A phone rings late at night in a detective’s office in the Los Angeles police department, two detectives to up at each other. One of those detectives is Jake Cassidy. He has been at it for twenty years, one of the best detectives in the L.A. area. The other detective is Cassidy’s understudy, a man by the name of Mike Hamilton. Cassidy stops his work and answer. “Hello,” Cassidy said.
“Chief, what is the matter?”
“A murder?”
“Any information?”
“Julie has it. Alright we are on our way,” Cassidy said and hung up the phone. Julie walked in and threw a file on Cassidy’s desk. “Thanks Julie,” Cassidy stated.
“What is this all about,” Hamilton asked.
“Hamilton, grab your coat we have a murder,” Cassidy informed. Twenty minutes later they were driving on a small two lane road in the country side. “Take a left here.” When they turned they were facing a large iron gate with the letter R in the center in gold. They stopped and the swung open. After they got past the gate the gate they were drove up a long brick driveway lined it perfectly manicured shrubs. All the way there Cassidy was reading the file Julie had given him.
“What is the information on this case,” Hamilton asked.
“A man named Charlie Rodgers was murdered earlier today,” Cassidy started.
“The oil guy,” Hamilton interjected.
“Yes, he started the Premium Oil Company. Needless to say he was a very wealthy man. Charlie had just celebrated his 81st birthday on Friday. His head was smashed in a refrigerator. The maid found him at about 4 in the afternoon and called the police,” Cassidy finished. When he was done Hamilton stopped the car. They had reached the Rodgers Manor. It was a giant mansion with stone pillars and marble statues in the yard. Cassidy and Hamilton got out of the car and walked up to the front door. When they reached the front door they were met by the Chief. The Chief was a plump man with a powerful mustache. He was about 50 and balding, but did not seem to care.
“I’m glad to see you could make it. I trust you have reads the file I left you,” the Chief said
“Yes, so are there any suspects” Cassidy asked.
“Our first one is sitting on the sofa on the sofa over there,” the Chief point, “That is Charlie’s wife.”
They walked over and waited through the police to get to the couch. Sitting on the couch was Mrs. Rodgers. Mrs. Rodgers was a beautiful blond not yet 25 years old. She could have had the pick of any man she wanted, but she picked an 81 year old oil barren. She did not look very broken up over the murder of her husband. “Hello Mrs. Rodgers I am Jake Cassidy and this is Mike Hamilton we are police detectives,” Cassidy said.
“Oh please call me Penelope. I do hope that you can solve this,” Penelope said hopefully.
“We are doing our best but we need you to answer a few questions,” Cassidy asked.
“Yes anything to solve this,” Penelope begged
“Alright ma’am we just had a few questions. How long have you and Charlie?
“We have been married for 7 months. We were married to the 16th,” Penelope answered.
“Well you are prickly newlyweds,” Cassidy interjected.
“Yes, it was the happiest seven months of my life,” Penelope said dreamily.
“I am sure it was. Now where were you today at about 2 in the afternoon,” Hamilton questioned.
“I was shopping with my sister since she was in town. See here is a receipt from Hollister,” Penelope answered. She gave the piece of paper to Cassidy. He looked at it and at the bottom was printed 14:24:32.
“She checks out, mark her off the list,” Cassidy stated. “Now Mrs. Rodgers do you know of anyone who would want to murder your husband?”
“I have no idea but if you want to know more about something you could talk to Charlie’s children. Vanessa is right over there,” Penelope pointed.
“Thank you for all of you help Mrs. Rodgers and we are very sorry about you loss,” Cassidy said graciously.
“It was not a problem at all just get the bastard who this to my poor Chuck,” Penelope responded.
“We will try our hardest Penelope do not worry about that,” Hamilton promised. The two detectives then moved over to where Ms. Rodgers was standing. Vanessa was a somewhat pale woman with dark black hair pulled in to a bun on the back of her head. The report said she was forty but she easily looked thirty-two. She was standing by the fireplace wearing a black pants suit.
“Good evening Ms. Rodgers,” Cassidy introduced, “I am Jake Cassidy and this is my partner Mike Hamilton.
“This is no good evening but it is a pleasure to meet you,” Vanessa said. She spoke very sternly with a purpose. “I hope you can catch the person who did this to my father.”
