– I do, – the neighbor of the victim replied strictly, though the detective ignored it.
– As I was asking, Alex, in what relationship you were with the victim?
The detective was in his mid-twenties, so probably it was his first case. Of course he will make the best of it to prove everyone (himself first of all) that he is not simply good in his job, but the best – Alex knew this type of people very well as they were 60% of attendants of his martial arts section.
– What do you mean “relationship”? – Alex asked challenging. Does this kid think that the two used to walk down the park holding hands?
– Obviously not what you have assumed, – the detective disgustingly smiled and caressed his tiny moustaches. – But you lived… 10 years next to each other, correct? Hard to imagine that you didn’t develop any kind of neighbor connection for this time.
Physically this guy was a complete opposite of Alex: he was slim, therefore looked drowning in his over-sized jacket and shirt, and also two heads shorter than the suspect. In addition to his moustaches he also had elegant brown stacked hair. Alex on the contrary wore old leather coat and black jeans, presumably of the same age. He was bald, quite tall and due to endomorphic body type seemed rather fat then muscular – the mistake always made by those who dared to insult him or what he held precious.
– Yes, until recently we were friends.
– Then I assume that victim could let you in his apartment, – said the detective.
– Not that I would go there, – replied Alex, quite well understanding were this is going. He knew that his reputation in this house was awful and due to testimonies of other residents he will most likely become the main suspect.
– You mean after your wife’s death? People say it had strong impact on you: you lost your job, started drinking…
“’Course they do” – thought Alex angrily. Now, when other neighbors figured out, that he does not need their hypocritical pity, they’ve decided to make him a scape-goat for their obligatory civilian duty.
– They also say, that you blamed the victim for it, – detective finally shut up.
– They lie, - replied Alex shortly. – Cancer killed my wife, not Daniel. He didn’t take my job from me nor that he made me a drunk. I simply had nothing to say to him, and so I cut all ties with Daniel.
– But wasn’t it the victim who refused to treat your wife, saying that it is too late and she will die anyway. Granted, now you see the reason, or at least assure me at that, but with clouded by emotions mind… – the detective made theatrical multivalued pause, and then continued: – You have to kids, don’t you? Peter, 11 years old and George, 7 years old. The court will consider it, as well as the sincere confession. As for your drinking problem and absence of work… well, unexpected events happen: pen runs out of the ink in the middle of questioning, papers get lost, witnesses disappear or forget something… Also I have few experts who owe me, so they would gladly report that you were in the state of affection while killing, – the detective yet again started to caress his moustaches. – All in all you’ll get suspended sentence for just a few years. Spend them on quitting drinking and finding a new job and you can start all over again, – last words he said very slowly and clearly: – Just give me the confession.
Alex felt as nails crushed into the skin on his palm, as he squeezed his hands into fists. Right now most of all he wanted was to beat the hell out of this kid. But something far distant was telling him that it was just what this detective was expecting him to do, as it would give him a reason to arrest the suspect. Alex recalled as his master once told him that a real warrior differs from a simple brute by choosing when it is better to combat one’s enemies and when to withdraw to live and fight another day. Moreover warrior chooses his battlefields and never misses chance to exploit his enemies weaknesses. And that’s what Alex was going to do.
– So for over a month I lived with a “clouded mind”, instead of killing Daniel the same day my wife died? And made sure that everyone will suspect me first of all? And while being in the state of affection I didn’t beat him to death – something you would expect from a person like me – stabbed him with tiny scissors, after what cleaned them of my fingerprints – how would your imaginary “experts-who-owe-you” explain that? Oh, and since you forgot to ask: yes, I do have an alibi. It was forty days since her death, so I spent whole day on the cemetery with my boys. Workers from the ritual services bureau saw us, we were choosing a gravestone for her instead of cross. They probably remember me. Also we met some of her colleagues near her grave.
The detective’s face turned the same colour as the fresh tomato. While tapping on the desk with his left hand, he was quickly writing something in the notebook. Ironically in the middle of this process his pen became fresh out of ink. The guy crushed it by squeezing in his hand. After that he took out of his jacket another pen and continued writing. After finishing, he said to Alex with surprisingly calm voice:
– Thank you for your time. That will be all, you can go now.
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