(AN: I was watching America's Most Wanted when this idea came to me. 
John Walsh was talking about the states that have the year and one day 
rule and Mississippi was one of them. Luckly, my state wasn't. 
So...enjoy!)



It was a tragedy, yes, but not anything I hadn't seen before. I was 
actually surprised when they called upon me and my partner to take care 
of this one. Really, it had to have been some case to take us away from 
Florida.


I was very fidgety. The plane ride was turbulant and hey, it was a 
plane. I hated planes.


"You need to calm down, Josh. We have to look professional when we land 
in Mississippi". I was surprised that my partner was staying so calm. 
He hated dealing with murders. Especially when the family was involved. 
It was emotional and very stressful.


"I'm sorry, Joe. It's just I hate planes, and I really wanna get this 
done. I hate these kind of cases. It makes me remember why I hate 
people so much".


"Well, on the bright side we get to go on vacation. I mean when was the 
last time you were in Mississippi?".


"I've never been to Mississippi".


"I wonder why you ever became a detective".


"You made me, remember? After high school. It was either this or 
military academy. And I sure as hell wasn't going to dedicate my life 
to a business that's against more people then it helps". Joey shrugged.


"It was your choice".


The pilot anounced that the plane would be landing shortly. I buckled 
my seatbelt and grabbed onto Joey's arm. He was used to it by now. 
Everytime we were on a plane together I would grab his arm for lift-off 
and landing. I really hated flying. It was unnatural anyway.



"Ah, detectives, you're here". A man greeted us. We shook hands with 
him and continued into the crime scene. I was very anxious. Actually, 
if I had never become a detective I would have been a forensic 
scientist. I had always been fascinated by the science. Ever since I 
read the book Puddin' Head Wilson.


"It's nice to see you, Jerry", I greeted the actual forensic scientist.


"Hello, Joshua. This is a hell of a case. I can't find anything. No 
prints of any kind, no hair, no blood. It's almost like the perfect 
crime".


"Where's the body?".


"They have him at the morgue. They're performing an autopsy. Nobody 
knows how he died. My guess would be poison".


"Thanks, Jerry".


"Anytime".


I walked up to my partner. He was standing at a desk looking at some 
pictures. "We should go check out the morgue".


"I always knew you had some sort of morbid fascination, but I didn't 
know you were a necropheliac".


"Come on, Joe. We'll check out the scene once we get the coroners 
report".


My partner and I headed to the city morgue. The man at the desk lead us 
to the back room. There a coroner was performing an autopsy on a young 
man. Probably in his early twenties.


"Hello", the man greeted. "You must be the detectives I've heard so 
much about. Here's your guy".


"What's his name?", Joey asked springing into action


"James Lance Bass".


"Age?".


"23".


"How'd he die?".


"I'm still looking into that...Wait, what is this?". The coroner pulled 
out a strange looking object with his tweezers. He put the object on a 
desk and squirted it with water. He then put the object under a 
microscope.


"My God", the coroner mumbled.


"What is it?", I inquired.


"I've never seen this before. I think it may be African. I'll have to 
send it into the lab. Excuse me gentleman". He rushed out of the room 
with the object.


"So, James, tell us your secrets".


"Stop talking to the dead guy, Joey".


"What? He's our key witness". Joey winked at me.


"Let's go back to the scene. It can't possibly be as clean as Jerry 
said it was. Maybe they found something".



Of course they didn't find anything. Joey and I got another case to 
deal with in Florida. The Bass case was temporarily put on hold. Months 
later I got an interesting lead.


"Hello? Josh Chasez speaking".


"Do you remember a murder case you were looking into from 
Mississippi?".


"James Lance Bass?", I recalled. To tell you the truth the case haunted 
me. I had never in my life missed a case, but this one had been months 
without a lead. I needed to solve it.


"Yes, that's the guy. I have some important information".


"Did you witness the murder?".


"I was there when he died, but I don't know how it happened. I need you 
to promise that this won't get me into trouble".


"Did you do anything wrong?".


"No".


"Then you don't have anything to worry about". JC started his tape 
recorder. "Okay, what do you know?".


"So, um...Lance...everybody called him that...he was a friend of mine. 
Like a real close, personal friend of mine".


"You mean you were intimate?".


"Yes. It was a well known fact that Lance liked men, and only men. 
Anyway, he was in a business that gay guys just weren't allowed in".


