“The Sticky Stairwell”
Detective Schweem: “Your OJ is served, captain.”
Captain Koch: “Right.”
Detective Schweem: “It looks like they finally caught up with old Mr. Orange…. did you ever see Reservoir Dogs? Was Tarantino’s break-out…
Captain Koch: “Never saw it.”
Detective Schweem: “Well, these gangsters form up for a diamond heist and use these aliases like Mr. White, Mr. Blue, Mr. Pink and Mr. Orange. That’s so they can’t rat each other out. But it don’t go down as planned. I think Mr. Orange, like our guy here, was played by Steve Buscemi, and he…”
Captain Koch: “Like I said…”
Detective Schweem: “Yeah, okay. So maybe I should go canvas for any possible witnesses. See if anyone seen anything.”
Captain Koch: “You do that…..” (mutters to self: “Steve Buscemi actually was Mr. Pink and Tim Roth played Mr. Orange… and my work is never friggin’ done.”)
Detective Schweem: “You say something, Cap?”
Captain Koch: “Naaah…”
ADDENDUM:
It’s easy in life to get to focused on a thing. We drill down on minute details and forget to pan out for the bigger picture and broader context. For example, I’ve walked past this juicy crime scene numerous times since August and yet never picked up on a major clue…
Looking down the stairwell it doesn’t exactly jump out as a blood stain would, I grant you. But a skilled detective would study all the nearby surfaces for signs of impact or traces of residue.
The reverse angle shows the telltale sign of an orange thrown at the wall with force. The drippings leave an outline like the tentacles of a jellyfish standing watch over the ill-fated scene.
A closer image with greater contrast shows to better advantage the juice trails and stuck orange fragments indicating a high velocity impact. The perpetrator must have been highly agitated. This feels like a fruit-crime of passion. The police still have no suspects.
Great Exudations 