False Accuasations

Frightened four-year-old Timmy darts to the corner of his closet. Scooping up his baby blanket crumpled on his floor, he throws it over himself.

His body trembles as tears stream down his pale, freckled face. Glancing toward the ceiling, he pleads, "Please, God, please make them stop fighting. Oh, please, God, please stop daddy from being so mean. Timmy knows when his dad drinks too much, he'll beat on his mom and then beat on him.

The child huddles in the corner and covers his ears with his hands. He can still hear his dad screaming and his mom begging him to stop.

Bill storms across their kitchen. The green checked tile, and lime green appliances haven't been remodeled since it was initially built. "How many fucking times do I have to tell you? Hu, how many? I expect my supper on the table when I get home, do you understand?" Bill asks in a drunken rage.

Janet smells the intoxicating scent of his nightly liquor lingering on his breath. She takes a few steps back, hoping she won't gag from the stench.

Grabbing a wad of hair, Bill pulls her close to where they're face to face."How many times do we have to go through this? Huh, how many?" Slapping her across the face, he shoves her back.

"I... I'm sorry, Bill, it'll never happen again," she whimpers, covering her throbbing cheek.

"You're always sorry. You're a sorry excuse for a wife that's what you are. I don't know why I married you," he screams. Tromping over, he slaps her again. "The only things you have to do all day is clean the house and get my supper, but you obviously can't do either right." He shoves a stack of dirty dishes onto the floor. Small ceramic fragments scatter across the filthy tile.

Dropping to her knees, Janet starts cleaning up the mess.

"Yeah, you better clean that up if you know what's good for you." He puts his muddy foot on her back and then pushes her to the floor. "I better not get as much as a sliver in my foot, or there'll be hell to pay," he warns, grabbing a beer from the fridge. He turns around to see she's slowly working on the shattered tableware. "Oh, for God's sake, Timmy can clean it up faster, and he's only four." He kicks her in the butt.

She tumbles into a pile of broken plates.

He grabs her long brown hair and pulls her to her hands and knees. "Get to cleaning, woman," he orders.

"Y ...yes, Sir." Blood trickles down her head as she gathers up the slivers.

"Bring my supper in the front room when you're finished," he instructs. He kicks her in the ribs. "That's so you'll remember to have dinner on the table when I get home."

I would if I knew what time you'd be home, she thinks.

"Did you hear me?"

"I ...I'll have your supper on the table from now on, I promise," she blubbers, grabbing her aching side.

"You damn well better." he storms out of the room.

A few minutes later, he stomps back into the kitchen to find she's still cleaning the mess. "I'd like my supper tonight."

"I... I'll get it for you now." She tosses a handful of broken glass into the garbage beside her.

He grabs her hair and pulls her to her feet. With one hard shove, he sends her flying across the room.

Her thin, frail body slams into the stove; spices fall across the top.

"Cook me something good," he demands, marching towards the living room.

Janet is grabbing leftovers from their fridge when she hears a loud thud. I better make sure he's alright. Emptying her hands, she runs to the front room to find Bill's face buried in a pile of clothes. I can't have you suffocate on me.

Janet starts to roll him over when a thought comes to mind. Timmy and I would be free from his abuse if he died. She glances down at her husband again. I'd be a murderer if I didn't save him. I won't be charged if I claim it was in self-defense. Could I live with myself knowing what I've done? How will it be self-defense if he smothers in a pile of clothes? I could claim it was an accident. I was asleep and had no idea he had fallen. I'd still be a murderer whether the cops believe me or not. If I save him, he'll only hurt Timmy and me again. What about all the times he's hurt us in the past? After a quick mental debate, she reluctantly makes her way across the room. She notices blood gushing from the back of his head as she stoops down. A bloody ball bat is lying on the floor by the back door. "Oh, Bill," she says, dropping to her knees. Grabbing a few towels from the pile, she applies pressure to the wound. The blood quickly soaks through the layers. She adds more. I've got to get him some help. "Timmy," she screams. Not seeing the child, she tries again. "Timmy, I need you in here now."

Hearing the desperation in his mommy's voice, he runs into the front room. "What's wrong, Mommy?" Timmy first sees his daddy lying on the floor. He then notices blood covering his mommy's hands. He slowly backs away in a daze. He knows his mom is talking to him, but her voice seems to be thousands of miles away. My daddy is dead, he thinks over and over again.

Grabbing her child's arm, she shakes him. "Did you hear me, Timmy? I want you to go to the neighbors and call 911."

Glancing into his mother's eyes, the child asks, "Why did you kill daddy, mommy? "Why?"

"I didn't, honey. I swear to you It wasn't me."

"Liar," Timmy yells, running out the door.

*****

Three Berryville Detectives are sitting at their desks in the far corner of the station. The commotion continues all around them as they work on an old case.

Rachel, their newest team member, loves cold cases because of their additional challenges. Her partners, Joe and Jerry find them to be frustrating beyond belief. They pound the pavement week after week and don't get anywhere.

"I understand why this case went cold so fast. There's nothing to work with." Jerry pulls off his glasses and tosses them on his desk. He's been a part of the police force for nearly fifteen years. He loves the work and hopes to continue until he retires.

"See what you can find out about the victim," Joe instructs. Joe's been with the department for nearly twenty years. He's worked his way up from beat cop to Sergeant.

"I already did. Bill's married and has two young kids, 4 and 2. He worked at Eureka Springs Police Department for nearly ten years. Bill's wife, Liz, is a stay-at-home mom." Rachel informs him. She started at the police station five years ago. After helping Joe and Jerry solve a case, she decides detective work is her true passion. She first thought she'd be a Private investigator, but during her training, she decided to work for the police instead.

"So, find out everything you can about their marriage. Jerry, I'd like you to interview his friends and family. I'll interview his co-workers and see if I can find out why he was at the park so early."

"That'll have to wait," the captain says as he walks up to their desks. The three turn towards their boss.

"What's going on, Captain?" Joe questions as he runs his hands through his thinning hair.

"There's been a murder in the trailer park. Here's the address " The captain hands Joe a slip of paper.

Glancing down, Joe immediately recognizes the place. "I knew he'd kill Janet someday, I just knew it," Joe yells as he springs up from his chair. " I tried to warn her, but she wouldn't listen."

The captain holds up his hand to stop him. "She isn't our victim, Joe, he is. The units say he was bashed in the back of the head."

Joe shakes his head. "I guess she's finally had enough." Grabbing his gun, Joe heads out the door.