Loss of A Love

George Henderson, a prosecutor and an old friend of mine, was called in to investigate a murder out in the Midwest and asked for my help. Although ecstatic about seeing an old friend, even though I should be used to it, death always makes my heart sad.

Our victim is a Mr. John Wright. As I asked around town, he was known to be an upright but “hard” man. I was glad to know they had someone in custody to make it a little easier on us, but I was surprised to hear it was Mr. Wright’s wife, Ms. Minnie Foster Wright. 

When I arrived it was really dreary, on top of someone passing, it seemed the whole town was there to mourn or be skeptical. There were things in the house like a birdcage, but no bird.

                There was a young guy at the Wright home named Harry. He seemed very withdrawn. He seemed to be waiting on the man that George was questioning, a Mr. Hale.

Me: Hey there. Are you waiting on Mr. Hale there?

Harry: Yes sir I am.

Me: Ha! My father’s a sir. Just call me Orion.

*shakes hands*

Harry: Nice to meet you Orion sir. I mean Mr. Orion. Sorry. I’m kind of nervous. I’ve never seen a dead body before.

Me: What do you think happened here?

Harry: I’m not too sure sir. Me and Mr. Hale came over to see if Mr. John wanted to go to a party telephone line with us. We walked in the house after Mr. Hale said he heard someone say to enter and that’s when we saw Ms. Hale in her rocking chair.

Me: Just sitting there huh? Was John dead at the time?

Harry: Yes sir. *shakes head* Women. I swear they’re the root of all evil.

Me: So you do think his wife did this?

Harry: Well isn’t it obvious?

Me: But you just said you didn’t know.

Harry: I didn’t know you were a cop *Points to the badge on my hip*

Me: Oh Yes. I’m a private investigator. I guess I should’ve mentioned that. Is there a reason why she 

would?

Harry: I’m just surprised it took her so long.

*This statement shocked me very much and before I could ask what he meant, George called me over*

George: Okay. I just talked to Mr. Hale and he said he thinks the wife did it. He said Mrs. Wright is always giving him a hard time.

Me: *scratches head* I got a different vibe from the boy.

George: He doesn’t think she did it?

Me: Oh yeah. But it seemed that he was the one giving her a hard time.

George: Hmm.. Well this Hale character did seem a little bias with the victim being his best friend and all. He also said some statements about women that if I ever said to my wife, that’d be me with the rope around my neck.

Me: *chuckles* Well did they find any fingerprints on the rope?

George: Yeah. It was Mrs. Wright’s. So they basically have the right person but she’s pleading self defense. 

Seems kind of solid.

Me: You think so?

George: Yeah. They found bruises all over her. She can only say she fell down the steps so many times. Nobody’s that clumsy.

*I looked back over to Harry and he was standing alone looking like he was the one who lost a loved one. But it wasn’t a sadness for Mr. Wright, it was for his wife. I walked up to him*

Me: You loved her?

Harry: More than anything in the world.