Ed Pearson and Morgan Arnold were longtime friends. Their friendship was not like most friendships which withstood the test of time, this one was different. These men were wealthy business and civic leaders, used to having their way in most matters.

Normally, opposites attract when it comes to friendships and love. Their relationship was the exception that made the rule. At least, it had until now. Now, they had a problem – a serious problem – and so this morning they sat at the breakfast table in Ed's spacious dining room to discuss what to do about it.

Ed, a widower, still lived in the mansion he and his deceased wife Janet purchased over 30 years ago. The dining room was more the size of a conference room than an eating location. Since Janet's sudden and unexpected death from heart failure two years previous, Ed liked to eat his meals next to the huge wall-to-ceiling window which faced the morning sun. He had purchased a small dining room table for this purpose. Today, his friend Morgan sat across from him. Both men liked to glance out of the window while eating but it was already getting hot out and Morgan noticed the right side of his face was getting uncomfortably warm.

The men ate in silence. There would be time enough for discussion after breakfast and out of earshot of Ed's servant.

Finally, the host broke the silence, asking "How was breakfast?"

"Breakfast was excellent, as always. Thanks for having me over."

"And, as always, you are welcome." Ed managed a thin smile, but that was all. What they had to discuss was too important for any degree of levity. As Anita, his servant, filled their coffee cups, he asked for privacy. To insure they would have it, he arose from the table, walked the length of the spacious dining hall, and locked the heavy wooden door as she exited. As soon as Ed returned to his seat, he grimaced while spilling his coffee cup, which had sat near the window. The coffee splashed against the windowpane. Morgan hurriedly wiped up the spill with his napkin and commented, "It's a good thing there are no curtains."

Gingerly rubbing his hand, Ed sheepishly replied, "The cup was hotter than I thought."

But now it was time for business to discuss the real reason for this morning's deceivingly pleasant meeting. One man said to the other, "So, tell me what happened. The police report said Elaine was found dead in her bedroom. She had been stabbed and beaten. Her right eye was blackened and there were multiple stab wounds in her abdomen." After a pause, he added, "it appeared she had been beaten after being stabbed. Were you really in such a rage?"

Another uncomfortable silence ensued. Elaine Waller was a beautiful young woman who had been intimate with both men, either of which would have been capable of the murderous rage which overtook one of them.

The murderer replied, "Well, I just lost it. It's not a good thing to admit but you of all people deserve a straight answer. We had been drinking, and you know how her mouth ran when drunk."

The man on the other side of the table knew very well how Elaine's mouth ran when drunk or annoyed. He himself had smacked her a few times but had never been so enraged as to murder her. He asked, "So, what caused you to lose it this time?"

The answer did not come for several long moments. Finally a reply, "Well, I guess my expectations – and hopes – were higher than what they should have been. But, I should have known to leave my best friend's ex alone. I would not put myself – put us – in this situation again. But there was too much alcohol, too much arguing. It was all just too much. I'm sorry, old friend."

"You know the police will be looking at both of us."

"Yes, I know. Again, I'm terribly sorry. I am having some money sent to her family. Trust me; they will never be able to trace it."

His friend had no doubt about that. Many times through the years they had transferred money around for nefarious purposes with no one the wiser. But he asked, "So, what now?"

This time the answer came quickly. "Now, we do nothing. We answer the police detective's questions truthfully. At least, you do. I have made preparations for my interview." The other man nodded his head in agreement, satisfied that neither of them would be held for murder. In other times, other places, sometimes together, sometimes alone, they had avoided suspicion and arrest with brains and cunning. It would be no different this time.

Ed asked his guest if he would like more coffee. He said yes. Anita was allowed back in the dining hall and the breakfast ended as it began as another lazy, early morning meeting between two very rich and powerful friends, both of which were capable of, and guilty of, cruel and terrible things.

One of them was guilty of a recent brutal and shocking murder, committed right here in their hometown with a woman they both knew intimately.

Do you know which man committed the murder of Elaine Waller?

Because of the brutality of the case and Ms. Waller's known associations with powerful men, the investigation was assigned to Jeffery Bearce, who some years ago was involved in the famous "Marilyn Monroe Murder," in Overland Park, Kansas, when he was a detective with the nearby Olathe Police Department.

Bearce immediately suspected it was one of the men detailed in the last chapter. He had nothing to go on but intuition, but his intuition rarely failed him, and it did not this time.

Upon examining the crime scene, he noticed it was unusually free of clues or incriminating evidence. It was rare for a crime of passion to be so thoroughly clean. He was excited to learn from the medical examiner, a man not averse to taking a few dollars from interested parties during investigations such as these, that Ms. Waller was beaten after being stabbed multiple times. Bearce would be grateful for this revelation, as it would allow him to solve the mystery and make an arrest for murder.

Elaine Waller was bruised underneath the right eye. This indicated a left-handed blow, a blow made at the height of passion. A blow such as this would be made with the dominant arm and hand. A vicious blow to the face by an enraged man: a left-handed man. The murderer's criminal expertise and presence of mind would not return until he calmed down but, by then, it would be too late. The bruise was very visible underneath her right eye. As he and his friend had never been suspected or detained in their numerous far away violent criminal adventures, he did not think anything of it.

The medical examiner, not realizing it was the murderer who paid him, found a single hair not belonging to Ms. Waller in her bedroom. When DNA results were in, all Bearce had to do was find a match. He suspected it was one of Ms. Waller's wealthy suitors and had a strong feeling one of them was left-handed.

On the day he interviewed Ed Pearson, he noticed him scratching his chin with his left hand. The hand appeared to be bruised and sore. Later, after the DNA match was made, Pearson would relate the story of the spilt coffee during his breakfast meeting with Morgan Arnold.

Bearce had a strong suspicion Morgan Arnold was a man with secrets as well, but he would have to tread carefully and practice discretion in his inquiries, for Morgan Arnold was an influential business and civic leader with friends in high places. But now one of the best detectives in law enforcement was on to him and Arnold knew it.

With his friend charged with murder and Jeff Bearce quietly but assuredly looking at his past, Arnold knew life would never be the same again. Some six weeks after the arrest of Ed Pearson, he took his own life. He died a quieter and much more dignified death than many of his and Pearson's victims enjoyed. Justice may be served but is often not perfect.

-