Lazarus

The victim had just been identified by his sister as a Mr Johnathan Klosis. Yousafi scowled through the window at the body in the other room. Miss Klosis was being led away, teary-eyed by another officer. The dead man had not been reported missing due to strained familial ties and few friends to miss him. It was now a few days since Klosis had been found, and the forensic analysis had come back a few hours ago. The death had occurred roughly twelve hours before its discovery, meaning it was dumped in the early morning hours. The cause of death had ultimately been strangulation, but signs of blunt force trauma were also present. Few other clues as to the man's killer had been found.

An officer walks in, mug of tea in hand. "Something the matter?"

"Not much to go on." Yousafi answers. "The victim I mean. Reclusive man. We'll have to ask neighbours more about him, but it isn't looking promising."

The officer sipped her tea. "Better get going then."

An hour or so later, they had reached the last known residence of Mr Klosis. It was a grungy motel on the edge of the same forest his body had been found. Inside the unairconditioned interior of the motel lobby, Yousafi's scowl was stronger than ever, as a tired, overweight women glared back.

"I'm sorry officer, but that's it. He hardly ever came out his room and I wasn't on duty when he apparently did." Her mouse clicked a few times before she scrolled down the page of whatever her computer screen was showing. Come back in two days. You can talk to the receptionist then."

Yousafi sighed. "You can look up the receptionist's address, right? Or a phone number?"

I could." came the reply.

Yousafi stepped closer. "Ma'am, do you want to be charged with obstructing a murder investigation, because that is what I'm trying to conduct here. Just give me the information and I can leave you alone." He gestured around the empty lobby. "I can see you're very busy, so the sooner I leave, the better."

The receptionist hesitated for a moment, before scrawling a phone number onto a piece of paper. "Need anything else?" she muttered.

"The names of the people staying here during Klosis's stay, and if they are still staying here."

Now with a list of names, Yousafi's scowl lightened. He and the other officers would have to begin speaking to those on the list about Klosis. Most had already left the motel, but police had their phone numbers. The first name was of a man apparently due to leave the motel in a day. Yousafi moved up the stairs to begin the questioning.