Loss and Madness
Detective Heinz
By Rakayle Hier “950 word count”
Why does loss of persons or property make one go mad? This question plagued me of late. Was it because of the note and flowers? Yes, I would have to say so. I couldn’t just sit around; I must go talk to Sam and Lester.
I rose from behind my desk that still held the fragrant flowers and went over to my closet. I pulled out my overly fashionable coat that was to my distaste. After my other coat was incinerated involving my last case I hadn’t had the time to get a new one tailored. I pulled it out bringing other clothing with it. I slipped on the coat and looked out the office door. Lane wasn’t in sight.
I walked softly on the carpet and went down the stairs. My head darted around to where the secretary's office was. The door was closed. I jumped the last few stairs and made for the door in haste.
“Heinz,” Lane’s voice spoke as my hand rested on the nob. I ignored him and went out the door. He of course followed. I looked back to see him skipping after me one arm in his jacket and the other searching for the other arm hole.
“Where are you going?” he asked when he caught up to me, his jacket now on.
“I am going to meet Sam and Lester. I want to know more about this case.”
“It’s not even a case yet.” He pointed out.
I nodded, he was right, for now.
I walked briskly across the street, taking in the crisp morning smells. Smoke hung in the air. I detected fresh bread being baked and also the musty smell from all the rain that had been falling all week. The tea shop was my destination. I took my favorite seat right outside in front of the shop. It gave me the opportunity to study people that passed by.
Lane joined me. I assumed that the young fella had not chosen to be my assistant. It wasn’t of my choosing either. The chief of police Carmouthe thought I need an assistant and he sent Lane. Not that old Carmouthe is a kind soul, he just wanted someone to keep an eye one me. He has tried before. Giving me an assistant was his new plan.
After we were served tea, Sam and Lester showed up just as I expected.
“Lane, let me introduce you to Sam and Lester.”
The two boys, hardly eleven, greeted Lane with a hello. Lane on the other hand gave me a questioning look.
“Don’t be fooled by their age.” I smiled. “Sam and Lester are the most excellent sleuths for me. They can go places that I can not.”
“But…” Lane sputtered, “if Chief Carmouthe knew about this…”
“Well, Chief Carmouthe is not going to know about this. Is he?” I gave him a dark meaningful glare. I really felt quite sorry for Lane. He had only after all been with me a short time. He might even be useful, as long as he didn’t mess with all my plans that I have worked to perfection.
Lane gulped and avoided looking into my eyes.
I turned to the boys. “What do you have for me?”
Lester the brown head with a bushel of freckles on his face began. “I saw Hank Wilson leaving the police station. I recognized him right away, since ya know we helped on his case. Anyway I decided to follow him cuz you never know what these crooks are up to. He went to a hotel and checked in. I called Samie to come and watch for him while I went to investigate at the police station.”
Lester looked to Sam the shaggy ice blond. Sam smiled widely showing a missing tooth. “So I was tired of waiting, I decided to find out what room Ol’ Hank was staying in. Number 33.”
Lane interrupted, “Are you going to write that down?”
I rubbed my mustache. “No, I shall remember.”
Sam continued, “I went up to check his room and heard a conversation he was having with someone else. I heard Hank say ‘I’m going to get that gumshoe Heinz for everything he did to me.’ I didn’t stick around cuz they were leaving. I watched the two leave. It was Hank and some other guy in black. I tried to follow them, but they split up and I lost them.” Sam hung his head.
I patted his shoulder. “That’s alright Samie you will do better next time.” I raised my eyebrows. “Lester?”
Lester nodded. “It’s what you would expect, Hank got out for good behavior.”
I nodded taking in the information and filing it accordingly.
“Why does he want revenge anyway?” Lane asked, the only one clueless.
“Ah.” I sat back and sipped my tea. “That is a story worth going through. Hank Wilson’s wife died in an automobile accident. A cabbie was responsible. It was a tragic loss for him. It was a few months later, the cabbie was found dead. It was a quickly shut case as the police like it, but the cabbie’s wife asked me to find the truth.
“After some investigation I found the that the man had been poisoned by a very hard to detect poison. It didn’t take me long to prove that Hank Wilson was the killer. He was a strange chap, he almost seemed mad. The loss of family and murder are never good for the mind.”
“So we’re dealing with a lunatic?” Lane leaned forward his eyes wide.
I couldn’t help the smile that came to my lips. “A genius lunatic, but, yes, a lunatic nonetheless.”
Miss the last story? Catch up Flowers Have Mysteries
This story went a little longer than the last one, but there was more things that needed to be explained. Hope you like the first person. Next time I might do Lane's POV. We will see. You can check out he other stories for the February challenge here and there is still time to enter if you want.
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