Short Story by Raconteuse

  “Hi! I am Nancy. This is my dog Axl. We live in the building just next to your house. We heard some commotion around your house yesterday. We enquired and got to know that somebody died. I am so sorry for your loss.” The man continued to pet me and said, “Yes. It was my father who passed away. My sister and I are all that is left now. I decided to take a walk around because I cannot be in the house without him. But how do you know that was my house?” Nancy plainly replied, "I saw you walk out of that house. I have been sitting in the park for quite sometime now." He had tears but I could sense by petting me his pain was being assuaged and so I did not relent. I sat down with my head on his lap. Nancy said, “I am truly and deeply sorry for your loss.” He looked up to her and saw genuineness in her eyes. The quaint garden which was usually lit by the cachinnation of children, now looked sullen to me. The background is morose and this man is just crestfallen. He said, “I am Ru...

  “The victim’s daughter has been pushing for the investigation to be opened. She says that we might have abandoned the case too soon. The media seems to be in complete agreement with her.” “Why do u think that is? The case is ten years old. We could not find even a single lead then. What makes them believe that things would be different now?” “She claims to have discovered a pattern on her own. She says that the perpetrator has been killing every two years since her mother was killed. She claims the pattern is same but the investigating officers have failed to draw analogies.” “Do you think there is any merit in her claims?’ “I cannot say for sure. But after having spoken to her personally for about an hour, I have realized that the cases she claims to have been by the same perpetrator, are some of our cold cases. I believe there is certainly no harm in unearthing some untouched dimensions. If her claims are true at all, we might have a breakthrough in many cases. It might help pr...

“Detective, you should come to the station immediately! We have had a shooting at the train station. The shooter is in custody”, says the voice on the phone. Detective Hanson was used to such calls early in the morning and non-dalliance of pleasantries did not affect him at all.  “I am on my way”, he replies in a humdrum tone.   Over his career spanning 30 years, Detective Hanson had developed some tricks of the trade. The biggest advantage of starting as a patrol officer was that Hanson knew the first responding officers were bound to report the facts as they were, without any dexterity, whatsoever. Consequently, he never read too much into these calls.   Detective Hanson picks up his badge and service weapon, and heads out the door. Just as he was locking the door, his partner, Detective Cook, pulls up the car near the curb. Hanson smiles at his partner and sits on the passenger seat.   Detective Hanson and Detective Cook have been partners for 2 years now. Detecti...