Just Right
By Stephen D. Rogers
In line with department policy, Sergeant Grimm had separated the
three suspects so that they couldn't compare stories: Papa Bear
in the kitchen, Mama Bear in the living room, and Baby Bear in
the den. He was lucky that there were just the three of them
because the house was small, and the team from Prints and Photos
was still working on the dead woman in the bedroom.
Hiking up his waistband, Grimm turned from the kitchen window to
face Papa Bear. "So you say that you don't know the blonde woman
who was nearly decapitated in your bedroom."
"I've never seen her before in my life," he grumbled. "What are
you insinuating?"
"I'm just asking questions at this point."
Papa Bear stood, towering over the table of unfinished porridge.
"I didn't know her. I didn't kill her. There's nothing more I
can tell you, so you might as well leave."
Sergeant Grimm simply nodded. Papa Bear's anger seemed genuine,
and he wouldn't act hot under the collar if he wanted to escape
suspicion. Sergeant Grimm left the kitchen without saying
anything else, going into the living room to see Mama Bear trying
to mend a chair.
"Was that broken when you left the house?"
"No." She looked up at him with disdain. "I'm not in the habit
of leaving broken furniture laying around."
"Are you in the habit of killing blondes?"
"No." Her cold eyes held Sergeant Grimm for a moment, and when
he broke contact, she went back to working on the chair.
Sergeant Grimm headed towards the den and Baby Bear. While Mama
Bear had been less than helpful, her manner too seemed
inappropriate for a killer. Unless Papa Bear and Mama Bear were
sociopaths immune to the effects of conscience, they were
probably innocent.
Baby Bear was sitting in the middle of the room, lost in play
with a gold necklace that sparkled in the light.
"Nice piece of jewelry you have there."
Jumping, Baby Bear pawed the necklace and attempted a "Who, me?"
face. "I didn't take anything."
Sergeant Grimm leaned down until he was level with Baby Bear.
"If you were just reaching for her necklace and killed her by
accident, it's manslaughter, not murder."
Baby Bear started to cry.
"You have the right to remain silent...."
© 1999 Stephen D. Rogers. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author.
Back to the top of this page.
|
