Rod - The Weapon

Chapter 1: Funeral

It is raining, heavily. Many people tell that its the sky crying, mourning the loss of a precious soul, who mattered to someone or many. God, when did I become so poetic? I chuckle to myself and hesitate for a moment, and then get up and move towards the coffin of my late wife, Rachel.

I look into the audience, some were crying and some were whispering to each other. I let out a sigh and started speaking, "Rachel, was loved by me, and still will be loved by me while she soars high in the sky. She loved children, even though we couldn't have any.

Her lawyer, wrote her will for her and she stated that she'd be giving away all of her money to an orphanage back in her hometown. She really did love children I believe.
When she died, it felt like she took away a part of me with her. I really will never be able to ever forget her ever, even if I end up with dementia.

I believe that she was taken away from me too soon and that it isn't fair. All I did for the past few days, was curl up in my room and cry, but I'm past that stage now. Now, all I want to do is to just make a toast to the love of my life. A toast, to Rachel, a wonderful wife, daughter and detective. Thats all I would like to say. Thank you all for attending her funeral." I notice almost everyone in tears, damn.

I look at them one more time and then seated myself back to where I was sitting before. The people started to leave one by one, hours went by, but it all feels like a minute, my whole life with her felt like a minute. Cancer took her away too soon. What did she do to deserve that? As my thoughts were spiraling, a young man came up to me.

He asks, "Mr.Quinnell? May I have a minute of your time please?" I look at him and it feels familiar. I reply, "Yes sure, but I'm not so sure we've met before." He says," I was told that we used to live in the same area before and that my family is quite close with you and your wife. I am Henry Louise."

I think for a moment but nowhere had I heard any Louise surnames that rang a bell. "I'm sorry, I don't think I remember, my memory is kind of bad. So what would you like me to do?" I ask. He says, "My family absolutely respects your wife, they keep saying that she was a great neighbour and they were very sad that they couldn't attend her funeral because both my parents are bed ridden and old. From your speech I realize that you loved and still love your wife very much.

I would like to make an offer that might come off as a bit offensive, I want to make a podcast about the detective life of your wife." I just blink at him for a few seconds and think about it. I ask, "Please don't get me wrong but are you amazing in your field of work, I'm not asking about your popularity but if you have the skills to portray my wife perfectly via audio?"

He looks at me with those familiar sharp blue eyes and nods very fast. I look at him and say,"I'll give it a thought, give me your card or number. I'll contact you." "Thank you Mr. Quinnell!" He says handing a card with excitement and leaves the room.
"Do we need this Rach?" I tell aloud to myself.

                                ****
I feel hungry so I decide to cook myself something to eat. I look inside the fridge, nothing. So I sigh, and pick up my wallet to go grocery shopping. Before leaving I check my wallet to see how much money I had, when that card got my attention. I took it out, quite professional, not going to lie. It seems like a wonderful idea to honour her, since she wasn't recognized for all of her achievements.

I mean thats what happens with actual heroes who fight for the society who criticizes them instead. But if I'm on board with this, then the podcast should be perfect. I don't care about how many people will listen to it, all I care is that the podcast shouldn't be made to make fun of her. It should respect her. I just hope that boy does it right.

You know what, I'm going to do this for her, more than her, for me, because I seriously need it. Maybe I might heal better if I talk about Rach to someone else. He also seems like a good kid. I mean I'm 39, I don't have anything else to do. I'll call him after dinner.

I took my car keys and went on to unlock my car. This car holds a lot of memories that still make me smile. This was Rach's first car, quite small and deserving for a college student.
I met her when I was in first year of college, she was in her third. We were from the same college but met via a mutual friend.

This wasn't our only car, obviously too small, we bought two more cars together. I'm just using this for the nostalgia.
Her perfume used to turn me on so much. I swear to god, she was so hot. I was way out of her league but somehow she ended up with me. We had our first time in this car, it was insane.

Her hair, her face, her body, everything was so perfect about her. Those pretty hazelnut eyes, could pierce someone's heart. She was strong and bold and stood up for what she believed was correct.

She was my muse, role model, my everything. I don't know how to survive without her.

The bright light of the grocery store brought me back to my senses and I got out of my car and went in the store. I think I need to eat more vegetables, so I'll buy that I guess.

The cashier asks,"Cash or card?" and I reply," Cash," and hand out 20 dollars to her. She takes it and gives me my groceries in a bag. I leave the store sit in my car and drive home. I enter the house, wash my hands and start cooking some stir fried vegetables with some rice. I put on my favorite show and plate the food. I sit down and start eating away.

After finishing my meal, I decide to call Henry. He picks up the phone almost instantly. I say, "Hey Henry! I wanted to talk to you about that podcast." He replies," Yeah Mr.Quinnell, I hope you have good news for me!" I say, "Oh yeah, I thought about it and it feels like something that we should do. So tell me, what info do you need from me?"

He replies, "Mr.Quinnell, you'll be in the podcast too, so please meet me tomorrow whenever you're free. I just require you to bring some information or anything related to your wife's cases. And if there are any
cold cases or interesting ones, please share that info too. And if she had any personal diaries about these cases, don't forget those." I say, "No problem Henry, I'll check and bring something. If possible, let's meet up for lunch tomorrow at 12 in Bridge Café, if thats okay with you." He says, "No problem, let's do this!"

I cut the call and rest in my arm chair, thinking, 'what am I doing with life?'
I know exactly what case to give him. It was the last one she did, a cold case. She couldn't solve it, and it feels like the most interesting one out of all. Plus I remember it clearly, so no need to do any research.

My wife said that she wanted me to read her diary after she dies. I mean she always openly said that she never wrote about cases in there, so I wouldn't need it for the podcast, but it has been bothering me. She used a journal which I shared with her to write details of cases, it might be helpful. It was really cute, sad and concerning to see her just going on and on about me reading her diary after her death, not before, else she'd be embarrassed.

Honestly, she knew that death was coming for her, I mean even I could sense it miles away.
I'll read it after I clear my mind and finish this podcast.
After thinking for some more time, I went to bed
I have a long day ahead.

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Hey y'all, I'm new to the writers community and I'm so excited for this story. FYI I don't know if a lot of you guys like murder mystery stories but I hope you stick till the end. Please try to encourage and I'll try to post on time, I'm also a school student! Thank you, and comment how you liked this chapter too!!