"What did he do?".


"Don't you know anything, detective?".


"No, there weren't any records on this guy. They only knew his name and 
age. That and where he lived. He didn't even have any documents in his 
house. No reciepts, nothing".


"Lance was an army general". I knew I had good reasons to hate that 
profession. "Word got out that he was screwing a lower officer. Namely 
me. There were a couple of really vindictive, powerful guys who also 
happened to be very big homophobes. They hated Lance because he was 
gay, and I know that if they found out that I was Lance's lover then I 
would be dead too. You understand why I can't tell you my name?".


"Yes, go on".


"These guys had powers to do some really powerful shit. They had their 
hands on things people didn't know existed. I think they killed Lance".


"What happened the night he died?".


"We were eating dinner at my house. We went out to see a movie and then 
I took him home. He went inside briefly, but came running out. He was 
acting very paranoid. He said he didn't feel safe and he wanted me to 
come inside. I thought he was just trying to talk me into staying the 
night. I ended up going in with him. He collapsed and I tried to revive 
him, but I knew he was dead. I called 911, and then I left".


"Why did you leave?".


"I knew they would start asking questions and I would be found out".


"If you were afraid of being found out why did you contact me?".


"I knew you could be trusted. Also, the guilt was eating me alive. I 
hope this will help you with the case. I did really love Lance".


"I'm sure you did. Can I reach you somewhere if I have some questions 
later?".


"Yeah. Call me at ###-###-####".


"Thank you. I'm sure wherever Lance is he's proud that you did this for 
him. We really needed this lead".


"No problem". The mysterious caller hung up. I got out of my chair and 
ran into Joey's office. He was entertaining my secretary.


"Um, Janelle, don't you have work to do?".


"I'm sorry, Mr. Chasez. I was just leaving". She left the room.


"You have such a nice secretary, Josh", Joey complimented.


"You have a nice secretary, too".


"I have a secretary?".


"Yeah. Mrs. Montgomery".


"That old bat is my secretary?".


"Yes. Look, I have an important lead on a case. Some guy called up and 
said he knew Lance".


"Lance?".


"Oh, yeah. They call him Lance, but is name is James Lance Bass. He's 
that kid from Mississippi".


"Why do you call him a kid? Does it make you feel older? This guy was 
like three years younger then you. Two years younger then me".


"It makes me feel bossy. Anyway, listen to this tape". I played the 
tape for my partner. I watched his face for reactions. When the tape 
ended, I asked, "What do you think?".


"I think we need to take a trip up to Mississippi".


"Can we drive?".


"No. There's not enough time for that. We need to be here to testify in 
the Jones case".


"That's right. Damn! I guess we'll hafta fly".



This flight was not anymore pleasant then my last trip to Mississippi. 
I was high off the energy buzz I got from this new information. The 
answer to this case was starting to appear. I could feel it. It would 
land in my lap soon.


Joey and I went first to visit the coroner who had performed the 
autopsy on Lance. "Do you know what that object was?", I asked him.



"Yes, I do. We got the lab results back several months ago. I thought 
you would have already been informed". That struck me as odd. We hadn't 
heard anything about the object since we had left the coroners office 
the last time.


"What is it?".


"It's a top secret military project. The man I spoke with thought that 
it was somehow stuck in Mr. Bass' food and that's what killed him. The 
bug gives off a specific poison. I guess the military is planning on 
using it for germ warfare. That's all I was told".


"Who did you speak with?".


"General Timberlake. He works at the local base. He was assigned to 
this case. I suggest you talk to him".


"Thank you". We said goodbye to the coroner and headed down to the 
military base. We asked to see this General Timberlake. We were lead 
into his office.


"Please, sit down, gentleman".


"Thank you".


"What do you need to know?".


"We're here to inquire about James Lance Bass".


"Oh yes. I had a feeling you guys would come eventually. You're those 
detectives. I was in charge of this case. What can I do you for?".


"Well, we need to know who had access to this bug. The one that he 
swallowed".


"That's classified information. All I can tell you is that General 
Sparks is in charge of all that kind of stuff. Military intelligence. I 
suggest you gentleman see him. Is that all?".


"Did you know General Bass?", Joey asked.


"Yes, I did".


"Do you know who his friends are? Somebody who can perhaps tell us 
something? Anything?".


