Saturday 19 October 2019

Barrington

Barrington stared at the crime board in frustration. He knew the answers were there but he just couldn't make the pieces fit. It was early and no one was in yet. He had hoped that after a break maybe fresh eyes might unlock the puzzle but it was the same fog as before. 

Barrington turned away in frustration but as the corner of his eye caught the board he saw it, he bloody saw it. Of course, he thought, of course, 'we've got the whole thing the wrong way round'. The photos finally made sense. The victim wasn't the victim, the victim was the perpetrator. Oh my god, it all made sense now, it was so simple. They'd been looking down the wrong end of the telescope.

Barrington hadn't noticed the team assembling around him but he did see the Chief Super walk into the middle of the room, stare at the board with her hands on her hips. She shared the teams frustration and anger that they had made so little progress.

'OK,' she said, 'has anyone got any fresh ideas?'

They could almost detect the hopelessness in her voice. The initial silence was almost deafening. Finally Barrington spoke.

As one they turned to him and everyone smile or laughed. Barrington spoke again.

'Oh for God's sake,' said the Chief Super, 'get the cat out of here.'

As Barrington was lifted and carried to the door he knew this was going to be another case for the 'unsolved' pile.