The Mystery:
Marian Keating screamed, grabbed her telephone, and dialed 911. Less
than ten minutes later her back yard was swarming with policemen, all
checking for clues to help them discover who had shot Charles Wolford.
"I was at the sink getting water for coffee when I looked out the
window and saw Chuck's body just lying there by the pool," Marian told
police lieutenant Jim Farley as she, Farley, and two other men sat in
her living room. "I could tell by the position of the body that he was
either badly hurt or dead."
"What could Mr. Wolford have been doing in your backyard at nine
o'clock at night?" Farley asked.
"I don't know. He was coming over for a meeting. Maybe he decided
to come in the back way."
"Meeting?"
"Chuck was our company's auditor. All week long he's been dropping
hints that something is wrong with our books. He asked me to call an
evening meeting with our other managers, Ed Plantz and John Morrow here,
so he could tell us what he discovered."
"And you were meeting here at your house?"
"Yes. We often met here to go over business."
Farley looked at the two men who sat on a large sofa. They both
nodded in confirmation.
Edward Plantz cleared his throat. "That's right. In fact, Chuck
was hinting he thought the guilty person was one of us."
"That's why he wanted us here," John Morrow added. "So that all
four of could decide if we should call the police or handle it
internally."
"And he told you this?" Farley asked.
"Not in so many words," Plantz said. "But he hinted broadly enough
that that's what he meant."
"Why would he walk around to your backyard in the pitch dark?"
"I don't know," Marian replied.
"You didn't hear any shots?"
"No. I'm sensitive to street noise. I made sure this house was
very well insulated."
"And where were you gentlemen?" Farley turned his attention back to
the men. "You first, please, Mr. Plantz."
Edward Plantz shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"I had just parked my car in the driveway on the north side of the
house," he said. "Behind Chuck's car. I was reaching into the back
seat for my briefcase when I heard what sounded like two shots. In the
dark I couldn't be sure what direction they came from, so I froze and
listened for more, but there weren't any."
"Then what?" Farley asked.
"I went around front where I met John. He was coming from the south
side of the house."
"Did you hear Ms. Keating scream?" Farley asked.
"Nope. I don't think John did, either."
Farley looked at John Morrow for confirmation.
"I heard the shots but no scream," Morrow said. "I live just across
the street. When I saw Ed's car pull in, I left and came over here.
The inside of the house was lit up like a Christmas tree. I think
Marian had every light in the place on.
"I was in the front yard when I heard the shots. I thought they
came from around back and started to go back there when I realized
whoever was shooting might still be there, so I came back around front.
That's when I saw Ed coming up to the front door."
A police officer entered the room and approached Farley. In his
hand he held a clear plastic bag that contained a pistol.
"We found this near the body, Lieutenant. It was tough to spot in
the dark, but we found in under a small shrub. There don't seem to be
any fingerprints on it. The killer apparently tossed it after shooting
the victim."
"Run the full battery of tests on it," Farley said. "It will
probably help us convict one of these three of murder."
QUESTIONS TO SOLVE
Whom did Farley suspect of murdering Charles Wolford?
Marian Keating
Edward Plantz
John Morrow
Not sure
What made him suspect that person?
Marian Keating screamed, grabbed her telephone, and dialed 911. Less
than ten minutes later her back yard was swarming with policemen, all
checking for clues to help them discover who had shot Charles Wolford.
"I was at the sink getting water for coffee when I looked out the
window and saw Chuck's body just lying there by the pool," Marian told
police lieutenant Jim Farley as she, Farley, and two other men sat in
her living room. "I could tell by the position of the body that he was
either badly hurt or dead."
"What could Mr. Wolford have been doing in your backyard at nine
o'clock at night?" Farley asked.
"I don't know. He was coming over for a meeting. Maybe he decided
to come in the back way."
"Meeting?"
"Chuck was our company's auditor. All week long he's been dropping
hints that something is wrong with our books. He asked me to call an
evening meeting with our other managers, Ed Plantz and John Morrow here,
so he could tell us what he discovered."
"And you were meeting here at your house?"
"Yes. We often met here to go over business."
Farley looked at the two men who sat on a large sofa. They both
nodded in confirmation.
Edward Plantz cleared his throat. "That's right. In fact, Chuck
was hinting he thought the guilty person was one of us."
"That's why he wanted us here," John Morrow added. "So that all
four of could decide if we should call the police or handle it
internally."
"And he told you this?" Farley asked.
"Not in so many words," Plantz said. "But he hinted broadly enough
that that's what he meant."
"Why would he walk around to your backyard in the pitch dark?"
"I don't know," Marian replied.
"You didn't hear any shots?"
"No. I'm sensitive to street noise. I made sure this house was
very well insulated."
"And where were you gentlemen?" Farley turned his attention back to
the men. "You first, please, Mr. Plantz."
Edward Plantz shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"I had just parked my car in the driveway on the north side of the
house," he said. "Behind Chuck's car. I was reaching into the back
seat for my briefcase when I heard what sounded like two shots. In the
dark I couldn't be sure what direction they came from, so I froze and
listened for more, but there weren't any."
"Then what?" Farley asked.
"I went around front where I met John. He was coming from the south
side of the house."
"Did you hear Ms. Keating scream?" Farley asked.
"Nope. I don't think John did, either."
Farley looked at John Morrow for confirmation.
"I heard the shots but no scream," Morrow said. "I live just across
the street. When I saw Ed's car pull in, I left and came over here.
The inside of the house was lit up like a Christmas tree. I think
Marian had every light in the place on.
"I was in the front yard when I heard the shots. I thought they
came from around back and started to go back there when I realized
whoever was shooting might still be there, so I came back around front.
That's when I saw Ed coming up to the front door."
A police officer entered the room and approached Farley. In his
hand he held a clear plastic bag that contained a pistol.
"We found this near the body, Lieutenant. It was tough to spot in
the dark, but we found in under a small shrub. There don't seem to be
any fingerprints on it. The killer apparently tossed it after shooting
the victim."
"Run the full battery of tests on it," Farley said. "It will
probably help us convict one of these three of murder."
QUESTIONS TO SOLVE
Whom did Farley suspect of murdering Charles Wolford?
Marian Keating
Edward Plantz
John Morrow
Not sure
What made him suspect that person?
