Page 7 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

Crime Scene Unit requested for processing.

EVIDENCE COLLECTED:

Item #1 – Kitchen knife recovered from living room floor.

Item #2 – Swabs of suspected blood evidence.

Item #3 – Latent fingerprint processing requested.

Item #4 – Footwear impressions photographed near front entry.

Item #5 – Digital evidence (victim's cellular telephone) secured.

Additional evidence pending Crime Scene Unit processing.

WITNESS INFORMATION:

Witness #1 (Neighbor)

Reported hearing a verbal argument followed by loud noises consistent with a physical struggle. Witness observed a juvenile female with dark hair running from the apartment shortly afterward. Unable to provide further identifying information.

Witness #2 (Neighbor)

Reported hearing a loud impact several moments after hearing the front door open. Did not observe anyone entering or leaving the apartment.

Witness #3

Observed an unidentified juvenile female near the apartment complex earlier in the afternoon. Unable to provide further description.

SUSPECT INFORMATION

At approximately 5:12 PM, officers located and detained juvenile Bay Mercer approximately two blocks from the scene. The juvenile was advised of her rights in the presence of a juvenile officer.

The juvenile identified herself as: Bay Mercer, age 15, but refused to give any other information.

When questioned regarding the incident, the juvenile declined to answer investigative questions and repeatedly requested to speak with Attorney Sabre Brown. The juvenile refused to identify any additional persons involved or provide any further statement. The juvenile was transported to Juvenile Hall without further incident.

Investigation identified juvenile Bay Mercer as the primary suspect based upon witness statements and evidence collected at the scene.

Investigation remains active.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIVE NOTES

At this stage of the investigation, evidence indicates an altercation occurred inside the apartment resulting in fatal injuries to the victim. Medical Examiner findings, forensic testing, and additional witness interviews are pending. No further conclusions are drawn at this time.

It was signed by the lead homicide detective, Greg Nelson. There was not a lot of information to go on, but Bay was adamant. Sabre wondered again if maybe she had represented her.

Chapter 4

Monday late afternoon

JP Torn sat at his desk ready to learn more about Bay Mercer.

He had learned a long time ago that when someone handed you a name, the first question was: Is the name even real?

He typed Bay Mercer into the search bar.

The computer hummed quietly as his system ran through the usual databases: birth records, driver’s licenses, school enrollment, medical registration. Within minutes the results came back.