The Secret Life of Haans Gerhardt

Untitled Part 9

Chapter 10

Police Chief Steven Douglas sat in the hunting cabin his father and grandfather had built. He had fallen asleep after dinner, which was probably the worst sleep he'd had since the news of his beloved Helen's death. He missed her terribly. He missed her bright green eyes. The way she chuckled at all his dumb jokes. The sweet, tender way she'd sung the boys to sleep at night. He especially missed the softness of her long, blonde hair running through his fingers as they lay in their bed, whispering "I love you" to each other as they fell asleep.

Steven sat in an old recliner, holding onto Helen's favorite Sunday sweater. It still smelled like her favorite perfume. He buried his nose in the collar of the sweater and wept bitterly for the loss of his love. He knew a part of him had died with her, and that the robber who had shot her would have to pay. He began to devise a plan, even as he called Julia, Scott's mother, to check on Joshua. 

"He's fine, Steve." said Julia. "Are you ok?" she asked, genuinely concerned for her friend. 

"I'm fine." lied Steven, fighting back a wave of emotion. "I just miss her so much. She was my life; my heartbeat." he said at last. 

Julia answered sympathetically, "That's exactly how I felt when Cancer stole Herb from me last year."

Steven struggled to find the right words to say. 

"So... Umm... Thanks for taking care of my boy." he finally said. "I'll be home soon." 

Julia answered, "It's no trouble at all. Josh is welcome here anytime. So are you and little Tommy." 

"I know." replied Steven. "Thanks again," he added, then hung up the phone.

After hanging up, Steven continued plotting his revenge on the man who had shot his beloved Helen. Should I shoot him? thought Steven. No. he told himself. Shooting him was too good for someone who had shot at three innocent people, injured one, and killed another.

Steven decided to settle the problem the way the Army had taught him in Ranger school. The man would never know what had hit him, and the investigators would think Winnie- The- Pooh had killed the man.