• Forty year-old Oliver Lightfoot walked into his home. He closed the door behind himself. He entered his bedroom, pulled out his thirty-two calibur Remington pistol, turned out the lights, and ended his life.

    Oliver wasn’t the only person to do this. There were others, several throughout the world that had done the same thing that day. Oliver’s case however was different. He was one of the most respected men in the city of Guinea. He had made it rich in the oil industry and had what seemed to be an ideal life. ‘Money, power, a happy relationship with his wife, why would he want to throw all of that away?’ was the question on everyone’s minds.

    His wife had arrived home and, upon witnessing the sight, called the police. They arrived on the scene about an hour later. They ruled the death a suicide and never reopened the case. It was a clear-cut case, but the lack of reason behind the act is what made me question it all. I took it upon myself to find the reason. Why Oliver of Guinea killed himself.

    I know this type of thing happens often enough but not to people with the demeanor of Oliver. As many know Oliver and I have been close friends since childhood. He was always in good spirits. I’ve been a guest of his on many occasions. Sometimes for a month or more. I always found ways to repay him for those things, though he always said it was unnecessary.

    I’m Yancey, I’m a detective, or at least I have been ever since Oliver gave me the money to start this service. I at least owed peace to his family. After the police finished and the case report was available to the family I began my investigation.

    My mind continued to tell me that it was a business venture gone wrong or something of the sort, but my gut told me it was something even more foul. I began my investigation at Lightfoot Oil, by investigating his business records. Nothing was written in his books that made me think he’d want to kill himself. Nothing that told me that he was doing it to protect the family’s style of life. Stumped I gave up the idea that it was business related.

    Oliver’s wife had invited me for dinner that night. She also said there was something else that she needed me there for. She always was a great cook, so I accepted. I drove to their house, it was always spectacular to observe. It was a large white mansion mostly covered in ivy. The landscaper always had the most breathtaking topiary too. I pull up in the drive, the eldest son Jonathan Lightfoot was on the porch to greet me. He had flown back for the funeral. I pull to the side and exit my car. “Jonathan, It’s been a long time,” I shout as I approach him.
    “5 years,” he replied and gave me a hug.
    “That long? Really? Anyway, how’s California been treating you?”
    Jonathan had moved to California at the age of twenty. He had become a very successful actor. I guess luck runs in the family. He broke the hug and I stepped back to look at him. Jonathan looked very much the part of a successful actor, tall, tan, brunette, thin, and muscular. Sometimes I’d joke that he walked right out of a CK billboard.
    “Oh, not too bad. I’ve got a new movie coming out this August.”
    “So, how’s your mother holding up?” I asked expecting to hear that she wasn’t herself, was distraught and drunken, but the answer I got was something that I didn’t expect.
    “I’m doing just fine, in fact, I’m quite flattered that you would worry about that,” said a familiar voice from behind Jonathan.
    “Wh…?” I was speechless. Jonathan moved to the side and revealed a very happy looking woman.
    “Yancey, I’m glad you could come.” She said and embraced me. Her name was Harriet but everyone called her Betty. She was one of the most beautiful women I had ever laid eyes upon. Time had done some damage, though not enough to make me change my statement. Her auburn hair, her distinguished forehead, her ruby red lips, they all still spoke to me in ways I knew I could never act upon.
    “It’s good to see you again Betty. I just wish it wasn’t…”
    “I understand. I miss him too, you lost your best friend, I lose my husband, and they lost their father. We all miss him Yancey.”
    “Over the phone you told me that there was something I had to be here for. Not that I don’t love your cooking, because you know I do.” I said nervously.
    “That’ll be revealed after dinner.” She said, broke the embrace and began inside. “You’re more then welcome inside Yancey.” She called back.

    I realized I had been standing there just staring so I entered the house. I notice the youngest daughter in the Foyer. Virginia Lightfoot was her name. She was the spitting image of her mother, and at the age of thirteen is dealing with one of the biggest tragedies of her life.
    “Virginia, come give Uncle Yancey a hug will ya?” I called.
    She looked at me. Tears streamed down her face. I never wanted to see that look on that face. She came over to me, I knelt down, and she gave me a hug and began sobbing on my shoulder. “Why? Why did daddy have to do that? Why?” were the only words out of her mouth.
    Fighting back tears of my own I try to consul her. “I don’t know. I’ll find out though, don’t you worry sweetie.” She lifted her head from my shoulder and I kissed her forehead. “Be strong. The pain is only temporary. I know you’ll miss him forever more but try to remember the good, and know that no matter what you will see each other again someday.”

