The Butler of Richards Mansion

Rain. What is it about rain that makes it so cold and gloomy in Delaware this time of year? What is it about rain that makes it go hand in hand with my luck whenever I'm called in for a murder investigation? I'll probably never know but I always ask myself that question whenever it happens. Especially when police commissioner Donald Malloy personally requests that I be put on the case.

"Bruce, you're one of our best detectives here and this case it too high a profile case to let one of the rookies handle it", he said while I was in his moderately spaced but plush office with one wall for his many decorations and citations and the other walls for his pictures with all celebrities that had come to the Wilmington area. But what he didn't say is that the Wilmington Police Department rarely has a murder in its vicinity anyway, let alone a murder that is "a high profile" one at that.

"Who's the victim?" I asked

"Susan Richards"

"You don't mean The widow of Jake Richards?" Jake Richards had been one of founding partners and Chairman of the First Union Bank of Delaware. Upon Jakes' death, Susan took over his job as chairman and CEO. She was a shrewd business woman and able to not only keep the bank afloat but make it thrive to a major business hub for the entire coastal area.

"The one and only. The maid found her in the study about two hours ago. She had been strangled late last night; roughly at 11:30 p.m. from the coroner's report."

"Has the mayor been told yet?" I had to know that because I knew that the mayor, Greg Hookhorn, and Susan Richards had been longtime friends. In fact because of her wealth and influence, the mayor won a second term in office in the election last fall.

"Yes I just got off the phone with him. And that's why you're here. He personally requested you to be put on the case."

When I started to protest Malloy stopped me short, "Bruce, please just take the case for me and don't fight me on this one. I know you aren't particularly fond of murder investigations and I understand why and I know how you feel. But I need you on this one. I need this cleared up and I need it cleared up soon. Please take the case without giving me any grief."