Cold Case Revisited

The sun filtered through the store windows casting its warm light on the smooth counter worn from years of books passing across it, a clutter of receipts stacked to one side and some random curios on the other. Worn out coffee mugs were stacked in the middle behind which sat the owner nursing another one full of fresh coffee, the invigorating scent filling the small store. Birds chirped outside the window and the shop was empty save for the weary old man running it, still too early for any customers to come. He got up to rearrange some of the clutter that had begun to pile up again. Somehow the store was always in need of cleaning.

The knock came exactly as he’d been hoping for, and it was about damn time.

Slowly making his way over to the entryway and clearing some of the books, both old and newly arrived, out of the way he reached the door. After a moment of hesitation he opened it to see two policemen looming over him.

“Are you Robert Wesson the owner of this bookstore?” the lankier of the two said to him carefully.

“Yes sir, that's me,” Robert replied. “Are you here for the request I submitted regarding a missing book some weeks ago?”

The shorter man sighed, clearly this was not the gallant daring work he had signed up for when choosing to join law enforcement. Although why he expected it to be any different in their small quiet town was beyond Robert.

“I’m Greggs and this is my partner Simon,” the tall man responded. “Yes, we have decided to look into your request.”

Robert let out a sigh of relief and stepped aside to give them room to enter the cramped store. Greggs had to duck into the doorway and Simon followed behind gazing around the space aimlessly. He led the way over to the backroom that had a large array of sagging shelves heavy with all manner of books. Simon whistled as he looked around at the vast collection.

“You’ve read all these Robert?”

“No sir, just some,” Robert replied politely, even though it was the kind of question that only someone who doesn’t read would ask. “Hopefully I live long enough to get through half.”

Greggs walked in between the shelves examining them carefully. “You seem to have a good system of dividing by genres and then sorting by authors,” he said, leaning down to look closely. “Are you sure this book is actually missing, maybe you just misplaced it?”

Robert let out an exasperated sigh. “Sir I may be old but I promise you this is one area where I have things in order, I have gone over them multiple times and I assure you it’s missing.”

Greggs looked over at Simon who just rolled his eyes and began to look through the shelves as well. “That may be the case but me and my partner will double check as well just in case as well as the rest of this place to be sure, what was the name of this book?”

“There’s no point, I’ve already– actually go ahead just make sure to not damage any of the merchandise,” Robert relented. “The book was titled An Ode to Murder.” He showed the pair the 2 other rooms he had for living in and then returned to the counter waiting for the officers to finish with their search.

A few customers came by to pick up orders but besides that it was a slow day, and it felt even slower as he listened to the constant rummaging and muttering going on behind him as Greggs and Simon continued their search. Finally after a few hours they came back out exhausted and defeated but also clearly convinced.

“Alright Robert we’ve done our checking and we believe you with regards to this book gone missing,” Greggs said sitting down on a nearby stool to rest. “We do still have a few more questions, if that’s ok with you.”

Robert looked over at Simon leaning against the wall aloof and bored. “Ask away officers, I’m an open book,” he said with a chuckle. Neither of the officers reacted to the pun, tough crowd.

“Do you have any idea when this could’ve happened and could you describe how secure this shop is, if anyone could get past you?” Greggs asked, pulling out his notepad.

“Well I’m certain it happened 2 weeks ago, as I do a check of inventory every 2-3 days for my own sanity,” Robert started. “The odds of someone getting past me are low, there’s only one entrance to the store.”

He scratched his chin trying to remember. “I guess if I’m gone for lunch or to the washroom there is a short window but I’ve never had to worry about this in the last 20 years that I’ve been running this store.”

Greggs scribbled away furiously at his notepad trying to make sure to get every detail, this may have been the most interesting case in this town since the Mendez cold case over a decade ago.

“Who is that next to you?” Simon asked out of nowhere, pointing to an old picture of Robert and a friend.

“Ah that’s my old friend Damien, we both loved books and dabbled with writing but he really went for it and left long ago to pursue his dream of the PERFECT story,” Robert replied smiling warmly. “I decided to stay involved with the world of books in my own way.”