    I myself don’t buy the theory of an afterlife. I believe that someone created everyone but that the soul is neither rewarded nor punished but simply sent back until fully enlightened, and well, I haven’t thought much past that, however.

    Virginia went away thinking of what I said. “I hope my words helped her…” I thought as I passed through the living room. I was rushed by a little walking tornado as I entered the family room. The youngest son, Henry Lightfoot ran to me with glee and asked, “Uncle Yancey! What’d you bring me!?”
    “Nothing today Kiddo,” I replied, It seemed that he didn’t grasp the true meaning of the situation. Then again he was only 7. Why trouble him with the grim truth?
    “Well, you had better make up for it next time.” He told me and walked away. “Nothing too strange at home so far,” I thought as I made my way to the Dining hall. There stood the last of the Lightfoot children, 17 year-old Simone. Simone was a work of art as well, slender, brunette, gorgeous, and had a beautiful singing voice.
    “Hello Simone, How are you holding up?” I asked.
    “Uncle Yancey… I’m holding up just fine. You should be more worried about yourself.” She replied.
    “Well, it’s hard for me to worry about me, when he was a friend to me and a father to you.”
    “Fair enough.” She said and laughed.
    “Well, it seems like the only one of you that’s really broken up about this is Virginia. Why are the rest of you so calm and acceptant?” The only reason that I asked was because it seemed strange to me that they all would be this calm after a tragedy of this magnitude.
    “We all feel like it must have been for the better. He wouldn’t have left us the way he did without a damn good reason… Would he?” was her answer.
    “I don’t know the answer to that question right now. Though I would tend to agree with you that it must have been for the better.” I said. She explained it all. He had to have a damn good reason. Though with no suicide note there was no way in proving that.
    “Dinner will be served shortly. If you’d like to have a seat you may.” Said a voice from behind me. I turned and there stood Johnson, the butler.
    “Oh, Thank you Johnson. I think I will have a seat.” I said and moved where I would normally sit at the table, when Harriet entered and said, “Yancey, you may sit where ever you like.”
    “Thank you for the thought but I’m comfortable in this seat.” I replied, and took my usual seat. Betty took the seat next to mine. The others took seats that would be suitable to them and one chair remained empty, His chair.
    Johnson brought in the food in on a cart. The table was set for seven, and placed food for seven in front of us on the table. “Gone but in no way forgotten.” I thought, Jonathan stood up and led us all in grace. “Oh heavenly father, In Earth and in heaven. We thank you for this bountiful feast that you have placed before us, and the gift of life you have given us. Also we all ask that you welcome the man that had just left this world into with warmth and a smile. Amen”
    “Amen.” We all ended and began eating. There was a little bit of catching up from the family at the dinner table.
    “So, Jonathan, in your last letter home you said you had found a girlfriend. Why didn’t you bring her along?” Harriet questioned.
    “She had a Movie audition and a few other things she had to do this week. I’ll bring her when I come home again.” Jonathan answered. He quickly turned his questioning to me. “So, Yancey, What have you been up to recently?”
    “Oh, I’ve been doing a bit of this and a bit of that. Currently I’m a private eye.” I answered.
    “He’s also been visiting often.” Harriet said with a sly smile and a wink toward me. “What’s going on here? It seems as though Betty is trying to hit on me.” I thought but then settled to the conclusion that it was just paranoia.
    Jonathan continued with the questions. “Virginia how’s school?”
    “Not too bad. I’ve been doing very well. Daddy would always help me with my homework and…” She began to break up again.
    “I understand. Don’t cry Virginia. I shouldn’t have asked.” Jonathan said.
    “Why is Virginia crying? He’s gone, so what. He’s been gone before and he’s always come back. So he’ll come back this time right? That wasn’t really him in that box. He’s just out on a trip…? Right?” Henry asked. He was beginning to realize what was going on. Denial, I’m sure all of them had gone through this stage by now. Even I had. We all were able to accept it though at that age, I would be just like he is. Denying it until my final breath.
    “No, sweetheart. He’s not coming back. That was him in the box. He’s gone for good.” Harriet said, her voice quaking. She almost broke down. I put my arms around her and held her close. It was all I could think of doing.
    “She’s joking right? He can’t be gone forever! He just can’t!” Henry said standing up. He ran from the room almost crying.
    “It must have hit him the hardest.” I thought Harriet silently sobbing in my arms. After she had regained composure we returned to the meal. It was a wonderful meal, but we ate in silence.