A mayor candidate was shot, that could be the hit of the year. Harry, aged forty-nine , was one of the mayor candidates, he had been behaving well during the past twenty years of his political career. He was complimented by his colleagues that he was a gentle, charming and ambitious man. This year, he was competing with Joshua, who was a year older than Harry. Joshua was the Deputy Mayor for over five years. He climbed to that position completely relying on his wealth and family. Joshua’s father was one of the richest people in the city, but sadly his father passed away two months ago, a lot of people mourned for him at the time. Joshua was, well, he was okay, not the best one. He sometimes did things a bit dirty, and he himself often regarded as a nomad who is out of manner. Last time, Joshua wore a pair of slippers to a high-class party and later that evening, he was seriously punished by the Mayor.
On the fifth of July, one day before the election, Harry was shot.
The press did not publish the event, otherwise, the public would be gossiping. The press just said that Harry had a sudden sickness and cannot attend the election. The election was delayed. On the other hand, the police had gone crazy. They didn’t know how on Earth could a candidate die just one day ahead of the election. They started the largest investigation team ever existed in the history of the city. They aimed to find out the truth as soon as possible because the press could not hide it so long.
Due to the fact that the public still did not know it, the police could not make the investigation too obvious. But still, the police searched every corner, every single road of the city, but they could not find a clue. The body was carried away and stored by Harry’s team and later handed to his family. His family members all seemed to fall apart. The police did not have access to the body. The investigation team tried to convince them to allow the legal examiner to have a look, but Harry’s family refused. “It might be a bit disrespectful.” Think of that, Jim didn’t ask any further. Jim was the leader of the investigation team, he was also the chief of police. “I had been working here for my entire life and I have never met such case before.” He sighed and turned to his crews. “Let’s head back, I guess we won’t get anything today.” In the office, everyone was kind of down. It was a huge challenge for him, as well as the rest. Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. “Guys, I think of something,” one of the team members, Oliver, stood up, “Who do you all think is most likely to kill Harry? Who is Harry’s biggest enemy? Who hates Harry?” “I have no idea…Joshua?” Jim said, “Exactly, Joshua? Harry is a gentleman, but Joshua is not. Compared to Harry, Joshua has a huge chance that he would lose.” “But hey, listen!” Jim stood up as well, “we don’t have solid evidence about it, okay? It’s just that he has the motivation.” “And isn’t that enough? Face it, Jim, it has been two days since Harry died, and the public still knows nothing. I say we go and arrest Joshua. Tell the public and hold another election.” “But that is against our rule, remember?” Jim replied. “I don’t give a damn!” Oliver stated his point. “Think about it, Joshua may have killed Harry. We are just not sure yet, right? yet, we go arrest him. If he did kill Harry, then it will be the best. But if he did not kill Harry, then we got the wrong guy. BUT, we can tell the public and hold another election. Choose the mayor! Everyone can go back to their normal lives. Do you really think Joshua can be a good Mayor?” Some team members seemed to agree with Oliver, “The city needs a Mayor, Jim, even if Joshua eventually becomes the mayor, people would never be pleased, and who takes the responsibility for that? I guess only you.” Jim did not want to do so, but Oliver indeed had his point. The public would soon find out, and also, the city indeed needed a mayor. After a long while, Jim spoke, “Well I…Let’s vote, alright?”
Thirty-eight to sixty-two, Joshua was arrested.
Three days later, eighth of July, they published the news. The city was flooded with sorrow. The citizens could not believe that such a gentleman would be killed just one day before the election. They mourned voluntarily and his office was stuffed with flowers and letters. The public started funding that aimed to build a statue in memory of Harry. As for Joshua, it was already hard enough to maintain his safety. He was taken to the court on the morning of the ninth, and the court had to call an entire security team around Joshua in order to keep him safe from the anger of the public. “I am innocent, I require you to exonerate me NOW!” Joshua shouted. He tried to defend for himself but his voice was soon covered with yelling and screaming from other people. In the afternoon of the same day, Joshua was convicted with life imprisonment.
Ten days after Harry died, fifteenth of July, another election was held. Barton became the new Mayor.
Barton was a young man, only about twenty-eight years old, which was an extremely young age for a mayor, but he was still loved by many. They said he was just like Harry, charming, and thoughtful, a perfect candidate for the Mayor. A lot of people cheered after he became the Mayor and deeply trusted him that he would not let them down.
Barton went to visit Joshua on the afternoon of 16th, but Barton was with a company, a man in a hat, wearing a black coat. This was a bit rare, but the guards thought he was Barton’s security guy. Barton saw Joshua in the prison. Joshua loss a lot of weight. His face looked pale, his arm looked weak, you could see the light left his eyes. The three gentlemen sat down, Barton and his guard were facing Joshua, with a glass wall between them. “These days must be hard for you,” Barton started, “No doubt, you MADE me this, you know it better than anyone!” Joshua replied with wrath. “I don’t seem to understand you much.” Barton said, with scorn. “How do you feel now, Joshua?” A deep voice started, the guard took off his hat.
Harry’s face appeared.
“You know, I had been working in this industry for more than twenty years now, right?” Harry started, “I worked so hard every day, and I wanted to devote myself to the city. When I first entered here, I always hoped, that one day, I can climb up all the way to being the Mayor, and I can serve the city I love. I worked for that goal for over fifteen years, and five years ago, it was the election of the Deputy Mayor, remember? No? Let me help you! It was a sunny day, but cloudy for me, FOR ME! Because I worked like a horse for fifteen years, I still ended up losing to you. A useless loser who only lives on his daddy. Fifteen years of hard-working, fifteen years of responsibility, fifteen years of serving, and I ended up losing to you! I was so in rage, and I swore, that someday in the future, I will make you pay. That is also why I killed your father. Yes, I killed your father, I just want to see whether this time, without your father, who is the best. But later, I thought it might be too easy for you, you have your father’s money, you can live finely on your own with your father’s wealth even if you fail. That is too easy. So I faked my death, and you took the blame. The public had proved how popular I am and how DISGUSTING you are. Now, my job is finished, enjoy your life, Joshua.” Harry paused, “Let’s go, Barton, the man would suffer from what he deserves.”
“Yes, father.” Barton followed along.
WORKS CITED
Scale Balance Icon. May 27, 2019. Website: 123RF.https://www.123rf.com/photo_95040775_stock-vector-scale-balance-icon-with-shadow-on-transparent-background-justice-concept-design-.html
ULink College Wordsmith Society 2019 