A singular detail in the garden #wattpad
John
and Brenda Koldowsky lived in a beautiful wooden house. Up the street. Almost
at the feet of the hill. It was a strong walking uphill difficult to access.
Three houses down lived a retired professor Ralph Bradwin.
At
the time I was the detective Raymond Chester Jr. And I had an office in the
center of the quiet town of Pulp Pulp.
Both
Koldowsky family and the professor were my long-standing acquaintances. Furthermore
that was one of the biggest cases of my career as a detective in that place, connecting
the two residences. And a lady who was passing through town. Her name was
Pamela Himes.
The
famous disappearance of Edgar.
For
a quiet town where nothing ever happened that was a great tragedy.
Mainly
because he was too young. Edgar had been adopted by Koldowsky family. They liked
to call him "Junior."
And
that's how it all started.
The
next day after the storm, the phone rang.
I
answered.
-
Hello - I said.
-
Detective Raymond Chester Jr.? - asked a
female voice.
-
Yes, speaking – I Said – Who is talking?
-
It’s Brenda Koldowsky.
-
How can I help you Mrs. Koldwsky?
- Junior
has disappeared!
- Has he really disappeared?
Have you already searched around the neighborhood?
- Yes, sure! You need
to come. It's urgent! Our Junior disappeared.
- Calm down lady, I'm
on my way.
- We're desperate!
You need to come soon.
She
hung the phone up.
It
appeared to be very serious. I hung the phone up; I grabbed my coat and my
detective hat. And moved toward the Koldwskys’ house.
Five
blocks walking through the mud and debris that the storm had spread. Fallen
trees in the street, tiles, pieces of windows, boards, a headless teddy bear.
It looked like the scene of a war zone. People over the roofs of houses.
Stretching tarps to protect themselves. It was very sad.
A lady
was coming down the street toward me; she looked worried and too hasty. She
passed me and bumped into my shoulder. Almost knocked me down, and continued
down toward the center. I stared at her as she continued walking. That lady was
an outsider; I had never seen her before. My detective instinct said that there
could be something related to the case.
But
I could not go back and stop her. I kept on walking to the Koldowsdys’ house.
Brenda
received me at the front door of her house. She had dark circles and her tears
flowed freely.
-
Mrs. Brenda... I said.
-
It's his fault! She said.
-
Whose fault is it?
-
It’s John’s fault. He never liked Junior.
John
was behind her and argued:
-
Brenda, my Dear, I loved Junior, you cannot say that.
-
Good morning, Sir!
- Good
morning, detective!
I
had already my second suspect. I just needed to find a reason. Well, Brenda had
said he did not like Junior. But would that be a good reason?
-
Friends, we have to calm down - I said – Have you seen a lady who has just walked
down? Do you know her?
John
was quiet and wondering.
-
You mean a young lady who has just walked down?
-
Yes, that’s right. Do you know her?
-
That is Pamela Himes. She is Professor’s niece.
There
was something wrong, the Professor was not Himes he was Badwin. I knew it
because I had read his name on the mailbox while I went up the street.
- Are
you sure John?
- I
do not know Chester, it was what she said, when he came here at our home.
-
Hmmm. I thought while wondering how suspicious that seemed to be.
As we
talked the old professor came out in front of his house and stood there watching.
He seemed very curious. I made a sign for him to come up the street.
-
Good morning, Neighbors! Good morning, Detective. He said.
-
Good morning Professor Ralph - I said - and how is your niece?
- My
niece Pamela? A little frightened because of the storm. She has just gone down
the street.
-
Pamela Himes?
-
Yes, she is my sister’s daughter. Carson Himes is my sister’s husband.
It
made sense. For now, I would rule out the suspicion of the lady.
- Do
you like Junior?
-
What kind of question is that, Detective?
-
Just answer me!
- I
have nothing in favor nor against Junior. As long as he does not invade my
yard.
I
felt in his reply that there was some resentment. The girl was free of suspicion.
But the professor had just entered the list.
The
Koldowskys’ garden was a mess because of the storm. Several broken branches
trees were scattered across the lawn. Even the little angel statue that was
near the door had fallen. As it was beside me I used it as a support. I stepped on it to rest and relax
my leg. My varicose veins were killing me. I had to keep my leg slightly bent.
That statue was good enough.
Brenda
started crying again and John tried to make her feel better by hugging her and
speaking words of comfort.
The
professor realized I was looking at him suspiciously. He had become the number
one suspect of my list.
- You
are thinking I have something to do with the disappearing of Junior, aren’t you?
-
You are saying that professor, not me!
-
That is ridiculous!
Brenda
stopped crying and said: - He never liked Junior either!
I
started to figure out that Junior did not have many people who admire him. Apparently
no one liked him.
-
Mrs. Brenda...You cannot be accusing everyone without having evidence. I said.
-
But none of them liked him.
- I
will strive my best to solve this case but I shall advice you to stop accusing
people without evidence.
-
All right, detective. John said.
I needed
to go back to the office to put things together. But before leaving the place I
decided to lift up the angel statue.
It
was a shock for everyone. Edgar, as they used to call “Junior” had been smashed
by the statue. The young guinea pig was dead.
He probably
had run off during the storm and by a misfortune of destiny his death was
caused by an accident. The case was solved.
My
name is detective Raymond Chester Jr. And this was the biggest case of my
career as a detective in the small and quiet town of Pulp Pulp.
The
End.
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