“Let’s stay on topic here,” Greggs interjected. “Now there could be some windows of time where our thief may have been able to access the shop, do you recall anyone suspicious in those days hanging around?”

“No one really stood out like that,” Robert’s brows furrowed in concentration. “Actually wait, I did see that Diaz boy hanging around a few times and we know how he can be.”

Both officers nodded, sighing. “Of course, this does seem like the kind of petty nonsense Jason would get wrapped up in,” Greggs said, shaking his head.

“The boy hasn’t been the same since Chloe Mendez,” Simon added. “They were a thing in college when that tragedy happened and after that he’s just been a mess, boy can’t figure a proper life out.”

Robert nodded, growing somber. “I remember clearly, they both used to come occasionally to get books for their classes.”

“And I made sure to not charge kids too much, especially struggling ones, still can’t believe someone would do something so horrific.”

Greggs and Simon started to get up to leave. “We’ll go poke around Jason Diaz, there’s already been enough petty crimes of his that this shouldn’t take too long to justify searching his place over.”

Robert walked with them out the door to the beat up old cruiser standing outside. “If you need any more information then let me know, it’s a bit unnerving to have someone steal from me despite it being a small crime and just a book.”

“That’s alright sir we’ll take it from here,” Simon responded after getting into the cruiser. “Once we do have some progress we’ll give you a call.”

Robert waited and watched the cruiser pull away before walking back inside the store. Such a long day warranted closing early and getting some rest. The fact that the cops were finally looking into this was progress, he just had to wait now for them to work their ways.

***

The wait didn’t take long, it was only a week later that the call came from the police station asking Robert to come in for some questioning and that they’d made a breakthrough in the case. He arrived as early as he could, taking care to gather his thoughts and any other information he could think of that may help. Simon was waiting for him near the entrance and waved him over.

“Sir we did find that book of yours–” he started.

“That’s great!” Robert replied beaming. “Thank you so much officer, and it was fast too it seems.”

“–but after reviewing it this has forced us to reopen the Mendez case,” Simon finished, leading him through the station past the flurry of officers and receptionists working away.

“Mendez case?” Robert frowned. “What could this possibly have to do with that, the cops gave up on that a decade ago?”

Simon brought him to a room where Greggs was waiting with the missing book on the table in front of him. An Ode to Murder by Jasper Roffe sat there with a slightly fraying cover and worn pages.

“Robert, have you gone through this book before?” Greggs asked carefully. “Do you remember where you got it?”

“No I don’t think so, it’s one of the many I haven’t read yet,” Robert explained, taking a seat across from Greggs. “As for where, I don’t recall as I get many random books in bundles or sometimes in my donation box and it’s definitely an old one from long ago.”

Greggs shared a look with Simon before deciding to get to the point. “Robert this book is a collection of short stories, all murder mysteries but the problem is that one of them is a bit too specific.”

“It describes the Mendez case to a high degree of accuracy,” Simon added. “To the point where we were able to compare with case notes about it and they were extremely similar.”

Robert sat there dumbfounded. “So are you saying someone killed that poor girl and decided to write about it? What kind of sick person would do that?”

Simon closed the door to the room and sat down with Greggs leaning in conspiratorially. “It’s still being worked out but we think Jason Diaz is the killer, we found the weapon in his place when we went searching along with the book.”

“Of course he played dumb and threw a tantrum but it makes sense,” Greggs shook his head. “He murdered her in such a grotesque way and was never the same again, he was a literature student specializing in stories and his entire room was full of murder mysteries.”

Simon leaned in. “He’s Jasper Roffe, that’s his pen name, the weapon is damning for sure it’s been 10 years but the blood residue was a match with Chloe’s and he’s definitely our guy.”

Robert sat in silence unable to find words. “So it’s done then, he’s in jail?”

“Yeah, officially he’s been found guilty but this hasn’t been circulated to the public yet,” Greggs replied. “We have to wait before releasing this, the townsfolk deserve to know that the unsolved murder haunting them from the past has finally been dealt with.”

Robert reached for a nearby glass of water and took big gulps. “How could he do this, is it possible for me to talk to him privately?”