"Sargeant Phillips was a drinking buddy, I guess. That's all I know. I 
only knew James on a professional basis".


"Thank you". Joey and I shook hands with the general and began 
searching for General Sparks.



"I hear you fellas are here to know more about the FG+ chip?", General 
Sparks said as a greeting.


"Is that the one Bass swallowed?".


"Yes, it's the very one. Let me show you it". The general directed us 
to a room filled with many small cabinet drawers. He opened one up 
producing the object we saw the coroner take out of Lance Bass' 
stomach.


"It doesn't look deadly to me", Joey mumbled.


"Oh, I assure you it's very deadly. Once the chip is consumed you have 
no chance of survival. The chip spreads an invisible virus that slowly 
and painlessly shuts down all the body's major organs. The person 
doesn't even know anything going on until they feel severe paranoia and 
dizziness. Then they pass out and they never regain conciousness. The 
process takes a year to be completed, so nobody ever knows when the 
exact moment they were poisoned was".


"Woah. I guess that's all we needed to know, thanks". We left that guys 
office rather quickly. The guy gave me the creeps and I knew that Joey 
was picking up the very same vibe.


We then went in search of Sargeant Phillips, Lance Bass' only recorded 
friend.


"Sargeant Phillips?".


"Yes, sir. That's me".


"Can we speak to you about James Lance Bass?".


"Lance? What about?".


"We're the detectives assigned to this case. We need to know some 
stuff. Can we speak to you about him?".


"I guess so".


"Do you know a lot about Lance's personal life?".


"No, not really. I mean we used to go get drunk and chase girls, but 
that's it".


"You chased girls?".


"Oh yeah! Lance was a helluva ladies man! The rest of us in the platune 
were constantly jealous of the chicks he picked up".


"I was under the impression that Lance was gay?".


"Gay? Lance? There is no way that Lance was gay. He was always very 
interested in women. Infact he was getting married. In March".


"Where is his fiancee now?".


"Well, she's married now. To some other general. They moved off to 
Georgia to live at some base there. Better job I guess".


"What was her name?".


"Janet Smith. She got married to General Kirkpatrick".


"Thank you. You've been more help then you can ever imagine".


Joey and I went back to our hotel room after that. The day had been 
tiring and very useful.


"I think we should go to Georgia, Joe".


"We'll hafta fly there, ya know?".


"I know. Still. I think this case is coming to a close. It's gonna 
happen soon".


"But what about our mysterious caller. The one who said Lance was gay? 
Who are we supposed to believe?".


"Well, I think that Sargeant Phillips guy was trust worthy enough. 
Besides, that other general said they were friends. We don't know if 
the guy who called me even knew Lance Bass. He said so, but I don't 
trust a lot of people anyway".


"So, you think we should go to Georgia?".


"I bet that Janet Smith knows something. I mean Phillips said Lance 
liked the ladies. Maybe Lance liked 'em a little too much and Janet was 
jealous. Besides, if she doesn't know anything that Kirkpatrick guy's 
gotta know something".


"I'm sure you're right".


"And why's that?".


"Because you're always right, Josh. You're the best damn detective in 
the whole United States".


"You're doing that to make me feel better cuz I haven't solved this 
case yet".


"You will. We will, whatever. Night, man".


"Night". I closed my eyes, but sleep didn't come easily. Why did that 
guy call me? Was it to throw me off track? Or to trick me so I could 
see the path? I dunno.



The next morning my partner and I caught a plane to Georgia. We went to 
the base in Atlanta where Kirkpatrick was supposed to be stationed. We 
met him in his office.


"What can I do for you gentleman?".


"Do you remember a James Lance Bass?".


"Nope. I can't say that I do". This guys voice sounded strangely 
familiar. I decided to tape our conversation.


"He used to work with you at a base in Mississippi. After he died you 
married his fiancee".


"Oh? That James Lance Bass". Joey rolled his eyes. I couldn't blame 
him. This Kirkpatrick guy was either very stupid or trying to cover up 
something.


"Yes, that James Lance Bass. We need to know if you know anything 
regarding his death".


"No. I really didn't know the guy well. I didn't even meet Janet until 
after his death. She told me that she had a fiancee, but he was dead. I 
don't even know how he died".


"Is that all you can tell us?".


"Yes".


"Thank you".


