The Cause of Grief

Chief Crimson was stressed at his desk. His hands were shaking as they scratched the pencil across the papers that lay below him. It was unbelievable to him, somehow it just was. How could one man possibly murder a whole entire group of people? The worst part was realising it was one of his own men who committed this massacre. Sargeant Charles Gray of the Blackwell Down police department was now a cold blooded killer. He looked up, hoping for any sign of progress…any at all. There was none of as yet. On the wall, the clock was ticking out the time..slowly..and slowly. The type-writer was clickity-claking from under the quick hands of Chief Crimson’s new paperwork assistant Mr. Joel Moss, who was new and had hardly a first-hand clue on the cass.

Just then Sgt. Tawny stomped in, with a clouded face. Just what was the matter?

“It’s Charles,” he reported, “ I can’t extract a confession with him, and I’m not about to use torture on him. It’s rediculous! This is a man who has the nerve to fake a strangulation at a party so that he could he secretly murder everybody there and he won’t even provide a good reason!”

“Why won’t he talk!?” Barked Chief Crimson angerly.

“He said that it will be no use. Damn him!” Grunted Sgt. Tawny, “ He told me to just not bother with it, and punish him, because he did what he needed to.”

”Well that’s not good enough!” Grumbled Chief Crimson, his face was red as a mellon.

Just then, Insp. Khaki entered. His face was rather bright.

--

“I’ve searched his apartment up and down,” he began, while puffing away at his pipe, “ He was very descreet about his true intentions, except in his diary…..”

He paused and smiled.

“He mentioned about getting hired by the Doctor to pose as his valet and conduct an investgation for the the person blackmailing the doctor into blackmailing his guests. The truth was, Sgt. Gray was the one behind it. He was blackmailing Doctor Black!”

Sgt. Tawny and Chief Crimson were speechless, even Mr. Moss took the time to look up.

“Of course,” he continued, “It was all simply a ruse to get Doctor Black to trust him. But the content in the blackmail letter was real, quite real, but actually, Charles had TWO blackmail lists apparently. One was found in the mansion that revealed some rather personal stuff about everybody. The second, the one that was sent to Doctor Black (and presumably destroyed) contained evidence about a terrible secret that tied them ALL together.”

He paused again.

“Well don’t just stop there man,” demanded Chief Crimson, “Get on with it!”

Just then the door burst open.

--

Mrs. Plum burst into the police office looked rather stiff.

“I want him dead!” Her voice was hoarse and firm, “Who ever poisoned my husband….I…want…him…dead!”

Insp. Khaki trotted over and led her to the center of the room and put his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

“Ah my dear Mrs. Plum,” he said, “ Your just in time, I was just explaining the killer’s reasoning for the murder and…wait…..you wouldn’t happen to know about any company the Professor had invested in by any chance?”

“Oh God, I don’t know!” She said, “ He was investing in something called Blackfoot or Blac…”

The Inspector perked his head up.

“Blackfinger?” He asked.

“Yes..that’s it,” She replied quietly.

“Blackfinger!” Exclaimed Insp. Khaki, “is an illegal artefact smuggling company that is somewhat well known, but impossible to trace! There had been reports that came from the town of Slatestone, not too far from here that there was a secret underground trading point there (Of course which had been packed up and abandoned now, but it wasn’t the only outlet). Doctor Black found out about it from a M. Brunette and they became trading partners. It became a success for them! Soon they cut a few other friends into the deal. Even Doctor Black’s maid, Mrs. White and his butler, Mr. Ashe found that the offer was was worth their life-savings for greater riches. Little would they too realise that the offer would soon be worth their life.”

Everybody was speechless.

“You mean my husband..?” Mrs. Plum could find no words.

“Yes,” replied Insp. Khaki gravely, “Your husband was in on the deal and that was the real “experiment” that got his licence revoked. But wait till you see what I found next…”

--

Insp. Khaki was in full mode now. He yanked out a yellowed, cut-out portion of newsprint with such enthusiasm as he puffed away at his pipe.

“Let’s go back to the town of Slatestone for a second only this time to the year 1914,” He said to the listeners, “ There was a family who lived there. They were pretty well off. More than they knew. The Missus always wore a priceless dark grey dimond neckless, thinking it was pretty, but also thinking it was fake. She failed to know the true value of it. What a fortune it would bring to Blackfinger they could tell a real from a fake from afar! And remember how when the children (albeit, much older children around in their 14’s or 15’s) were at school, the house was set ablaze killing both father and mother? The necklace was taken shortly after all the commotion from her charred remains. And guess who fianced this all!? None other than Doctor Black and his notorious “friends” (More of them were to join his clan as he befriended them). They were to never to breath a word of it. And now I ask you this, which officer here remembers what town Sargeant Charles Gray said he came from?”

“Blimey,” Mumbled Chief Crimson, “ Mrs. Plum, I would like to ask you to leave the room for a moment.”

“Gladly,” she replied, “This is really all unfit for my ears.”

Sgt. Tawny escorted her out of the room.

“So I guess it was a personal motive yes?” Asked Chief Crimsom, “Perhaps this is why he became a policeman in the first place.”

“Now I would like to ask you my dear Chief,” began Insp. Khaki, “On what you intend for we should do with him?”

“He may have done a good public service of ridding this world of some appauling people,” Stated Chief Crimson, as he thought, “but those appauling people are rather respected appauling people in this world, most of them anyway. I couldn’t vouche on the servants of course. Or his Negress fiancee Madame Rose. But still, he was member of OUR police force, and if we didn’t do something about it, well I doubt it would sit well with the public. Best not reveal the truth to them. Like Charles said, he doubt it would make a difference for he did what he needed too. And strangly he did it in a form of nursery rhyme which I’m sure has something to do with his presumed mental disorder. All the more reason to dispose of him and let the world sleep. “

Both men agreed on the decision and left the station for some lunch. Mr. Moss who had been listening the whole time decided he will never get used to this job. He adjusted his glasses and left for lunch as well...

--

To some it could could be a long and boring punish sentence. To the perpetrator of the ordeal, it could be paraphrased into the final few lines….that had yet to be spoken…..

untill it remained the final words of Charles Stephan Gray as he was hoisted into the gallows……

FINALE

While the cruel Cock Sparrow,

The cause of their grief,

Was hung on a gibbet

Next day, like a thief.

END