Sarah: So you’re saying you don’t endorse your own brand?
Nolanis: I’m saying I don’t endorse any alcoholic beverage brand.
Sarah: *adjusts mic* But you’re the owner of one of the most prolific wines & vineyards in the nation. Your brews are extremely popular with people of all ages.
Nolanis: And yet I don’t think anybody should consume alcohol.
Sarah: Don’t you ever drink your own product?
Nolanis: No. Never. I firmly believe in the dangers of alcohol. It’s bad for the liver.
Sarah: Then why do you sell it?
Nolanis: I started it as a means to earn a living. Then it got more successful than I ever imagined.
Sarah: You’ve accumulated considerable wealth now. Why do you continue to sell it?
Nolanis: Because I’m addicted to money now. And somewhere along the line, I involved a lot more people with me. Some of them are rich yet addicted to money like me. Some are simply making a living. Both those groups will be very upset if I closed shop tomorrow.
Sarah: That’s a highly unusual thing to hear from someone of your stature. That too on a public show. Aren’t you afraid you’ll lose customers?
Nolanis: Not at all. People who consume my product are dependent on it. They won’t stop even if I tell them to. Maybe I’ll receive some criticism but it’s nothing I can’t handle.
Sarah: I don’t know what to say. Should I be upset or should I compliment you on your candidness?
Nolanis: Candidness like this is what gets you killed *breaks into laughter*
Sarah: *smiles awkwardly* Sure. I hope no assassin is hearing you out there right now.
Nolanis: *smile broadens* Haha, I know there probably isn’t. Probably. But you must know, if I’m ever killed it will be for the same reason we discussed today. My dislike for alcohol and displeasure in continuing to do what I do.
Sarah: I would guess if anything ever happened to you, it would be one of your competitors who want you out of the business so they can be even more profitable.
Nolanis: Wonderful guess! But I highly doubt that. Infact, I reckon the most closest of my associates should be the primary suspects?
Sarah: (wondering how they shifted from discussing the life of a millionaire to their death) Oh your closest associates? How so?
Nolanis: Because they’d benefit the most from my death. If I stay alive for long, I will sooner or later shut down my business out of guilt for the eternal harm I’ve caused to the countless families to feed my own greed. And this will cause a lot of my business associates to be out of a very lucrative job.
Sarah: Hmm. I get it now. Strange, how your life and even death, as you imagine it, all comes down to the same devilish greed.
Nolanis: *marveling at the unexpected depth of the seemingly flippant reporter* “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to pass at all!” *bursts into uncontrollable laughter*
(12 years later)
Detective #1: The forensics confirmed sir. Death due to blood loss through multiple stab wounds in and around the upper abdomen area.
Detective #2: Hmm, so mostly around the liver. Did we identify anyone or close in on any suspect?
Detective #1: We have multiple suspects. All with plausible motives.
Our prime suspect is an unknown person often seen coming and going from the residence by the house help. The neighbours heard an argument and some screams from the house just before they notified the police. And multiple witnesses have seen someone run out of the house just after all that noise.
We also have some disgruntled business partners who would’ve faced a huge financial downside if the deceased continued with their plan of shutting down the business.
We even have some crazy cult members who blamed the couple for all their life’s problems. Atleast, 3 of them were seen near the vicinity of the crime scene.
(28 days later)
Newspaper Headline: “Smoke House Murders Solved” “Police arrest ex-husband of tobacco heiress” “Lover’s quarrel” “Crime of passion uncovered”
“Last night, the police arrested the ex-husband of Miss Sarah Parker (46) who was found dead along with her spouse in the family home brutally stabbed in a fit of rage. Miss Parker was a former news reporter and retired early to govern the family tobacco business along with her husband whom she married last spring. Miss Parker was infamous for her flings and marriages to people of immense fame and wealth. Her most tumultuous marriage was with an unnamed Liquor Baron whom she met during her time as a reporter. They separated after 5 years marriage due to unknown reasons. “
“The police believes Miss Parker rediscovered her love for her former husband and was having an affair with him. But they both would often fight when her husband wasn’t home. And one day, the matter got out of hand and Miss Parker was stabbed near her kitchen by her lover. He also encountered her husband on the way out and stabbed him too with the same murder weapon.”
“The weapon was later discovered by the police in one of the brewery tanks of the victim’s own alcohol estate. Luckily discovered by a worker trying to unclog a jammed pump which got the heavy blade sucked into the valve. Confirming the identity of the murderer and making a successful arrest.”
