‘ring, ring’
The young Jimmy and his friends were knocking at
a house’s door.
« Trick or treat », they were crying out all together.
« Oh ! You’re so cute, I’ll give you all my candies and you’ll share them all » The old lady replied.
Jimmy had enough candies so he decided to go back home. He was crossing the tiny gloomy street he was living in. It was really dark even if the moon was bright and the cold wind was blowing under the child’s costume. He entered the block of flats and walked up the dilapidated stairs. He rang the doobell hoping his father would open fast. The father opened the creaky door.
« Your sweet hunt is already finished ? Alright, I kept you some sweets, here you are, go to sleep, it’s late ! »
Jimmy went to his grim room cheerfully to taste his huge loot. He sat on his mattress full of stains. He suddenly grabbed his throat, he couldn’t breath and his head hurt. The room was turning and he fell on the floor. He co
nvulsed and a dozen seconds later he died.
The inspector Collins was in his car going to the murder scene.
« I hate halloween, it’s so freaky and childish »
« Are you scared of creepy stories ? » His colleague teased.
« There are always murders in halloween’s season. »
In Brownsville, there were always been many crimes , a lot more during the halloween season. That’s why Collins dreaded to discover the scene. They finally arrived in front of a gloomy building. They climbed up the stairs and went inside a small and unsanitary flat. Collins immediately noticed loads of empty bottles and a never-ending stack of bills. They headed towards to Jimmy’s room, then at last it was what they had been told. Nothing showed that a little boy lived here, there were no toys. Collins discovered the lifeless body of the child. This view turned his blood to ice. He rummaged the whole flat, looking for clues. Then he went to interview the neighbourhood, they might have known something. Everyone said the same thing : it was a nice family, always smiling, but the wife died of a cancer and the father became alcoholic. He was often coming back home very late. So inspector Collins went back to the apartement and picked up the clues, including the candies. He questionned the father, Mr. Wright, who was slovenly and seemed very tired. He also reeked of alcohol.
« What happened the night of the murder Mr. Wright ? »
« Er… Jimmy just came back from his halloween hunt and he went to his bed. That’s all.. »
« Al-right… Could someone have wanted to kill him ? »
« No ! Jimmy was… kind, I think » Mr.Wright hesitated.
After a long night, Collins went to the police station to investigate.
« What are you doing guys ? »Collins asked the other policemen.
« We are trying to guess the flavor of each candy »
« Okay, keep having fun kids, I’ll work just like we are supposed to do. »
Collins received the results of the analysis. Jimmy had been poisoned with cyanide. He wondered how he could have eaten cyanide.
« Wow, this one smells like almond ! »The colleague claimed.
It suddenly clicked to Collins.
« The candies ! Guys ! Don’ eat them ! » He screamed
« What ?»
« There is poison in some candies ! »
Collins had the sweets analysed. There was indeed cyanide in them. Collins kept looking for the Wright family’s life.He discovered that they had some money matters. Mr. Wright was addicted to money games and more precisely poker. He found a threat letter from a poker adversary. He decided to go to the place where he spent money in poker
He arrived at night and the atmosphere was gloomy and a bit freeky. He talked with the players and they were all saying that Mr. Wright had moneys problems with an adversary who was not there : Pablo Rodrigez.
So Collins decided to went to his house. He was surprised to see that he lived close to Mr. Wright. He rang and a tall man, maybe with some Mexican origins who was wearing a suit opened the door.
« Good evening, Mr. Rodrigez, I have some question for you. »
« Who are you ? » Rodrigez asked.
« Inspector Collins, can you talk to me about Mr. Wright? He plays poker with you. »
« I know him very well, this tragona ! He has money to give me ! » Rodrigez cried out.
« Well… And, did you do anything to revenge ? »
« Come on ! You’re a policeman, I won’t tell you. »
« Did you kill Mr. Wright’s son ? » Collins insisted.
« What ? I’m a suspect ? »
« Of course you are ! »
« I don’t even know he had a son ! »
« I’ll call you later, thank you Mr. Rodirgez. »
Collins came back to the police station. He rummaged into the family’s papers. He learnt information about the death of the mother and found that all the inheritance went to Jimmy. They may have been very close, more than with his father. Actually it was a huge sum of money. Collins was puzzled, he couldn’t believe that a father would kill his son for money. But he wanted to be clear in his own mind. So he went to question Mr. Wright.
The inspector called him for an interview.
« So, Mr. Wright, how was your relationship with Jimmy ? »
« We were really close, I always took care of him », Mr. Wright said calmly.
« Also you were here for his birthday on the 1 st of January ? »
« Of course I was. I bought him a lot of toys, there even was a red firetruck. He was so happy! »
« Really ? It’s strange because we haven’t found any toys in his room and his birthday is on April », Collins replied sarcastically.
Mr. Wright became nervous, he started to sweat.
« Er…I knew it, it’s just that I’m stressed… And, the toys are at his friend’s house. »
« You’re stressed because of your money matters ? »The inspector stated ironically.
« I’m okay. It will be settled soon ».
« With the money of your son’s inheritance ? »Collins asked.
« What are you saying ? I love my son ! I haven’t killed him ! » Mr. Wright shouted.
« So why do you have a bottle of cyanide on you? »
« Ooh… »
« We searched you, what can you say about this ? »
« Listen…Try to understand me…It’s hard to live without money, moreover I have a son. I just needed help… »
« It’s not what I call help. Mr. Wright, you are under arrest for the murder of your own son, every thing you’ll say will be able to be used against you, follow me. I’ll recite you your rights. »
Ambre Lapaiche, Marie-Lou Bailliet et Pauline Bernier