My first humble effort at a mystery I have always wanted to write.
To the readers: We can play a game of Clue. Keep guessing who is the victim and murderer as the story evolves.
Stay tuned for updates.
Colonel Bridgeman glanced over his guest list and smiled. "At the age of 70, it is inevitable to pick up some gems and trash along the way.", he thought to himself. His children, Annie and Steve wanted to throw a big party to celebrate what he personally thought as a meager achievement - living seventy years. However, it was this very age that made him complacent and give in to most of the demands of his children. He had brought down the guest list to twenty friends and acquaintances (who were invited solely out of social and political pressure). Annie hustled past the Colonel and he looked lovingly at his daughter whom he still adored sans the wrong choices she made in life. The Colonel decided to solve the morning's crossword and not get in the way of the nimble footed younger generation who were preparing for the evening.
Steve was checking the bottles in the bar while Richard, Annie's husband, was looking at the arrangement at the poker table. Steve was the prodigal son of the Bridgeman household. He dropped out of college and indulged excessively in revelry in his early years. The Colonel's obstinance on integrity and discipline accelerated Steve's wayward attitude. However, Richard's timely financial and emotional intervention helped Steve resurrect himself. Steve redefined "turning over a new leaf" and it filled his mother's heart to see him abandon his capricious lifestyle. Nobody but Richard and Steve knew what transcribed between them and the Colonel always eyed Richard with suspicion for what Mrs.Bridgeman claimed "no apparent reason". "Something about that boy is fishy.", the Colonel used to always tell his wife. "Put down your Colonel hat, Jim. After all that he has done for Steve, I don't want you talking about him that way." Mrs.Bridgeman often retorted. She embraced Richard into the family and would have sought him out as Annie's husband had he not asked for Annie's hand before that, much to the disapproval of the Colonel. Colonel Bridgeman's mistrust almost forced Annie to say no to Richard until Steve intervened to pay back his friend. The demise of Mrs.Bridgeman gave the Colonel a good reason to distance himself from Richard. As Steve's debauchery became a thing of the past, he started dating Jessie Foster, the eldest daughter of General Foster, a long time colleague of the Colonel. In Jessie, the Colonel saw the characteristics of Mrs.Bridgeman reinforced with the upbringing of a General. Annie was initially distraught over the lack of attention she received from her father and brother after Steve married Jessie. Jessie's patience and sagaciousness broke these ill-minded feelings and fostered a close knit relationship between them. As the years passed, the Colonel learnt to harbor his wariness towards Richard and the family attention moved on to grooming the next generation. Steve smacked Richard as he swapped places on the poker table to sit beside his father. "So you managed to get the 60 year old Scotch for the old man?", asked Richard amused. "Of course, anything for dad!" retorted Steve. "Rick, Do you think we would make it to seventy?". "With a lifestyle like yours, I am sure you would mate. I personally believe that life is a long process of getting tired." "Samuel Butler? Anyways, we will get through Rick. Stop thinking about the mess and enjoy the day. I have got it all under control."
The Colonel stepped into his suede shoes that Jessie had gifted him in the morning. He gruffed at the grandeur of the night, but decided to play along for the happiness of his family, just as he heard the high pitched greeting of Judy Johnson. Bridgeman groaned to himself and painted a plastic smile as he went out to greet Judy. Judy was Mrs. Bridgeman's friend and the Colonel always saw her as the Thames of Complaints. After Mrs.Bridgeman's death, Judy assumed by default that the Colonel would lend an empathetic ear to her imaginary miseries. Despite the Colonel's nonchalance, Judy often rambled on and on about the lethargic gardener, the unloving kids and the insensate doctors at the new hospital. Initially the Colonel attempted to steer the conversation to more pertinent issues, but quickly gave up when he could not command his miltary authority in a social situation with Mrs.Johnson. Judy was finishing her story, "And our mailman, Mr.Parker, will be taking his first vacation overseas tomorrow. Where did he say he was going Richard?" . "Oh there is the birthday boy!", chuckled Judy as the Colonel winced and remarked, "At my age, I would definitely not qualify as a boy Judy." "Oh Colonel, only cheese and wine are valued based on their age. Not us.", remarked Judy. The Colonel was relieved to see more guests come in and excused himself politely from Judy. Mr. Lee and his family wished the Colonel and as his children were frisked away by Steve's kids to play in the garden, Mr.Lee pushed aside the Colonel and whispered, "Congrats old man! You struck quite a fortune by that South African deal." The Colonel mimed a thank you and Mr.Lee realized that not many people in the room knew about the pot of gold yet. Jessie turned back and asked Mr.Lee, "You still have your secrets?" Both the Colonel and Mr.Lee flushed as Jessie slipped into her hostess's shoes and left to get the men a drink. The Colonel assured Mr.Lee that Jessie could not have heard them. Mr.Lee was Steve's age and a close confidant of Colonel Bridgeman. They met twenty years ago when the Colonel was inspecting a defense contract chartered out by a young entrepreneur, Daniel Lee. There was something about Daniel that the Colonel immediately liked. And, what started out as a professional relationship nurtured into an everlasting friendship. Mrs.Bridgeman often used to joke that Daniel was the Colonel's younger sibling and the Colonel himself wondered if they shared a common genetic pool. Be it a game of golf, gardening, passion for technology, or even the death of their better halves in a car accident, these men had too much in common even though their conversations were largely filled with silence - a comforting silence that alluded as a mutual reassurance. "Happy Birthday, Uncle Colonel!", chirped Kate Sandburg. When Kate was young, she heard everyone around her refer to Jim as Colonel. With the naive charm of young kids, she assumed that Colonel was his first name and called him "Uncle Colonel", much to the amusement of the people around her. The name stuck ever since. "Isn't this a pleasant surprise indeed!", remarked the Colonel as Kate reached out to hug her favorite Uncle. "You look prettier by the day and I hope I am doing the right thing by introducing Daniel to you.", said Colonel Bridgeman as he introduced Kate and Daniel. "I have heard Unc Colonel talk so much about you and being his pet niece I am embarrassed to meet you only now." "The Colonel does have a knack for hiding his treasures.", Daniel winked at the Colonel.
