Creative Writing: The Murder Case It was April, and El Nino was pelting the rooftop in full force. The rain came down in buckets, only to let up for a few seconds, then resume with a crash of thunder and a torrential downpour. Detective Jack Barretta hated being called out on a case on days like this. He and his partner, Wally Cruz got the call to go to the scene of a homicide on the East side of town. A body had been found in a batchelor's apartment apparently stabbed to death in a home invasion robbery. When Jack and Wally arrived on the scene, the entire apartment complex was taped off with yellow streamers that read "Police line, do not cross."