1.5

Thomas was sitting at the dinner table with his wife and three children. It was meatloaf Monday and although he didn't particularly care for this dish his wife had slaved over, he knew not to question her cooking skills. The children were full of life and energy. Thomas wished he could package all the enthusiasm and rambunctiousness sitting at his table. He was sure that he would soon be a millionaire if he could. His stomach was rumbling but not from being hungry, the meatloaf just didn't agree with him. He was tired from the weekend after pulling doubles Saturday and Sunday. He didn't mind though, he had his dream job. The one thing he wanted most since he was a child. He was a detective with his hometown police force. Lieutenant Thomas Hodkinson.
"How was your day Hun?" He heard the sweet voice of his wife say.
"I would like to tell you I got plenty of rest after the doubles this weekend but I feel more tired now than when I went to bed this morning." Thomas yawned and got up from the table and started clearing dishes from the table." Martha his wife immediately stood and slapped his hand as he reached for some of the empty dishes.
"You go and sit on the couch and relax. Me and the children will clear the table." Thomas smiled and kissed her then turned toward the living room. He sat in his comfy recliner and took a deep relaxing breathe. Maybe now he could get caught up on his rest. Then the dreaded sound came. The ringer from his cell phone. Before he even looked he knew who it was.
"This is detective Hodkinson." He said.
"Thomas this is Chief Brown. I need you to come in we have a situation that I think you need to handle. We have a body a block away from the post office. The man has been stabbed. You are the most experienced detective so I think you should handle it." The Chief said this before Thomas could inquire why him?
Thomas rose from his recliner and started to walk to the kitchen to tell his wife but when he looked over she was standing there holding his thermos full of hot fresh coffee. He smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead.
"You're the greatest wife of all time." He told her as he headed to the kids and gave each one a hug and a kiss. Then he headed out of the door.
When Thomas arrived at the scene he noticed three patrol cars and several deputies at the scene. Yellow crime tape was strung along the sidewalk with several citizens standing behind the tape and peering at what was laying on the sidewalk. Thomas got out of the car and walked closer then lifted the tape walking toward an old familiar face. It was Steve Hanson a long time foot patrol cop who had actually trained Thomas.
"What have we got Steve?' Thomas asked as he walked closer to where the body was covered. Thomas noticed the reddened liquid pooled on both sides of the body.
"Two stab wounds. One to the chest, just missed the heart and the other to the liver. Poor man bled out before he could even think of defending himself." Thomas heard the words but he could tell there was something else bothering Steve.
"What else is happening? You have a look on your face that I have seen before. That look is never one that brings glad tidings.
"You need to just see for yourself Thomas." Thomas looked at Steve and watched him turn and walk to the tape to keep the gawkers back.
Thomas was nervous now. Murder is never a happy event but with the conversation he had just finished with Steve and the look from the other officers he knew this was going to be a bad night. He walked over to the man covered in the grey wool blanket that the department issued to their patrol cars. He slowly lifted the blanket and his fear was confirmed. Because when he looked at the dead man's face he recognized him. It was city councilman Everette James!