By: Jenny B.
"Lady Harrison,” Inspector Kingsley coughed. “I’m sure you’ve heard, but a rare leopard has been recently kidnapped. Does that ring any bells, ma’am?”
“Heavens above!” The Lady exclaimed, shifting in her spotted fur coat. “What on Earth are you suggesting, young man? I wish to speak to my lawyers immediately,” she demanded sternly like a mother scolding a young son.
“Calm down now. I wasn’t meaning to imply nothin’,” Kingsley comforted the distressed widow.
Lady Harrison nodded stiffly, suspiciously eyeing the inspector nonetheless.
Harry Kingsley took mental note of the plump elderly woman’s distrusting posture. “You are a fairly popular woman, indeed?”
“I like to think so, yes.”
Kingsley paused to take a sip of his black coffee. “Now, ma’am, I ain’t got time to beat around the bush, so tell me- wheredja get that lovely fur coat of your wearin’?”
Lady Harrison shifted in the plastic chair. “It’s a family heirloom, my dear.” She replied indignantly.
“Of course,” Kingsley smiled. “You wear it with such pride. It quite suits you.”
The widow relaxed slightly. “Yes, it does, doesn’t it? It’s one of a kind, you see, so I do like to show it off.”
“Oh? One of a kind, you say?” Kingsley leaned forward, checking the tape to make sure it was still recording.
She narrowed her eyes. “You think I'm stupid, don’t you?”
“No, no. Not at all.” He hastily tried to repair the interview that was falling apart before his eyes.
She rose, towering over him. “You want me to say this is made from a real leopard? Well, I hate to say it, but it’s fake.” She tore off the coat and threw it down on the desk.“You can check it. My stupid late husband bought it. Bloody deserved it.”
“Deserved what exactly?”
She sagged, tears trailing down her cheeks and a slump in her shoulders. “I hired a hitman to take him out. He’d been having an affair, you see. He wanted to divorce me. I could never let that happen, you know?”
He nodded. “It wouldn’t be socially acceptable, would it?”
“So, you get it? You understand that I had good reason.”
He shook his head, rose from his chair, towering over her now. “I’m going to arrest you now, Lady Harrison, you understand that, don’t you?”
She sighed. “I understand.”
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