Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                      Chapter 15

                                                                                  The Confession

Detective Burns eyed Bert with a slight smile on his face and said, "Did you tell Lester about the theft or what the Police Chief had said regarding the theft of the files?"  "No sir.  No one."  "Well now Bert, I have known you for only a little while, but I believe you're an honest man.  So why didn't you tell Lester about any of this?"

     "Because Police Chief Gunn told me he'd see that I lost my job if I did," Bert said angrily.  "And you believed him?"  Detective Burns said.  It was more of a statement than a question.  "Yes sir.  I sure did."  Nearly everyone was staring disgustedly at the former Police Chief.  "You have no proof that I said anything like that!" Former Police Chief Gunn shouted!

     "Oh I'm afraid I do,"  the detective said in mock remorse.  "Lester's cameras are audio as well as visual."  The former Police Chief's eyes widened and he began to sweat.  "You shouldn't have threatened Bert in that garage Chief.  I could play the audio too, but I think the good guys are ready to end this as soon as possible, so I won't."

     "So, I have only one more suspect to examine,"  Detective Burns said, turning slowly to face Dave Clinton Jr., who looked up at him with blood shot eyes and the first humble expression anyone had seen on his face that evening.  "Do you want to tell us what happened or...."  The detective was suddenly interrupted.

     "Don't say anything David!"  His father's attorney shouted.  "Yes.  Be quiet!"  David Clinton Sr. said gruffly, and not even glancing at his son.  Then Dave abruptly stood up, turned and faced his father.  "Be quiet!  You would say that.  That's what you always say!" Dave shouted! "For heaven's sake sit down David!" his father put in.

     Detective Burns motioned for the current Police Chief Lenny Finny to take his place behind David Clinton Sr. and his attorney; which the Chief did immediately.  Fat tears were streaming down Dave's face now as he spoke, "When I was a kid...." Dave began, "I broke a window in a neighbor's house.  I wanted to pay for it with my allowance."

     "It was, "Be quiet son I'll take care of it," back then too, wasn't it Dad?"  Dave asked him forcefully. But his father still refused to look at him.   "And if I didn't make the first string in football, you told me not to worry, you'd take care of it.  Well I didn't want you to Dad!  I was okay with it that I didn't make first string."

     "But you said that no son of yours was going to settle for second string.  And then there was Harvard!"  And now Dave laughed hysterically, causing almost everyone in the room to wonder if he'd lost his grip on reality.  "Well, that's over now too.  I got kicked out because I took drugs Dad!  I took drugs and got caught!"

     "And do you know why I took drugs Dad?  Because I didn't want to feel anything anymore.  It hurt to feel something."  Dave was weeping while he spoke now.  "All my life you've been taking care of business in your career, my life, even Mom's life.  She couldn't turn around without your permission.  She was always afraid of you, a nervous wreck."

     "That's probably why she died of a heart attack at age fifty!" Dave screamed at his father, who finally found his voice, at least for a short time, "You shut up!" David Sr. yelled at him.  But Dave wouldn't be silenced anymore.  "Even this town does exactly what you say.  Just give 'em a few bucks and they're yours, huh Dad?"