October 1994, Southern Virginia
The day progressed as any other as the two officers drove up the small chipped driveway. The sky was an ash grey hinting the descent of yet another day. The autumn leaves shine a bright orange on the streets of the small suburban town. Each house looked well kept and clean, like any family home. All except for the house that they drove up to. The grass was uneven and long and Officer Blake could hardly find any sign of life.
Weary at their task, the two officers walked down the driveway to the front door. The head officer pressed the bell twice for emphasis. The door opened and there stood an average height blond woman. Without a word she walked away from the door, hinting that they were allowed to enter. The two men entered glancing at each other, confused at the sudden acceptance into her home.
"Mrs. O'Reilly is your husband home," Officer Blake asked. She didn't answer at first. She walked towards the kitchen and lit a cigarette. She took her time, waiting until after she had exhaled her first drag to answer.
"Yep," she said in a quick and abrupt voice. She wasn't looking at either man, her eyes boring into the window that showed her a view of the entire street in its dead silence.
"Could we speak to him ma'am it's a matter of great importance." She sighed looking down, crushing the cigarette onto the ashtray with an aggravated smooch. Her brow furrowed as she just stood there in absolute silence. The men stood there staring at her and waiting for an answer. Officer Blake glanced at his supervisor, a look of worry swarming his expression. What was wrong with this woman? Officer Jefferson didn't look back at the officer; he merely waited a look of pity on his face. Mrs. O'Reilly sighed and stood up straight looking back at the two men.
"You can try, he's in the room across the hall I suspect, he hasn't been able to leave" her voice broke. Mrs. O'Reilly looked down, her hand over her mouth, as if to hold back a cry of despair. Officer Blake reached towards her, but refrained from touching her.
"Ma'am is you alright?" He asked hesitantly. Mrs. O'Reilly's head shot up quickly at his voice, as if she completely forgot that they were there at all.
"Just go across the hall, he's there and leave me be," Mrs. O'Rielly rasped sharply, turning quickly to go down the stairs and disappeared.
The two men looked at each other with looks of worry and dread. This assignment was already becoming hard. They quickly followed Mrs. O'Reilly's directions and walked down the hall to the door there. Officer Jeffereson knocked, but no one answered. He knocked again and nothing. He grasped the handle to see the Colonel sitting there in silence, still as stone.
"Sir," uttered Officer Blake, "we have come from the General's office." Colonel O'Reilly stiffened turning his head ever so slightly, indicating that they had his attention. "You've been reassigned," he continued keeping his distance, as the silence was making him uneasy.
Colonel O'Reilly scoffed shaking his head slowly before talking.
"Well gentlemen, tell me what he needs me for and leave, I will report to him tomorrow as needed."
...
The two men quickly made their way out of the house not waiting for either Mr. or Mrs. O'Reilly's good-byes, if they had wanted to give any at all.
"He looks like a mess," commented Officer Blake, getting into the passenger seat of the car. "What happened to him?" Officer Blake sighed looking from behind as he was reversing the car out of the driveway.
"His kid died. Accidently shot himself with the Colonel's gun." Officer Blake stared at him in shock, his mouth wide open.
"My, god."