her only living kin. So how did you get the will?"

"That would be you am I right Detective?  Seems to me that you have a conflict of interests in this case, the deceased was your sister and you are her only living kin."

Officer Melissa frowned. "Is this true Detective?"

"Though it is true it is beside the point. I have no interest in the stadium or the team. My only concern is to prove that Sistina did not kill my step sister and find out who her true killer really is. Now Lilith if you don't mind please answer my question. How did you get her to change her will?

"If you must know we came to an agreement yesterday that in exchange for her naming me heir I would forget about the money she owed me as well as the money that her father owed my father. Are we all most finished here? I do have other things I have to do you know."

"Bear with me I only have a few more questions.  It states here in the paper that you knew that Maria was dead. How did you know that? The police just found out about it one hour ago."

"I overheard the argument between Jimmy and Maria and saw him leave in a rush. Since criminals act in such a way I was concerned for Maria's safety. After entering the apartment I knew right away something was wrong. The apartment was in shambles and Maria was lying on the floor. I checked to see if she was breathing and realized that she was dead.  Not knowing what to do and worried that her murdered might return I left."

"If that is true why didn't you call the police?"

"I have a short term memory so I must have forgotten."

"Even with a short term memory I doubt you would forget the sound of someone being murdered."

"I was in shock. When I get extremely emotional I blank out and the day becomes a blur. I must have blocked the images from my memory."

"Liar! I didn't murder Maria. I would never intentionally harm her in any way, I loved her!"

Sistina's eyes narrowed with this last statement making her look like a suspect once again in the arresting officer's eyes. "This is a waste of time. Mrs. Tortenelly is still the number one suspect in my book."

"Must we go over this again? We have already determined that Maria was killed last night and that Sistina only arrive here this morning. In fact I know without a shadow of a doubt the guilty party responsible for Maria's death. This made every one become dead silent."

"Here are the facts; Maria was killed between 5:30 and 6:00 pm yesterday. We know that Sistina arrived here early this morning therefore she could not have killed her. We know that Jimmy left around 4:30 and was not seen returning until this afternoon."

"Based on your statements you arrived at the apartment at time that Jimmy was leaving. That puts you at the apartment at 4:30 pm. You claim that you found Maria dead and left the apartment in shock. However, since Maria was killed between 5:30-6pm this statement must be false.  We know that you have a will making you the heir to her stadium should anything happen to her."

"You admitted that Maria refused to honor her promise to pay you back for the money you lent her. Even if she was held at gunpoint she would never willing give you the deed to the stadium. Therefore; the only way you could have gotten the will revised is if you killed her." Realizing that she was going to be placed under arrest Lilith grabbed Jimmy's gun and pointed it at us.

"You'll never take me alive!  No one has ever taken a Robbinso to jail and I won't let you break that legacy! Now nobody moves or I'll shoot. 

Thinking quickly I kicked the gun out of Lilith's hands and dove on her pinning her to the ground. Officer Melissa threw me a pair of handcuffs and just like that, Lilith Robbinso was in cuffs. She could not believe that I had stopped her.

"I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you, detective. Mark my words, you will pay. One-way or another you will pay! You should never have messed with me. My father will make your life miserable."

"Tell me something Lilith, is your father's first name Tino?" There was a look of surprise on Lilith's face but it lasted for only a second.

"Forget it! I'll never tell you a thing about my family!"

"Your reaction tells me all I need to know. See you around Mrs. Robbinso." With that, I tipped my hat and she was out the door. I watched out the door as Officer Melisa started to place her in the police car.

"Thank you so much for helping me Cathy." Knowing that I would never catch Lilith in time I replied "no problem."

"Boy am I glad that's over."

"You want to bet! You've got some explaining to do mister! Sending love letters to my best friend, asking her to help you come up with a way out of our marriage that wouldn't cost you money, hitting her over the head to stop her from telling me, leaving her for dead, how low can you get?

Jimmy knowing he was in for trouble chanced the subject. "Hay Catherina, how did you know Maria was alive when I left?"

Smiling I replied "As Sherlock Holmes says, Elementary my dear Watson Elementary." As we were, talking Lilith who was much sneakier then I had ever imagined somehow stole the keys to the cuffs and took off running towards a car that was parked down the street. Not wanting her to escape, I excused myself and began to run after her. Jimmy called to me as I was leaving.

"No. Don't go! Don't leave me here alone with her. Detective... Catherina!  Come back! I need someone to protect me." I glanced back to see Sistina moving towards Jimmy with an evil smile on her face. I smiled wondering what Sistina was going to do to him. Shaking my head, I began to chase after Lilith.

When we last left Sistina and Jimmy, Sistina was moving towards Jimmy with an evil look in her eye. "Come on Shortie. You don't want to hurt little old me do you?"

"Don't call me that! You know I have hated that name ever since high school! When I get my hands on you you're going to wish you were dead!"

"Come on Sistina, it slipped. What I meant to call you is sweetie. Besides my short little sweetie, you're not really mad at me are you?" Crossing her arms and frowning Sistina replied "you bet your buttons I am!"   Realizing there was no talking his way out of this situation Jimmy got down on his hands and knees and began to beg.

"Please don't hurt me please, please, please."Sistina shakes her head and begins to make a fist. "Now Shortie, I mean sweetheart, you wouldn't want to do anything you would regret now would you?" Smiling Sistina takes a swing at Jimmy nearly hitting him.

"Sistina, Sweetie can't we talk about this?" Jimmy asks stepping a little closer to her.

Placing her finger on her face in a thoughtful way she replies "hum, let me think for a minute... No!" With that, Jimmy turns and run for his life.

Will Sistina and Jimmy ever be able to mend their broken marriage? Will I ever catch the ever elusive Lilith Robbinso? Is Sistina going to divorce him or forgive him? When Jimmy disappears soon after having an argument with Sistina the police begin to suspect foul play. They give Sistina 24hours to prove that her husband is alive.

To make matters worse, Sistina is being black mailed by someone called JT who claims to have proof that Jimmy is dead and that she's responsible. What happed to Jimmy? Who is the JT ? What motive do they have for blackmailing Sistina? How will Sistina avoid being sent to Alcatraz?  These are the questions that to be answered in the case I call The Case of the mysterious man known as JT.