Chapter 7

"Chief? I thought you wanted to take some time off?" Susan, the receptionist from the police station, asked Edward. "Yeah. Couldn't relax though,so I'm back." She nodded and laid some files on his desk. "Just minor cases. Three of them are already solved, they just need your lovely stamp!" She always was the one who would bring a good mood to the station. Her hair was tied in the usual bun and her blue eyes seemed to glow in the light. "Okay, thanks for bringing them. Could you maybe make me a coffee? I'm awaiting a call." Edward asked while laying the files away. "Sure, I was about to make one for myself anyways." Susan smiled at him and then left the office. Edward liked Susan— a lot of people liked her.

The phone rang and Edward picked it up. "Mayor Sascha. I've been waiting for your call." "Good morning, Chief. I apologize for the delay, I was busy keeping the city calm, y'know?" The mayor laughed and Edward did as well. "No no, don't worry about it. Been busy as well." Susan quietly came in and put the cup of warm coffee on Edward's office desk and he nodded at her in a thanking way. "So, how's the current situation? Anything new?" Sascha asked curious. He had been out of town, due to 'business'. "No. Not really. No new victims." "That's good, ain't it?" "I suppose." Susan came in again. "Edward, there's an important call for you on the other line." "Mayor, I need to hang up, important work ahead." The mayor wished him good luck and hung up and Edward picked the other call up. "Hello, Chief Edward here." "Edward. Something... Horrible has happened.." The voice of Charles was shaking and he was stuttering. Edward was thinking of the worst scenario. "..Don't tell me..—" "—..Jenny.. she..." The silence was uncomfortable. "She killed herself."

Edward never had gotten so fast in his car. Susan had come with him, as well as some officers. Charles and Dave were sitting outside in the ambulance. Dave had fainted when he saw Jenny and hit his head on her desk. Edward ran with Susan towards the two. "Where is she?" Was the first thing he asked. A officer approached him. "Still in the room upstairs." He nodded and made his way to her room. Seeing the lifeless body, made him realise why Dave had fainted. Jenny had shot herself through the brain. Blood was splattered around the room: On her bed, on her desk, on the walls and pictures. Parts of her brain had also come out. There was a little paper laying in her right hand. One of the forensic investigation workers picked the letter with gloves up and showed it to Edward.

"I'm sorry"

The sound of a car engine made Edward snap out of his thoughts. It either was family from Jenny or maybe another police car. He didn't bother thinking much about it and continued to look around the room. The gun was still in the room as well, he was about to bend down, when someone crossed his arms behind his back together. "Edward Moore." A deep male voice said. Edward turned his head around and recognised the man; it was Steve Harrison from the nearby police department. "You're under arrest for murdering Jenny Ellen." Edward looked confused while the officer started to handcuff him. The shoes of Susan could be heard on the stairs. She stormed inside. "Chief Moore is innocent! He wasn't even here when it happened?!" A female officer tried to keep her out of the room and Chief Harrison looked at Susan. "His weapon is laying here and he was the last one to see her alive. Now excuse us." Steve walked with Edward out of the door and Susan just looked after them. She knew he didn't murder Jenny. Till now, there was nothing she could do besides waiting. The engine started again and the car started to drive away.

"Mr. Moore. How was your gun at the crime scene, if you didn't commit the crime?" Steve asked again. Edward stuck with his answer, again. "As I have already repeated many times, I do not know how my gun ended up there." Harrison slammed his fist on the table. "I know you're lying! Just say it already!" He crossed his arms and sighed. "My answer will not change." A knock on a door echoed through the nearly empty room. "Steve, Edward is innocent. It was suicide." An officer with brown curly hair stood with Susan at the door. Steve sighed yet again and started to unlock the handcuffs. Edward rubbed his wrists and walked over to Susan, who helped him put on his jacket. "Get your clues right before arresting someone." Susan said to Harrison before leaving with Edward. She got into Edward's red truck and directly offered him a coffee. "Are you alright?" "Yeah, besides getting accused of murder." He said while taking the cup of coffee.

The two drove to the old wood house and Edward began to prepare dinner. "I think I know how my gun ended up there." "You know it? Then why didn't you say anything??" Susan started pouring water in a cooking pot. "Don't worry. I told another officer." He started to place plates and cutlery on the table. "So? Are you gonna tell me?" "When dinner is ready." He winked at Susan. They finished cooking their food; mashed potatoes with fish. The TV was heard in the background, just a cartoon show. "Now please tell me." "When I told Jenny to pack her bags, she must have gotten the gun out of my drawer." "You mean... She had planned her suicide?" Edward nodded. "I couldn't lock the gun away, the drawers didn't have locks." They stayed more quiet after that, until Susan had to leave. "The dinner was great. Thanks!" "You're welcome. Would you like to come tomorrow again?" Susan nodded. "Yes. 4 p.m?" "Sure. Let me drive you home, because you don't have your car here." Edward chuckled and Susan did too. "That would be awesome."