“Finally! There it is! The black leather one!” Kate yells excited to her cab driver. Her luggage has arrive at the baggage claim. The cool black leather trunk that her father bought her for graduating law school. She has studied so hard and worked part time in a law office being the “go for” girl. Getting coffees, coordinating lunches, and occasionally researching for up coming trials. All of Kate’s hard work had paid off. Next month she would be opening her own office, with her father’s help of course. So for now, she was taking time to relax in the Italian sun. Kate had dreamed about going to Italy for years but school and work always won the battle of importance. But now she would have it all at last.

After a long car ride along the coast, to a water taxi, to another cab, she was laying down in the queen sized bed that she would sleep in for the next few weeks. The room was plain, simple designs, but that only complemented the ocean view outside the sliding door. Kate could watch it for hours. The waves pulsing, crashing, the high and low tides. Her stomach growled.

Kate decided to wonder around the streets near her hotel to find something to eat. An American friendly pizzeria was only a block away. Kate regretted not learn the native language, but her hunger was stronger than the need for a real authenticate meal. She grabbed a pizza to go, nothing special. Just cheese and sauce with a Diet Coke. Back at her room she sat on the white sheets of her bed and watched the water again.

Her nose caught a whiff of something fowl. Disgusting but also sweet. She decided to call her dad and let him know she was safe. Voicemail, typical she thought to herself.

“Hey dad, I’m here and its gorgeous. But my room stinks? I’m not sure what that is all about but I’m going to call downstairs and see what is up. So call me back when you can. Love you.”

Before making any complaints, Kate decided to unpack her bag. Maybe one or two of her perfume bottles broke and the smell mixed awfully? She grabbed her luggage back and notices its much lighter than she remembers. On closer expectation she sees a monogram embossed into the leather. “DP”. Shock and realizes hit Kate like a ton of bricks. This wasn’t her bag.

“Dad! I don’t have my luggage! I mistook this one for mine! Please call me back!” As panic set in, Kate tried to relax. Everything was replaceable, Kate had money. She could buy new clothes, makeup, perfumes, and anything else she was missing. After five full deep breaths she was fine. Then the smell came back.

It was coming from the bag, that wasn’t hers. She had to know what was in there. What was that smell? Hopefully there was something that could help her return the bag to the real owner and maybe even get hers back. She unzipped the back slowly. Inch by inch the smell grew stronger. All that was in the cool black leather bag was a garbage bag. She grabbed it. It felt like a ball or a melon. But the smell was overpowering. She couldn’t even think about opening the bag, but her need to know was just as overpowering as the smell.

Inside the bag, was her father’s head.

“Recent law graduate, Kate Orangefield, is being accused of murder of her father. She has fled the country and we are conducting a search, any information please contact the authorities.”