The Murder

In the main room, Sidney walked over and stared at the scrapbook. He turned the pages, causing the officer to pull him away. "We’re here to collect what belongs to you with no side trips. Head to where you stayed and pick up your junk. No reason for you to touch anything else."

"OK, OK. I just wondered why that was here, and why the pages are torn out. I'll get my things."

The officer watched Sidney gather what belonged to him. Sadness stopped him a minute as he surveyed the room, and pulled the door shut. An aura of emptiness surrounded him as he trod the hall for possibly the last time. How would a God allow this to happen to a woman like Sally? Her simple confidence came close to making Sidney a believer, but her murder smothered those embers. His Mother believed in God and tried to instill her assurance in him. The fire lacked opportunity to ignite before she died. The grim reaper Death determined to snatch faith from his mind.

The attempt to gain knowledge to fill the void satiated him with more questions than answers. His mother's death initiated the doubt. Anguish tore at his young heart, and the God she trusted didn’t seem to care. His searches for understanding fostered the conclusion gods are a matter of superstition and ignorance. A crutch for weak people unfitted to meet life's crises.

Moreover, he labeled religion a leech, feeding on the frailties of an insecure populace. The leaders, those self-proclaimed direction pointers, satisfied their own greedy appetites. Goals accomplished by appealing to the gullibility of the adherents. Sally, however, insinuated neither naiveté nor incompetence. Her faith never operated for personal gain. This disturbed his beliefs about the religious. Based on...

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... but he couldn't recall who. Don’t bother, I’ll remember later.

Someone rattled the outside door. Probably some cop caught the reflection of the flashlight and was coming to investigate. Careful to make no noise Sidney traversed the hall to the stairs leading to the restaurant. Across the kitchen he peeked out to see if anyone was outside.

An officer was walking the side of the building toward him. Back against the wall he waited, sure his beating heart would betray him. The door handle rattled a couple of times, and Sidney dared not breathe. The jiggling ceased and steps retreated towards the parking area. Air escaped his lungs and he stood for a few seconds. When a car started and drove away, he looked outside one more time. No one in sight, he slipped out the door and walked to the Center. The experience was enough adventure for one night.