“I don’t think that would be regularly allowed but considering it’s due to you that we’ve managed to solve this case,” Greggs said. “We can make an exception.”

The trip from the station to the prison was a silent one and when they finally pulled up to the prison Robert got out nervously and made his way inside following the officers. The whole place reeked of depravity and decay.

“Here he is, go on, we'll wait outside,” Greggs said holding the door open.

Robert looked at him before steeling himself and walking inside to see the huddled decrepit figure sitting on the floor with his head held low.

“Jason?” Robert asked cautiously.

The man looked up at him and there was a moment of recognition but it passed just as swiftly.

“I didn’t do it,” he muttered. “Why would I kill the girl I loved?”

“It could’ve been any number of things that drove you to it,” Robert whispered. “Especially when young and emotions being at a high who knows, plus there was the murder weapon.”

“I DON’T KNOW HOW THAT GOT THERE,” Jason yelled at him. Greggs and Simon looked at Robert through the small window in the door separating them wondering if he needs some help but Robert shook his head to reassure them.

He walked closer to the bars of the cell. “Creative types do tend to do some wacky stuff, stories about musicians are plenty so it’s not surprising about an author,” Robert said quietly. “Years ago I heard stories about a writer who loved mystery stories and wanted to truly feel how his characters felt and decided to commit a crime to write a PERFECT story.”

Jason didn’t respond to that for a few minutes. “Ok but that’s not me,” he finally said. “I’ve been a mess ever since that, I don’t even write anymore I promise it wasn’t me someone is framing me!”

“I wish I could believe you son,” Robert said, sighing before walking back outside. “I’m done here officers, I'll find my way home and if anything more is needed you know where to find me.”

Simon and Greggs nodded before stepping aside and letting him pass. They wouldn’t need his help anymore anyway, the case was sealed. As for the book they’d probably keep it for evidence but so be it.

A man was standing near the entrance of the bookstore looking terribly out of place in his fine clothes. Robert approached him wary of any sudden movements but there was something familiar about him. As he got closer the man noticed him and looked at him with a wide smile, stepping over to him.

“Too withered by age to give an old friend a coffee?” Damien said to him with a wink. “The years haven’t been kind to you it seems.”

Robert smiled back, opening the door to the store and letting his friend walk in first. “Didn’t expect you to visit ever really,” Robert said, pouring a cup and offering it as they both sat down on the small scratched table meant for guests that he hadn’t used in many years. “How goes the writing career?”

Damien looked around at all the books with glee, the same as he had when they were boys. “I love what you’ve made here,” he said, taking a sip. “As for the writing I’ve finally managed to get a decent amount published and have some say in the field.”

He pulled out his business card and offered it to Robert who looked at it with a smile and pocketed it. “Very nice, I’m glad you came to visit.”

“A visit isn’t all this is Robert,” Damien continued. “I’m here to also offer you the chance to write, I know you chose a different path but I wanted to give you an opportunity to fulfill that dream regardless.”

Robert fiddled with a pen as he considered the offer. “I haven’t really written anything in around a decade but I do have a new compelling story I’m itching to get on paper..”

“Another mystery I bet,” Damien chuckled. “You really could never let those go, what’s this one going to be about?”

Robert put the cup down and leaned in to whisper. “This one is about a murderer who makes a fool of the police and gets an innocent man incriminated for his crime.”

Damien clapped his hands together. “Yes, that's perfect! And I’m sure with the editing staff and all the resources we have we can really make it into the PERFECT story, I’ve gotten a few perfect stories so far I feel thanks to all their help.”

“Well I think I got close to a perfect story a decade ago,” Robert said. “But the need to make another has been gnawing away at me again lately.”

Damien got up to pace around quickly going over all the details that he considered important regarding publishing costs, agents, editing, art design, etc. After convincing himself he stopped and asked him one last question.

“You gonna use your real name or the pen name you liked when we were kids?” he asked. “What was it, I swear I remember it but it’s eluding me right now!”

“I think I’ll use my real name for this one,” Robert replied. “And to answer your other question, it was Jasper Roffe… But I think that part of my career is over.”