Detective Jack: S2-05: The Last Breath

The bald man was trying to get a word out. I propped him up as he flashed in and out of consciousness.

I gave him a light slap on the cheek, “What is it? Spit it out.”

The man briefly opened his eyes, “The tru..”

His eyes started rolling back.

This man held the answer. Why did we shoot him? I know I should’ve pursued them myself. Trust my instincts, not the department’s policies. Bunch of bureaucrats who couldn’t police their way through a parade.

I tried to shake him, but he just coughed and sputtered.

As our suspect faded to black, I realized I had perhaps done the worst thing a detective could do: I eliminated our only clue.

And now here I was, staring at a dead suspect, a mountain of paperwork, and no idea what had happened to Donald and Cecilia Redder.