"Let's go check out his wife".


"That's something I've wanted to hear out of you for a while". I rolled 
my eyes.


"You know what I meant".


"Still, when was the last time you did anything that wasn't work 
related?".


"I don't know", I said honestly.


"My point exactly". We arrived at Janet Smith's house. She invited us 
in and we got to talking.


"How much do you know about Lance's death?", I asked her.


"Not much. The army wouldn't tell me anything. Chris said he'd help me 
find information, but he wasn't allowed the access".


"When did you meet Chris?".


"The day Lance became general. There was a huge ceremony. All the other 
generals had to be there".


"I see. How did you guys hook up?".


"He was real supportive after Lance's death. They were like best 
friends, you know. And I was a lonely woman".


"Okay, I just need to know one last thing". I picked up my tape 
recorder and played a part of our earlier conversation with 
Kirkpatrick. "Is this your husband's voice?".


"Yes, it is". I then played for her the phone conversation I had with 
the mysterious lover.


"Is this your husband's voice?".


"Yes".


"Thank you, ma'am. That's all we needed to know. I appreciate that you 
took the time away from your busy schedule to help us out".


"You're welcome. Lance was a great guy. I really want to see justice 
served".


"We'll try our best, ma'am". Joey and I left the woman alone.



"I think I have it figured out, Joe".


"Who done it?".


"It had to have been Kirkpatrick. Janet Smith says that him and Lance 
were close friends. That's the only way he could have been there to 
plant the chip. I suggest that he wanted Janet so he killed Lance for 
her. She doesn't know this of course. He wanted to make sure that the 
blame couldn't be pointed at him so he started some scandal about Lance 
being gay. He's the one who made the phone call. We can check out the 
voice waves to be sure".


"So, where are we going now?".


"Back to Kirkpatrick's office. I have one more piece of evidence to 
back up my case. Then we're going to the local police. They'll arrest 
this loser and we'll be back in Florida in time to take the stand for 
the Jones case".


"Then we'll hafta go back to Mississippi to be questioned in this 
case".


"Probably. I'm just glad this case is gonna be solved".


We arrived at the base and went directly to Kirkpatrick's office. "Oh, 
you're back".


"Yep, we're back. There's just one last thing I need to ask you. Excuse 
me a moment". I played the part of the phone conversation that gave me 
the number to reach my mysterious caller. Then I dialed the number on 
my cell phone. Kirkpatrick's phone began to ring. He answered it. 
"Hello, General. Thank you for your time. We'll be off now".


We then went straight to the police. It took a while, but they agreed 
to bring Kirkpatrick down to Mississippi.


"All's well, that ends well", I said to Joey when we were sitting in a 
Mississippi police station.


"We have a problem guys", an officer said as he approached us. "It was 
over a year and a day between the time the chip was planted and James 
Lance Bass' actual death".


"So...?".


"We can't try this man for murder because of the law. We can try him 
for attempted murder for up to three years, but there's nothing we can 
do about this".


"What?!".


"I'm sorry gentleman. He'll still serve time".


"Let me speak to him".


"Alright". The officer lead me to the cell Kirkpatrick occupied.


"What do you want?", he asked. "I'm in prison now. There's nothing more 
you can do. I'll confess right now that I put that chip in the bastards 
food, but all you can serve me with is attempted murder".


"You sick fuck! You were his friend! He trusted you, and you killed 
him! Did you know about the law?! Is that why you did it that way?! Is 
it?!".


"Of course. By the time I'm out of prison I'll be a bit older, but I'll 
still have living left. If they had caught me killing him another way I 
would have fried a long time ago. I'm not stupid". I left the room at 
that point. The man disgusted me and I just couldn't sit and hear his 
sick logic.



Joey and I went back to Florida. We testified in the Jones case and 
because of us that man can walk the streets again. Justice was served 
and the real criminal ended up getting sentenced.


Kirkpatrick ended up getting twenty-five years in prison. The day he 
was released he was shot by Janet Smith. She then took a bullet to her 
head. Justice was served in that eeiry way that it gets served 
sometimes.


THE END

(AN: I just want everyone to know that that law is real. If you were to shoot somebody and they were in a coma for over a year and a day and then die the highest you can be charged with is attempted murder. A lot of states have this law too. It's pretty unfair. This was my first mystery attempt. I think it was like Dragnet.)