The Convicted Son-In-law

Chapter 14- The Detectives

In an office table, two photographs stood out between scattered paperwork. A pair of gentle hands wearing a wedding ring picked them up. Eyes staring daggers into them. "If I hadn't been to the crime scene and seen these dead men myself- I wouldn't have believed this photographs are real."

Detective Jennet Washington-Smith sturdied the images carefully. She saw her diamond ring and got distracted, remembering her wedding to Mr Iron Washington that past weekend.

"Snap out of it," she said to herself and focused on the images again. She remembered the crime scene, trying to figure out what she could have missed. The bodies lay twenty metres apart from each other. All had what looked like a close-range shot, right in between the eyebrows. If not, how would the shooter been able to aim directly at the fore-head of the victim and get such a perfect shot? It had to be close-range right?

But if it was close-range, then how come nobody at the grocery store could identify the shooter? How possible is it that none of the witnesses saw the shooter? A civilian? Ofcourse he must have been. Or could the robbers turn on themselves? No, not at that critical moment right? They would first have to ensure the mission is a success before the greed crept in.

"Detective Smith," called a man as he placed two coffee cups on the table and took a seat, he smirked. "Or should I say detective Washington-Smith. Don't overwork yourself too much. Have some coffee."

"This scene doesn't make any sense, detective," she picked up her coffee and lay back to drink it while staring at him. 

"This scene makes perfect sense," said the chubby detective, pulling his suspender, making an annoying sound before taking a sip. 

 "Detective Michael Sin, how can this make sense? If he was twenty feet away, and shot both men- why does this look like a close-range shot?"

"Easy," said the detective and shrugged, "he's a great shooter."

"No way," detective Smith cried, "from that distance, if he shot one man I'd say it's pure luck, but two?" She signalled the number with her fingers across her face. 

"Have you read the witnesses statements yet? They all claim to have heard the shooter shoot twice. We found no other gun shot wounds on the corpses. One bullet each, straight to the fore-head, how's that possible?"

"We interviewed the witnesses too quickly. They were still rattled, could have made too many mistakes. Let's go interview them after tomorrow. They might remember crucial information." 

"You're right," the detective agreed, "cause so far we have nothing. Nothing but two corpses, bunch of witnesses, no shooter, no murder weapon, no suivellance footage and not a single lead." 

The Mall

Barry switched off the ignition of the 2004 Corsa, shut the door behind him. He had driven around the neighborhood and found himself at the mall entrance. He could still here Susan's stinging voice in his ear as she complained when he drove them home after the family meeting. "You see what you have done Barry? Now you have lost your wife. You got what you deserved."

Blow off some steam, that's all Barry could think about. Maybe taking a stroll in the mall could help. Who knew that he would have such a terrible day so early in the morning. It wasn't even midday yet. That asshole Marcus had the guts to ruin his day. He actually claimed he had managed to close the deal. What was he up to?

"Jewelry store?" Barry said to himself. He immediately remembered his promise to return to this store. The staff ignored him as he made his way inside. His eyes glued to the necklace his wife so adored. 

'Indeed it's beautiful.' Barry thought. He glanced around for a sales assistant and none of them bothered to come serve him. 

"Hello," Barry waved at the assistant by the till area. She looked up and smiled. A few minutes later she walked up to Barry, studying him closely. 'Isn't this the same live-in son-in-law of the Jefferson who was here the other day?' She scanned him up and down contemptuously, her face looking sour like she had tasted a gall-bladder.

Embarrassingly, Barry reflected at his own clothes.

"Sir, did you just call me all the way from there to come serve you while you looking like this? Really, can you even afford any of the jewelry in this store?" She asked so cheekily that it caught most customers attention.

"Miss, your name is?" Barry asked.

"Mischell," she answered.

"Mischell, take down 'the heart of the Ocean' I'm going to buy it for my wife right now."

"What?"