DETECTIVEHERRY MORTIMER is called to investigate a murder in the newly opened Bologna Space Hotel. NOVELL CHAMBERLAIN, an industrialist, was found bludgeoned in his room.
Along with SCOTT YVENSEN, a young police officer and NETT COURTNEY, the owner of the company who built the hotel, they head into space.
There are twelve people present in the hotel and robot staff. According to the coroner report, Novell was killed by being hit on the head by a blunt object. With no murder weapon, Mortimer must interview the guests.
As each guest tells their story, Mortimer realizes that they are no closer to finding their killer. Each person has an alibi and there is no clear motive as to why anyone would kill Novell.
Targeted Age Group:: 18-40
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I have inspired from the books and ideas of the grand master of Science fiction, Isaac Asimov
How is writing Science Fiction different from other genres?
It takes you to far aways from the current time and places, no limit except for your imagination.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
I have come with up my characters inspiring by the novels of conan doyle and agatha christie
Book Sample
When Herry “Chief” Mortimer entered his office, the
communication device, which occupied a small space on
his desk, detected his arrival and, as always, warned him
with, “Chief, you received some messages.”
“Okay, show me them in order,” Mortimer replied.
First, the device showed him a message from his son, who
was currently at a summer camp in Montana. In his
message, Sean was saying he was well, the camp was a lot
of fun and he was learning a lot. After Chief sent him his
greetings, he moved on to the second message. This was
from the unit manager, saying he wanted to speak with him
face to face immediately.
“Must be important,” Chief murmured and went up
to the manager’s floor without lingering. He paused by
security at the door. “Is the boss inside, Bryan?” he asked.
Since Mrs. Selly, the manager’s secretary, wasn’t there at
the moment, he dealt directly with the security staff.
“He is inside and cannot wait to see you, Chief,”
Bryan answered.
Mortimer knocked on the door and entered when he
heard “Come in.” The manager raised his head and
gestured towards the seat in front of him. “Welcome,
Herry, take a seat.” Manager Terry Crusher was an
experienced and successful police officer in his sixties.
After a successful fifteen year management career in the
New York Police Department, he was appointed to the
U.N. Space Police Department Manager. He was planning
to retire and live in Canada after he worked in this
department for a while. The unique beauty of Ontario Lake
was fascinating to him.
When Mortimer sat in front of him, Crusher got
straight to the point.
“Herry, I have a new task for you.”
5 • Murder at the Space Hotel
This bothered Mortimer. He was about to argue.
“But Mr. Crusher, I already have a file I haven’t finished,”
but Crusher interrupted.
“I know. You mean the Spence murder case. I
passed it to Michael Morghenthau. You hand him the
related file. Now, we have a more important topic.” He
pressed the halovision button in front of him and a three
dimensional display appeared in the middle of the room.
The view was that of a new and luxurious space hotel. This
hotel orbiting the Earth had recently been opened and
offered stunning sights of space and the Earth. Since it
rotated around itself, it created artificial gravity using
centrifugal force. “You probably know about this hotel?”
asked Crusher.
“Yes sir, the newly opened Bologna Space Hotel,”
Mortimer confirmed.
Crusher continued. “There was a murder here a
couple of days ago.”
Mortimer’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t comprehend
how there could be a murderer among the people staying in
such a luxurious hotel.
“A murder? Who was murdered?” he asked.
“Novell Chamberlain.”
“That famous industrialist? But why? By who?”
Crusher smiled. “That’s why we asked you to come
here in the first place. To take this task and find out,” he
answered.
Mortimer paused.“So, how many people were in the
hotel?”
“Twelve, including the staff. Eight visitors. Hotel
manager, a doctor, a nurse, and a robotics expert. And, of
course, we do not count the robots in service and security
staff as part of this number.”
“When will I be going to the hotel?”
“Tomorrow morning. A shuttle departing from the
New York Space Dock will deliver you there. The
Mehmet Ali Yazan • 6
information you need will be delivered electronically to
your personal pocket computer. You can attain the details
from there. You will have all of the information we have by
the time you reach there. Leaving the hotel is forbidden at
the moment and will stay that way until you conclude the
investigation. Nett Courtney, the owner of the company
who built the hotel, will come with you. He will inform you
about the hotel and how it operates. Since everybody there
is a suspect, we couldn’t trust them on helping you. I will
also let one of our new interns, Scott Yvensen, go along
with you. He not only will help you, but also gain some
experience.”
Mortimer opened his mouth to object, but then he
realized that it would be pointless. He knew that look of
determination in Crusher’s eyes. He’d seen it before.
“If that’s all, let me go and get ready for the trip.”
“Of course, take a day off today. Go prepare your
stuff. Check the document I sent you; you will be well
informed regarding the case. The intern is waiting for you
outside. You’ll have a chance to study the case with him.”
He said, “Of course, sir,” and left the room. There
was one guy waiting in reception. Must be him, Mortimer
thought.
He was correct. Middle height, brown-haired, and
strong body like Crusher described him. After he saw him
leaving Crusher’s office, he stood up and moved towards
to Herry.
“Hi sir. I am intern police officer, Scott Yvensen.”
Herry shook his hand. “I am senior detective Herry
Mortimer.”
“I know, sir. I was waiting for you.”
Mortimer didn’t like how Scott answered questions.
The first impression he got from Scott was that he was a bit
arrogant.
“Yes, Scott. How long have you been in this job?”
7 • Murder at the Space Hotel
“Three years, sir, but I am a new detective. I am so
happy that I have chance to work somebody like you and in
a space hotel.”
Mortimer glanced at him briefly. “Hope you enjoy
it.”
“I have no doubt of that, sir.”
While they were talking, they arrived at the garage.
Mortimer opened the door of his Ford. His car recognized
his face as he approached it and already started the engine.
Mortimer asked, “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, sir. I did that before I came here.”
“Good. Let’s go to my house, then. While I get
prepared, tell me about the file. By the way, you did read
the file, right?”
“Yes sir. I have knowledge about the case.”
“Don’t call me sir. ‘Chief’ should be sufficient.”
“All right, si… Chief.”
Mortimer smiled. “Just like that.”
A little while later, they arrived at their destination.
After they parked the car, they went inside the one-story
home. Mortimer invited Scott where to sit and asked him if
he would like anything. When Scott said no, he poured
himself some orange juice “My wife went to Montana to
visit my son. She will stay there for two weeks. I hope we
will be finished with this and already returned by the time
she comes back. I already have all the information on my
computer, but it will be easier to hear it from you.”
“All right, Chief,” Scott answered, and started to
tell him everything he knew.
“According to the file, there were twelve total
people in the hotel, including the staff. There were eight
guests. We exclude the police officers from this number.
Everybody is now in custody. There are four police officers
there and no one is allowed to leave the building until the
investigation ends. Just the official people come and go
from the hotel. They will not accept new customers, either.
About the Author:
Mehmet Ali Yazan was born in 1970. He graduated from University of Istanbul, Department of History in 1992. He completed his masters’s degree in University of Sakarya in 1997. He wrote a Master’s thesis about The Dardanelles War approximately 220 pages. He served as a history teacher for 6.5 years in various schools. He is married and has a son.
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