As the Colonel's gaze shifted towards the door, he saw General Foster and wife come in. "Come on Dad. How are you feeling now?" Jessie asked. The Colonel saw a look of relief on Jessie's face. General Foster mustered his strength and said, "How could I miss Jim's birthday?" and shook Jim's hand. Mrs.Foster apologized for coming in late and wished the Colonel. She turned to Jessie and said, "Where do I start helping you?". Jessie never ceased to admire her mom's perennial source of energy and often wondered if she kept herself busy to forget the humdrum of her life. "Annie and I have everything in place, Mom." "However, if you could bring the children in so we could start eating, it would be wonderful." she added seeing her mother's disappointment at having nothing to do. Steve walked by to say a quick hello to his mother-in-law. He turned to Jessie and told, "Your father is putting up a brave fight. Stop carrying that worried look that can make him lose hope." Jessie said, "It's just that..." Steve squeezed her hand and Jessie stopped herself short. "Thats my girl.", Steve caressed her cheek and waved to Daniel and Kate.
Annie finished setting up the table and called everyone for dinner. The children were seated on the far end of the table. Fortunately, they were of the age that didn't require constant attention and their voracious appetite ensured that the food on their plates got the attention it deserved. Diametrically at the other end, Colonel Bridgeman sat next to General Foster and Steve. Richard and Annie were next to Jessie, and Daniel and Kate sat next to each other near. Judy sat next to Kate and was enthralled by the opportunity to listen to their conversation. A small customary grace was said at the table as the appetizers were served. "Dad, I made sure your food was cooked with no salt.", whispered Jessie across the table as the General stared at his food. The Colonel smiled and remarked with an acerbic tone, "The day to celebrate the luxuries we need to give up". "What is a good thing that you would like to share with us today?", Annie challenged the Colonel to say something positive. Annie knew that a large part of the Colonel was lost after her mother passed away. The grandchildren fleetingly brought back his vigor but soon after they started attending school and spent lesser time at home, the Colonel was back to brooding over his lost love. Annie tried her best to keep her father engaged but lately her impatience at the Colonel's recalcitrance to her efforts surfaced more often. The Colonel was completely aware of Annie's looming worries about him and constantly tried to thwart them by staying practical. He saw his grandchildren look at him with rapt attention and cleared his throat, "I always thought that my younger days and achievements would be a prelude to what I am today and indeed it is. The respect, love, health, wealth and knowledge that I have today is a reflection of my life so far." He smiled and Annie and thought to himself, "However, none of this has made me any wiser. At 20, I knew I had to win a war for my country. At 35, I knew I had to raise a family and train a battalion. At 50, I knew I had a company to build. At 70, I have nothing to do." "Well said Uncle", Kate added. The appetizers were followed by generous portions of Crab Congee. The children engaged in rapturous conversations of the games they were going to play tonight as they drank their soup. Since the evening was bound to roll over into the wee hours of the morning, Annie had organized a sleep over for the kids. Daniel's conversation was completely hogged by Judy. Though he could hardly take his eyes off ravishing Kate, Judy acted like the obstacles that his kids crossed over on the Playstation games. "I think the city is not an ideal place to raise kids. City activities are far from what I would call kid friendly. The drugs at school..." Judy rambled. "My parents live in the city and take care of them when I travel. If you assure me that you will take care of my kids, I will move to your neighborhood next week.", Daniel cut her short. Kate chuckled softly and said, "Wouldn't that be wonderful Judy? More the merrier in our neighborhood." "Our attorney mentioned something about assignments in South Africa. What is that about Dan?", Steve asked. "We are thinking of exporting gold for some of our precision equipment from South Africa. The whimsical stock market for the past year has almost doubled gold prices and we are looking for ways to reduce the manufacturing costs." "Are you mining from Soweto?" Daniel fumbled for a brief moment but noticed that Richard had caught him. "We had some feasibility studies done by a firm from Soweto but I haven't given more thought about it. Looks like you have done your homework, Steve." "You promised no business talks at the table.", Annie intervened. Steve smiled at his sister but only after a long gaze at Daniel which meant only one thing, "I KNOW."
