Written By Brad Harness
After forging her signature, using a previous signature on their confidentiality agreement which Michael Foster had insisted Lila Jenkins sign, he called an ambulance and then the police.
The police arrived first in a sonic cloud of sirens accompanied by red and blue flashing lights.
The ambulance joined the accident scene a minute later. The vehicle screeched to a halt by the curb and the paramedics jumped out and ran to the front door.
Michael Foster was standing on the porch, the police constable was inside the living room kneeling down next to the victim.
“Excuse us!” shouted the paramedics as they entered with their gear.
The constable withdrew nearby. He was already on his cell phone chatting with his sergeant, who ordered him to remain on site and ensure nobody contaminated the crime scene.
“The detectives will be there in a half hour,” said the sergeant.
“Victim is deceased,” declared the paramedics. “Better call the coroner.”
He turned to the constable and said, “We’re outta here, mate. Nothing for us to do. The undertaker will come to collect the body after.”
Michael Foster was concerned about getting too involved in her death. He did not want to attract attention to himself. He folded up the contract and tucked it in his car.
The detectives showed up presently and began taking in the details. Police photographers got to work examining for evidence.
Foster heard a detective call out, “Look…there’s blood on this broken window above the sink…”
Yet it all ended rather quietly. The autopsy confirmed accidental death by fainting and falling hard on the lamp. The blood on the window was explained by Foster who, after all, found Lila and called for help.
The forged signature on the contract stood the test of time, and money poured into Foster’s hands.
Ironically, despite billions upon billions in newfound, ill-gotten wealth, Michael Foster was not a happy man. He claimed his unease was due to repeated visitations by the ghost of Lila Jenkins. He told his wife about it several times, Lila standing there offering him the Emotion Leveller pills herself, insisting he needed them to settle down his own deep emotions. His heart gave out the first day of Spring.
~ THE END ~
