| Ryan was reading the newspaper clipping for the third time while Max slept. The latter was breathing unevenly. There were several bottles of pills on the bedside table. There were various get-well cards displayed on the dresser. The bedroom had been a sick room for several months now.
The newspaper article was dated 27 October 1995.
Salinger’s death had made the front page. The story continued on the later pages but dealt mainly with Salinger’s business interests and listed a number of recent takeovers that had added to his already sizeable empire.
The other major news that day was the surprise break-up of a famous movie star’s marriage after three weeks. The article wasn’t clear on whether the surprise was the break-up or the fact that the marriage had in fact lasted three weeks.
The weather in Saxsville had been a beautiful 29 degrees.
Suddenly Max woke up and interrupted Ryan’s reading.
“So, will you do it Ryan? I know there is nothing more frustrating than working on a cold case.”
“You want me to find out who killed the old man. Five years is a long time to go looking for evidence, as you’ve already pointed out, Max.”
“Oh, I appreciate that. I would not saddle you with such a task if I did not think you could do it. All I ask, my dear boy, is that you give it a try. I am hoping you will succeed where I failed.”
“Well, I must admit I am intrigued. I will certainly give it my best shot. I suppose you have some notes that you will pass on to me?” asked Ryan.
“I have used my influence and called in a few favours. People are very nice to dying old men, you know, especially in the force. I have duplicates of all the notes.”
“You must have had your suspicions, I am sure. Was it the lack of evidence?” asked Ryan.
“Indeed it was. They all had motive and opportunity and there was no love lost between them and the old man, but although I had strong suspicions as to the killer, I did not have a shred of evidence.”
“I guess it was too much to hope that the murderer would break down and eventually confess.”
“My dear Ryan, forgive the senility of an old man, I am becoming more and more disorderly with age. I should have explained at the start: my stumbling block was that they all confessed!”
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