Murder at the Record Store

"Hmmm. This one's rare. A Frank Sinatra on vinyl. I think I'll get this one." Sherlock Obvious was intently and keenly observing the old record in his hands. It was used, old, kind of antique in a way.

A while ago, he was cleaning up his basement and he managed to pull up an old record player. Apparently, it belonged to his grandfather. He cleaned it up and tested it and it appeared to still be working. He decided to visit this old record store which sells old music, books, and movies. It was some kind of a hobby shop that some collectors go to when they are looking for timed and aged precious works.

He took his time looking at the record and he walked around the store too just to see what kind of things it offered. He has always been fascinated by the things of old. He thought that the classics will always trump whatever new one that may come along. He's a sentimental dude that way.

He nodded towards the keeper of the store on the counter. He was a short, stocky, old man. He was also balding on top with grey hairs on the side of his head. He was wearing a pair of thick glasses and appeared to be calmly rocking to a beat of music from the earphones connected to his cassette player.

Sherlock smiled upon seeing that nostalgic piece of equipment. He still remembers the way he rocked on with Michael Jackson's Billie Jean on that thing all day long when he was still a kid. He always takes that player from his father when he is going up to his room and then just look out of the window and mellow out the day with some blues.

He then proceeded to make his way to the magazine section of the store. Everything were old publications and there was even an issue with Marilyn Monroe on the cover. He went ahead and read on through the articles refreshing his history.

He turned to the glass window of the store as he heard a tapping sound that came from it. And from the other side of the glass, he saw Police Officer LessStrand smiling from ear to ear. When Sherlock acknowledged him, he briskly made his way towards the doorway of the store and he entered.

"Pleasant morning to you Mr. Obvious." LessStrand tapped the brim of his hat.

"And as to you. What are you doing here? I don't take you as a man who likes classic things, or as a man of class altogether." Sherlock bitterly remarked.

"Isn't that a bit early for insults?"

"Well, isn't that early for a bottle?"

"Wait? What? How'd you know that?" LessStrand went into a panic and patted his clothes eagerly.

Sherlock Obvious just laughed at him while he moved to another aisle.

"Oh relax will you, your breath stinks of alcohol. What on this godforsaken Earth are you doing drinking in the morning?"

"I was just...my wife..."

Before he can relay any coherent statement a sharp shriek and a scream loudly interrupted their conversation. It sounded like it came from the back room and that's where the two of them ran.

Upon shoving the curtains out of the way, they saw two people just outside another room. It was later ascertained that the two were both children of the storekeeper. They were standing outside of what seemed to be a little office or workshop. Sherlock went over to see what the ruckus was all about.

It was the old man with his head over the desk. A glass of water on the side and a bottle of pills on the other side.

LessStrand instructed the two to stay where they are and don't touch anything. He did so after notifying them that he is with the police. He walked over to the old man and checked for a pulse, and there was none. He shook his head and looked at Sherlock who was already pacing around the room and around the body.

He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and bent down to pick up the cassette player on the ground. He disconnected the earphones from the player and he pushed down the play button.

With a raspy voice, the recording said, "I am ending it all here. I am tired. Goodbye world." It was then followed by a thud and then it stopped.

"My goodness. It's a suicide note. Or a suicide tape?" LessStrand commented.

Sherlock paid him a gaze with a grim look on his face. "It might be that you are drunk, or you are plainly stupid. This is obviously murder. And the two of you, stay where you are."

As soon as Sherlock said that, one of them bolted out.

"Alright, time to shake off that alcohol, go!" Sherlock said sending LessStrand after the killer.

Hi!!!!

I was just excited, not about the murder, no not at all. Are you wondering how Sherlock immediately knew that it was a murder? That's pretty quick thinking huh. Can you spot it too? Can you tell me how he knew it was a murder? Come on, be creative.

I will be waiting with a glass of coke and Jack. And until then...

Cheers!!!

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Series    : Sherlock Obvious
Episode   : 002
Title     : Murder at the Record Store
Published : 04-Nov-2021
Author    :  © RB