Thomas O'Malley and the Asylum Mystery

As Thomas O’Malley walked into the office, he looked at his chair and let out a small sigh. It had been almost twelve weeks since he had his last case. Though he was experienced, most people thought he was too young to solve cases, as well as the local police actually did their jobs. The crime was down, and Thomas had already been warned three times to stop trying to be a Detective, and just join the police force, but Thomas was stubborn. He insisted that he wanted to be a P.I. and wouldn’t listen to reason. The most mystery case he got was to find where to find Mrs. Ruby's cat, Poka, that enjoyed running off and harassing Mr. Rogers Dog, Tiny.  As Thomas sat in his chair,   he hoped for some kind of case, anything but his usual “Cat tormenting a dog” case! He glared at the doorknob praying it would open and not belittle Mrs. Ruby asking for help about the damned cat. The home phone rang and he looked at it in spite. Only his mother called the home phone. Lifting it from the receiver, he grunted, “Hello, may I help you?” “Thomas, come to dinner tonight!” his mother's shrill, old voice screeched at him through the speaker like a witch casting a spell in the night.  “Why do you want me to come to dinner, mom?” Thomas was clearly annoyed by his mother's shenanigans.  “Because pizza and beer are going to make you a fat drunk, Thomas!” “Or is it because you have some poor girl coming to dinner, thinking she's going to get to have dinner with a guy she's never met before?” “Thomas please son! I want grand ki--” Thomas slammed the phone back onto its base and pushed himself away from the table it sat on, spinning a few times in his chair. “Damn it, Mom. I don’t need your help getting a date…” He grunted and leaned back in his chair as it creaked softly.  Thomas was the youngest of the family. Everyone else was in their 40’s. He was known as the “The beardless O’Malley” by his family. His Father was bare-faced as well, and his family blamed that on why Thomas was such a babyface. Thomas scratched his Five o’clock shadow and stared intently at the doorknob again as if he was a Jedi and could make it open with the force. Just as the thought of rewatching the first few star wars movies occurred in his mind, the door opened, and Mr. Rogers walked in. Thomas grunted and Seemed annoyed by the old man's presents.  "Good evening Mr. Rogers. may I help you with something? Is Ms. Ruby's cat harassing the dog?"Thomas faked his smile, and Mr. Rogers returned it, with a large box to Thomas's desk. "I want to hire you for something a bit more serious, my boy." He said in his raspy tone. "A cold case not even our finest could solve." Thomas lifted an eyebrow at the old man.  "More serious?" Thomas couldn't help the real smile that came across his face. he knew Mr. Rogers was loaded. so if he did this right, it could make him a lot of money. and maybe get the word out about him.  "Well, let's take a look at the file then--" Thomas went to open the box, but Mr. Roger chuckles. "That ain't no fire me boy that's half ye payment. 10 grand."  Thomas's eyes widened as he opened the box. and there it was. a box full of twenty-dollar bills.