“Hello, Mr. Anderson speaking”
“This is the police station”
“Is there—”
“A person named Mr. Williams was confirmed dead and you are the last person he contacted. You are needed at the station to make your statement.”
That was how his day took a huge turn for something else.
Panicking and filled with anxiety, he immediately hailed the first cab that came to sight.
Thinking of the conversation that he just had with an unknown number, his hand got sweaty. He hoped that the unknown person was lying, He couldn’t lose his best friend. They had suffered enough and had just started enjoying life.
What could have possibly gone wrong?
Arriving at the station, he walked towards the first officer he saw.
“Mr. Anderson?”
“Yes, I—”
“Come with me.”
He frowned. It was kind of rude having his words being cut short, twice in a row.
“Please seat.” Another officer with clean shaved face said with a hand gesture towards the seat opposite him.
“I got a call from the station and was asked to come to the station, about something that happened to my best friend.” He said rapidly without pausing to avoid them cutting his words again.
His voice betrayed the panic and anxiety he felt.
“Yes. Mr. Williams here, committed suicide at 9: 45 am and you were the last person he called.”
“Sui…. what?” He stammered, finding the situation unbelievable.
“Yes, suicide.”
“It’s not possible. You are definitely playing pranks on me.” He said, his voice going a notch higher.
The police officer looked at him then turned to look at his colleague before he continued talking.
“Unfortunately, that is according to the result we found, he indeed, did commit suicide.”
“Ha… I don’t believe you. Then how did he commit suicide?”
“You are not here to question us but the other way round.” The second officer cut in with a frown on his face.
“Why did you call so early that morning and what did you say to him?” The first officer asked.
“You think I killed him? Why would I want to kill my best friend?”
“I don’t know ..tell us.” The first officer said.
Anderson took a deep breath to calm his breathing and his erratic heart that wouldn’t stop pounding against his ribcage.
“He called me but I was in the bathroom and I called him back around 7:45 am and we spoke till around 8:40 am.”
“What did you two talk about?” The first officer asked.
“I need to respect the dead’s privacy.”
“I don’t think you would need to when you go to jail.” The second officer said sarcastically.
Anderson turned to look at the first officer, not understanding where the jabs or hatred the second officer had for him was coming from.
“Officer…. Jerry, with all due respect, I shouldn’t even be here but this concerns my best friend. Before you convict, at least do a proper investigation.” He wanted to continue talking but paused. He didn’t want it to seem like he wasn’t sad.
“You—” The first officer cut Jerry short. He didn’t want him to start quibbling with a citizen. Besides, the man was just a suspect and the case is a suicide case anyway.
“Don’t take it to heart, Mr. Anderson, it’s just that, his brother was killed by his best friend, so he is a little edgy.”
“Then he should set his emotions aside when working.”
“Do tell us, what exactly did you two talk about?” The first officer said calmly.
Suddenly, a woman rushed into the office and straight at Anderson.
“You murderer! How could you? He is your best friend!” The woman shrill voice sounded.
“Ma’am, take it easy.” One of the officers’ present in the room held her back from latching on Anderson.
“Ma’am, it has yet to be confirmed and he died by suicide, apparently.” The first officer said.
“It’s impossible, my husband cannot commit suicide. ” She said, her voice held confidence.
“You should calm her down not rile her up.” A cop muttered.
“I didn’t kill him.” Anderson said.
“Don’t say anything, it’ll rile her up more.” The first officer nudge Anderson. “Take her out and try to calm her down.”
Anderson watched as his best friend’s wife was led away before turning back to the officers whose eyes were clearly boring holes into his body.
“So, tell me.”
Anderson sighed, “Well, we went to a bar one night and were so drunk and wasted. We had companies and they encouraged him to have a one-night stand despite my dissuasion.
I’m not married but he is and I thought it immoral of him but since it was a one-time thing and his wife wouldn’t find out, I stopped dissuading him and allowed him do his thing.
I’m not a fan of women—”
“You are digressing.” Officer Jerry cut in with a frown.
“Just allow me finish.”
“Fine. Continue.”
“So, fast forward to later, he got laid by a rich lady who was having a hard time finding a husband and wanted him as one. But he is already married. She even came up with something about being pregnant. I didn’t know much about the story till this morning when he called to tell me that he was being threatened and his business was having problems. I told him I would come over this evening to see him to explain more as he was just jittery.”
“The woman’s name?” The first officer asked.
He gave his statement, and was allowed to go.
******
Few days later, he was told that the case has been confirmed as suicide. The woman had threatened him with his family and he decided that suicide was a way of escape.
Dressed in funeral clothes, he stared at his friend’s face in the coffin.
“What a shame. Out of all the decisions you could have made today, you chose to die.” He muttered under his breath, his voice ladened with regret and sadness.
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