From all the clues I’ve discovered, I deduced a Teddy was indeed murdered.
I’m out in the courtyard walking and deep into the trees I see a bear arm and one plastic eye. Nothing to finger print but I see small footprints. Size 3. It’s imprinted in the moist dirt.
Hey I saw a kid visiting someone this morning. He was sitting in the dayroom. He was fussing cause he wanted outside. Gramma finally let him. Thank the Lord that boy was aggravating.
I can’t remember if he was toting a Teddy. Poor Teddy, he had a horrible life, I’ll bet.
So … I decided to investigate the Dayroom for clues.
I looked under the chairs. In one corner I found a lump of Teddy guts. It’s was very clean except the one spot of pink. Smelled like a Capri Sun kids drink.
I determined Teddy was a gift to the boy from the grandparent he came to visit.
And the little aggravating boy tore it up. What a brat!!
So …I have a suspect. He’s not even remorseful.
From my secret lair I can watch and see who’s sneaking up and down hall.
So this dame walks into my office. Former dancer, I figure, as she’s got legs that start somewhere under her armpits. “Dead teddy bear. I think it’s murder,” she says, as she takes a chair.
“Please, Miss …” I stop, not knowing her name.
“Beck,” she says. “That’s all you need to know.”
“Fine. Have a seat.”
I took a look. In addition to the legs, she had eyes you could drown in. A hat, slightly tilted, tailored suit, stockings, and heels. Better looking than most dames that walk through my door, who just want evidence of cheating husbands.
Miss Beck was silent, but her expression told me that she was thinking. Finally, she spoke.
“Maggie, my neighbor, is a grandmother. She loves her grandkids, and loves spoiling them. So she told me that her grandson was coming for the weekend. He’s five years old.”
Miss Beck opened her purse and pulled out an engraved cigarette case. I was about to point out the “No Smoking” sign on the wall, until she extracted a breath mint. “Cigarette cases are good for more than just cigarettes,” she said. “You want one?”
Miss Beck took her time to answer. Meanwhile, I wondered.
Did the bear contain jewels? Possibly, but what use would Dennis have for those? At age 5, he’d likely just think them shiny stones, and put them with his baby teeth, waiting for the Tooth Fairy. Cash? Both Dennis and Grandma would recognize that, but there’s only so my one can put into a teddy bear before it becomes misshapen. Drugs? I don’t even want to go there.
