“An Uncertain Alibi”
~~~River Residence Grounds-Driveway-9:53 am ~~~ (The next Day)
Jayne and Miles Meadow-Brooke step out of their car with Shane and Jacob. The sight they see is rather breathtaking… Police cars are parked outside the high structured building. Nathaniel and Candice pull up their car behind Jayne and Miles; they also get out.
“What happened?” asks Candice
“I’m not sure, but I’ll see what I can find out.” Nathaniel says walking over to a large man who is writing in a leather cover notebook.
“Excuse me, sir…” Nathaniel tries to get his attention
“Phil, I told you to rope off the premise.” The man shouts to another man, “Now we’ve got the nosey neighbors here.”
“No, you don’t understand, my sister lives here.” Nathaniel says
“Lucy Rivers?” he asks
“Yes?” Nathaniel says rather uncomfortable, “What has happened?”
“Last night her husband, Sebastian Rivers was stabbed in the back of the neck with a weapon that we cannot disclose.” The man says, “I am Inspector Winfield Brown of Scotland Yard, and I am here, leading in the investigation.”
“Oh my… that’s just… shocking…” Nathaniel says in awe, “Is there anything I can do?”
“Where you here last night around 11:15…” Inspector Brown says
“My mother, father, brother, nephew, and my wife all went to The Cavendish Hotel around 10:30.” Nathaniel says
“As long as your parents, brother, nephew, and wife can clarify this, you really couldn’t help in the slightest…” Inspector Brown says
~~~River Residence–Study-continuous ~~~
Sebastian Rivers lays hunched over his desk; the silver letter opener sticking out of the torn flesh of his neck. Officers are taking pictures of the crime scene.
~~~River Residence–Drawing Room-10:00 am ~~~
Carl Lilac, Pam Lilac, and Lucy Rivers are being watched by police officers. Jayne, Miles, Jacob, Shane, Nathaniel, and Candice all enter and sit around on the armchairs sofas or the ottoman in front of the fireplace. Morning light pours through the large windows in the room. The coffee table has cups and a steaming coffee pot. Lucy holds back tears as she pokes the fire, which beings to consume the wood again. Inspector Brown enters from the adjacent archway leading to the Kitchen.
“Good morning.” He says, “I am going to ask for patience and time. I have set up a little interrogation room in the Breakfast room, where you may eat while I question to solve this case.”
“But we weren’t here at the time of the murder.” Jayne says
“Or that’s the impression given. You could have easily left the hotel…” an officer says
“Very good.” Inspector Brown nods to him, “I’d like to start with this young man.” He points to Shane Rivers
“For heaven’s sake, he’s twelve!” Lucy shouts
“Then this is the best place to start…” Inspector Brown smirks
Shane gets up and follows Inspector Brown out of the room.
~~~River Residence–Breakfast Room-10:03 am ~~~
The scent of bacon, eggs, sausage, and ham nearly knock you over. Shane sits down at the table. Inspector Brown sits across from him.
“You aren’t hungry?” asks Inspector Brown
“We ate at the hotel.” He says briefly
“Alright.” Inspector Brown says, “We’ll begin.”
Shane nods
“He was your father, correct?” asks Inspector Brown
“Yeah, I never liked him though.” Shane says
“And why is that?” asks Inspector Brown
“Alright, first, stop talking to me like I’m a kid, but yet interrogate me because my father’s dead!” Shane shouts, “I’m glad he’s dead, and when you find the killer I’ll be in their debt as to how I can thank them for ridding us of his filthy soul!”
Inspector Brown doesn’t blink.
~~~River Residence–Drawing Room-continuous ~~~
Lucy is having a melt down.
“If only he’d not play these stupid practical jokes!” she cries
“Honey, I know how you feel…” Jayne tries to comfort her
“No you don’t!” Lucy shouts, “You never did! You had everything handed to you since you were born!”
Pam tries to comfort Lucy.
“That’s just not true.” Jayne says, “I’ve been working 15 years in a social visitation center.”
“All you have to do is have tea and gossip.” Lucy says
“Is that what you think my life is?” Jayne asks, “Heavens, no! I visit people in nursing homes and in hospitals. That’s my job. I don’t get paid for it, but that’s what I do!”
“Oh, mom, write a book!” Lucy shouts, “‘the life of a busybody’.”
“Is that all you think about me?” Jayne becomes angry, “I raised you, but I never raised you to be like that.”
“My son is being questioned because of a murder!” Lucy cries bitterly, “A murder! His father is dead!”
“That man was hardly a father to him.” Jayne says half to herself, “And you are hardly a mother to him! You only see him on the holidays, you never talk to him on the phone, yet you call him your son.”
“How dare you!” Lucy takes a leap towards her mother but Pam and Nathaniel hold her back.
“Calm down, Lucy.” Pam says struggling as Lucy flings herself left and right.
“Please Lucy.” Nathaniel says, “You’re only making a fool out of yourself.”
The police officers assist Nathaniel and Pam. One puts a paper bag over her mouth.
“Breath slowly.” The officer says
~~~River Residence–Breakfast Room-10:05 am ~~~
“So you didn’t notice anything strange after you got to the hotel?” asks Inspector Brown
“I was too tired to notice.” Shane says, “I fell asleep on the hotel couch.”
“Alright, that will be all for now.” Inspector Brown says
~~~River Residence–Drawing Room-10:06 am ~~~
Shane enters and sits down next to his mom, who is slightly calmer. Inspector Brown enters.
“Lucy Rivers.” He says glaring coldly at Lucy.
~~~River Residence–Breakfast Room-10:09 am ~~~
Lucy sits down.
“You’re not eating either.” Inspector Brown says
“Would you if your husband died?” Lucy asks
Inspector Brown doesn’t answer that question for obvious reasons.
“Lucy Rivers…” he taps his pen against the table, “Last time I saw you, you were Lucy Meadow-Brooke.”
“But these are different circumstances I can assure you.” She says quickly
“Or so it appears.” Inspector Brown smirks
“Inspector, what do you want to know?” she asks
“Where were you last night?” Inspector Brown asks Lucy
“I went straight to bed.” She says, “After my parents left, I went to bed. I woke up from Pamela’s scream… she found the body…”
“Yes, I know.” He says, “Can anyone vouch for you?”
“That I was asleep?” asks Lucy, “No.”
“Interesting.” Inspector Brown says, “Your son says that you were mad at Sebastian because of a sick joke he tried to play on everyone?”
“That’s a bit of an understatement.” Lucy says, “A sick joke is a little to light for the vile thing he did.”
“Would you give your description?” asks Inspector Brown
“I was in the West Hall, and heard him say something about me, and I took my own life. I heard the shock and terror from my family. I almost took a bust from the niche to kill him right there, but I restrained myself. I made my announcement that he is a liar and that I’m alive.” She says
“So he said you killed yourself?” Inspector Brown says
“Sebastian does those sort of things, I don’t know why… maybe an attention seeker…” Lucy wonders
“And how did your family react?”
“At first devastated, and when I came forth alive their tears of sorrow suddenly dried up and they turns to a wrathful hatred towards Sebastian… I don’t blame them. He got what was coming…” Lucy shrugs
“You are a remarkable woman.” Inspector Brown says, “But you haven’t slightly changed since our last little ‘meeting’.”
“Inspector, never bring that up again, or I’ll bring up your end of the deal…” Lucy puckers up her lips
TO BE CONTINUED