The Perfect Murder

Thirty-eight-year-old Hardy's dark navy flares complimented the royal blue corduroy jacket setting off a business-like tone of dress complemented by a slick short back and sides. Hardy's side-kick Sam, on the other hand, was noted in the squad for his sloppy, middle-aged attire and 'life's little loser' attitude worn on his sleeve.

Hardy, the number one sleuth in the patch was assigned to solve the case of, 'The Perfect Murder'.

Mr. & Mrs. Perfect were brutally murdered in their beds. Neighbours reportedly said they’d neither heard or saw anything amiss. The case was approaching its three-month anniversary and there’d been little or no feedback or fresh leads from the recent ‘Crimewatch’ broadcast.

The couple's two children had long since flown the nest. Disgruntled Jimmy settled in Sydney, Australia after the last row set him on a journey as far-afield as he could get from his parents. Jenny on the other hand, had met and married and settled down locally and produced two grandsons for Mr. & Mrs. Perfect to dote on.

Jenny was inconsolable when her parents were found dead in their beds and was determined to bring justice for them. Jenny contacted her estranged brother by his mobile phone but he just wasn't interested in his parent's murder. He was more interested in getting his hands on what he saw as his entitled  inheritance.

Hardy took a hard line on Jimmy after hearing what his sister had to say about her brother’s attitude towards his parents. The investigation tracked down Jimmy’s life in Sydney and  unsurprisingly he was on the drug scene, up to his eyes in debt and out of work. Creditors were hounding Jimmy and he was desperate to get his hands on some money before he was beaten to a pulp. He was a desperate man wanted by the underworld, dead or alive. Unbeknown to Jimmy his  henchmen had found his previous U.K. address and contacted his parents informing them he was planning to escape and return home and they would be waiting for him to get off the plane to get their hands by fair mean or foul on what he owed them.

Hardy puzzled over this information as Jimmy was adamant he wasn't planning to return to the U.K. anytime soon, not even for his parents funeral. Hardy authorised another house search working on the hunch Jimmy had been desperate and would use any means to get his hands on his parents life savings to save his neck. During this search the number one sleuth had a 'light bulb' moment and contacted Jimmy's mobile phone company. The company were able to confirm a recent telephone call his sister made to Jimmy was conducted in the U.K., not the other side of the world. The signals from his phone enabled them to locate his hideout  

Hardy knew the case was beefing up but more evidence was needed to back up this latest hunch before nailing the man. Re-interviewing Jenny again, she was asked if she knew of any of Jimmy’s past secret hiding places. Jenny remembered Jimmy's old dug-out in the field just beyond their parent's home. Hardy sent Sam to do the dirty work and armed with a P.C. and a shovel, they found ground disturbed beneath which they quickly located a lump hammer buried in a shallow grave.

Bingo!. Hardy knew the game was up once forensic have completed their work. Jimmy's DNA was found on the murder weapon alongside a screwed up flight ticket. He was the named passenger on a flight back from Australia just over twelve weeks ago. The ticket not only named him but his grubby paws had impregnated this vital piece of evidence.

Game up!  Hardy’s flying squad were immobilised to pick up this despicable character and start the long process to see him safely behind bars.

The Perfect Murder. A perfect result. Case complete and Hardy goes home to feed her four-month old baby girl.