Erm... sorry... Imma post this version that doesn't have the symbols now.
The Blackout Murder
Part 2: In which Detective Spencer suspects foul play
A group of Policemen and their cars were outside on the Chandlers' lawn.
"Cause of death?" The gruff voice came from Captain Stephen Randall, captain of the local homicide unit.
He was a tall, tough-looking guy with broad shoulders, with light hair and a rugged face. He had green eyes and an emotionless mouth. His years of homicide work had hardened him. He had on a gray suit over a white button-up shirt, complete with slacks. He had a nice attitude, with a good sense of humor, but he was no-nonsense when it came to his work.
"Uh... Piercing wound to the heart by a knife," Stephen's lieutenant, Stanley Fairbanks replied. "We think that while he was taking a knife to the dinner table, the power went out, he slipped, fell, and landed on the knife."
Stanley was scrawny and meek-looking, especially compared to his commanding officer. Kind of short, pretty skinny, and he had a thin face. He didn't have too many distinguishing features, except His ears were larger than those of the average person. He was much more laid-back than Stephen, and didn't always stick to the subject, but he got his work done.
"Oh, yeah? How do you know the wife didn't kill him?"
"It's not possible. She was at the shopping mall when he was killed. He was just getting home from work, and she had already eaten. Besides that, there isn't a motive."
"And there's no evidence of an intruder or a struggle?"
"Nope. No fingerprints, no broken glass, no footprints... It all just seems to be a massive fluke."
"It's too bad,"Said the captain, accompanied by a heavy sigh, " was hoping for something interesting. Nothing ever happens in this rinky-dink little town."
Just then, Gerard arrived on the scene. He approached his colleagues, Stanley and Stephen. He had worked with The two whenever they were having trouble with one of their cases, but he decided to pop in and check out the case since it was just across the street.
"So, old Mason's dead, huh?" He looked up at the door to the house. "It's too bad. I heard he just surprised Ellie with a pool." He chuckled to himself, "He told me just the other day that she said no, but old Mason insisted."
"That is too bad," said Stephen.
"Maybe I should get a pool," said Stanley. The lieutenant's rambling mind was his fatal flaw.
"Hey, one of my friends is dead. Let's be a little more respectful."
"Sorry, Ger," was Stanley's reply. He knew Gerard hated that nickname, but didn't seem to care.
Gerard continued, "Let's move on. What time did he die, Steve?"
"We think sometime between 7:30 and 8:00. He had a meeting and didn't get home until around 7:15 and probably began to make dinner about 15-45 minutes later. The power went out three times between 7:30 and 8:00."
Gerard had already asked Ellie what happened, and didn't bother asking how he died again. "Mind if I check out the body before your guys take it away, Steve?"
"Not a problem, he�s right in the kitchen."
***
"So, the knife pierced right through his heart? That seems unlikely, to say the least."
"Well, it's the only logical explanation, since he was the only person here." Stanley wasn"t too sure of it either, but it was all he had to work with.
"So, how did he fall? The power was only out for about 3 seconds."
"Take a look near the floor. There is a puddle of water right by his feet. Do you see it? He probably didn't notice it when the lights went out and slipped in it. He dropped the knife and landed on it."
"Oh, yeah- wait a second, it's perfectly rounded at the edges. No slide marks or anything. And his shoes aren't even wet. Besides, if the lights were out for about 3 seconds at a time, I think he would have noticed it before."
"Oh, say, we didn't notice that." Said Stephen, slightly dumbfounded, "But it doesn't change anything. There wasn't anybody home but Mason. We even have Ellie's Credit card records to prove she didn't murder anybody- She bought $117 worth of clothes at Penny's at 7:21, a $40 microwave from Sear's at 7:37 and a $55 pair of shoes from PayLess at 7:57. It's just not possible, and the lack of motive makes it even less possible." Captain Randall had this all jotted down in his notepad.
Gerard shook his head in contemplation before responding.
"Well, maybe that is the case. Maybe this is just a horrible accident, but I'm having some slight doubts. whatever it is, this doesn't feel right... Go ahead and take the body away, I'll stay alert until I can find out exactly what happened." He stared through the window, unmoving. "Nothing like this has happened in this town since Tony Stain went missing."
Everyone stood silent for a moment, before Stephen spoke up.
"Alright, we'd better carry this body away before it rots up the place. Go home, Gerard, get some rest. You need it."
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Sorry, again... I added a few minor changes to the wording, but, hopefully, I fixed the screwed up symbols.
