Peggy distinguished a singular white fingerprint from within the black phone screen.

‘A singular, slightly smudged fingerprint. It suggests one person has used this phone and used one finger to touch the screen.’

‘Impossible,’ called out Shanny Eyewitness.

‘Nothing is beyond possibility, Miss Eyewitness,’ replied Inspector Snoutwhiffer, who followed his words by pressing his pointer finger against his lips.

Peggy could feel her classmates studying her every move. Waiting for her to slip up. Miss something obvious. It was a bumper task of which no one else had passed. She glanced over her captivated audience and looked towards the stop clock counting down at the rear of the classroom.

Peggy smelt the phone. ‘Acqua Di Parma Colonia. The explanation for the oily fingerprint. The suspect must have applied the cologne before using the phone.’

‘Intriguing,’ Inspector Snoutwhiffer said, attempting to hide a smile.

Principal Forensic was unmoved. Peggy made the mistake of eying his expression. It broke her concentration. The tick of the clock dominated her highly sensitive and gifted senses. Four minutes and ten seconds left to decipher the culprit.

She moved her ear closer to the phone. She had a flashback. It was of a voice that spoke in a strong Italian accent. She listened to the threatening words, then heard the finger press the button. Words in English followed. Spoken by a different voice.

‘The suspect who used this has an Italian background.’

‘Obviously,’ mocked Shanny Eyewitness. ‘The message is written in Italian.’

A mix of laughter and more mockery came from the class. Inspector Snoutwhiffer glared at them. They settled instantly.

‘The message was a voice-to-text. However, the reader of the message was conveyed into creating it by another. Someone who had intentions of their own for Jonny Detox.’

Peggy raced to the notes provided for the exam and scrolled her finger along the list of suspects. As she studied their biographies, her touch sensed a faint circular mark around the name ‘Missy Manipulative’. She slid her finger further and found the same markings around the name Fabio Luccinelle.

‘The faded pencil markings on this paper, purposely rubbed out, help support my suspicions. We are meant to believe Fabio Luccinelle is responsible for this, particularly since he was jealous of Jonny Detox and his relationship with Coral Mostworthy. Missy Manipulative, who secretly has a crush on Jonny Detox, convinced Fabio to speak this threatening message and pretend it to be privately sent by Coral’s father, a descendant from Italy. Hoping the message would crush Jonny, Missy planned to comfort him and win his affection. Fabio to do the same to Coral. They are your guilty party.’

The first-year students at the School for Gifted Forensic Criminology sat there, stunned.

‘Truly fascinating, Miss Chuckles,’ complimented Inspector Snoutwhiffer,   ‘Your process of elimination and use of your distinguished sensory gifts are most impressive.’

Peggy smiled. It became larger when she saw Shanny Eyewitness sulking in her chair with her arms crossed.

‘Not in my forty-year tenure has The Crime Cracker Prize been won with such conviction,’ added Principal Forensic. ‘Only one other performance was as memorable.’

‘Who was that?’ Peggy asked. Principal Forensic rose from his chair. His eyes narrowed, and eyes darkened. His whole demeanour changed. It sent a shiver down Peggy’s spine. ‘Your mother!’