“That is what we are here for miss. We just have a few questions,” Hamilton started.
“Shoot,” Vanessa said.
“Where were you today at about 2,” Hamilton asked.
“I was upstairs sleeping I had put in a long night at work and got home very late so I was still sleeping,” Vanessa answered.
“Thank you now do know why someone would have murdered you father,” Hamilton asked.
“I have no idea. Daddy was well like by everyone he had no enemies or at least that I know of,” Vanessa said plainly.
“Well that you Vanessa we appreciate your time we have to,” Hamilton started.
“Hold on. What you feeling about Penelope,” Cassidy interjected.
“Personally I really do not like the woman. Although Daddy did seem happier with her I think she just married him for the money. I don’t think she really even loved him, but he loved her. He was even going to change his will,” Vanessa said angrily
“So what happened to your mother,” Cassidy questioned
“They were married for a very long time but outlived her that is all. She passed away about five years ago,” she replied.
Thank you, but I have one more question. Where is your brother,” Cassidy asked.
“Jonny is in the dining room straight there thought the kitchen,” she said. The detectives moved toward the kitchen. The kitchen was very large with dark wood cabinets, marble counter tops, and stainless steel appliances. The refrigerator placed about half way between the two entrances to the kitchen. There Charlie Rodgers and a puddle of blood. Cassidy and Hamilton put on some gloves and began to search the crime scene for some that the others may have missed. After about five minutes nether one of them had found anything. Then Cassidy spotted something shining next to the milk.
“Here we go now we are cooking with gas,” Cassidy exclaimed.
“What is it,” Hamilton asked.
“An earring,” Cassidy explained.
“That is going to useful. Now let’s go talk to John,” Hamilton suggested. The two of then moved in to the dining room. In the dining room there was a large circular table made to a very dark stone. At the table sat a tall lanky man with a dark thick head of hair. He was dressed in a gray pin stripe suit. He was a somewhat pale man. The two of the walked over and began to speak to him.
“You must be Jonathon Rodgers. I am detective Cassidy and this is my partner detective Hamilton,” Cassidy said.
“Hello gentleman, I hope you are close to discovering who killed my father,” John replied.
“That is why we are here we need to ask you a few questions,” Cassidy explained.
“Yes of course anything to get this over with,” John said
“When were today at about two in the afternoon today,” Hamilton asked.
“I was at the beach with my friends. We were surfing all day,” John answered.
“Thank you. I have one more question. What are your feelings about Penelope? Your sister did not seem to like her very much,” Cassidy asked.
“Van and I feel the same way about her. I really do not like the woman. I think she only married him for the money,” John said angrily.
“Thank you for your time Jonathon I do appreciate it,” Cassidy said
“No problem,” John muttered. The two detectives then made their way back to the front door to where the Chief was standing.
“So what did you find out,” the Chief asked.
“Call everyone here we have solved the case,” Cassidy replied. After about five minutes everyone was standing in the front entrance and Cassidy and Hamilton were standing on the stairs. “Thank you everyone I will only need your attention for a few minutes. We have solved the case.” Everyone looked surprised. “It was simply really all you needed to do was look really. Now the murder of Mr. Rodger is standing this room, or should I say murderers. Vanessa and Jonathan murder their father. You see he was getting ready to change his will so that everything would be left to Penelope. They did not like this idea very much. They never really like Penelope at all and this was the last straw. They wanted that money no matter what so they killed him. Now how do I know, this here is why? Vanessa you seem to be missing an earring,” Cassidy said.
“I am,” Vanessa asked.
“Yes and I have it right here. I found it at the crime scene. Now John will you pull back you sleeve for me.” John did revealing a pale white arm, “Pretty pale for someone who was surfing all day.” Cassidy explained. “Ladies and gentleman your case is solved you can all go home, and I am truly sorry about your loss Penelope.” Before anyone could say or really do anything the two detects were out the door heading for their car. Ten minutes later after they had pulled back on that two lane road Hamilton looked over at Cassidy
“Nice work in there Cassidy,” Hamilton said.
“Thanks same to you,” Cassidy said
“Thanks,” Hamilton replied. They drove back to the station in silence. A much needed silence.
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