[ WP ] Florida Man gives himself in to the police and explains why he did everything he did .

`` You'll have to go to the animal shelter, sir, `` I said. `` It's on 4th and Groves.'' 
 
 `` No problem. And once I hand over the cat they'll give me the reward, right?'' 
 
 `` Uh, there's no reward, sir. If the owner gets the cat back there's a chance they'll offer you some money, but nothing is guaranteed.'' 
 
 `` What about the other place, the one past the park but before the freeway entrance, do they give rewards?'' 
 
 `` No, that's not how they operate, you'll --'' 
 
 `` It's okay, I can find another shelter.'' The man turned around, walked toward the exit, and said as he raised his right hand in the air, `` Thanks for your help!'' 
 
 I was about to go back to poker on my phone when I looked up from the desk and saw a man in red enter. His steps were slow and measured and his legs struggled to carry his reluctant upper half. He did n't blink, and his hollow gaze passed right through me. I was so intrigued by his appearance I forgot to ask how I could assist him. 
 
 He opened his mouth and a quiet, wooden voice said, `` I'd like to report a murder.'' 
 
 Hearing the word, and seeing his shirt up close, I realized the red was blood. 
 
 `` Where's the body?'' 
 
 `` She's inside my apartment, 1149 Murkwood Lane.'' 
 
 I alerted the officers in the back of the station over the phone and sat down with the man to gather more details. `` Is this her blood?'' 
 
 `` It is.'' 
 
 `` Can you tell me anything else about the situation, or how you found her?'' 
 
 `` She was in an alley a couple of blocks from my house, dead when I found her. I brought her inside.'' His hands were shaking and his fingers feigned grasping a body that was n't there. `` She's.... 
 
 `` She's my wife.'' 
 
 `` Jesus Christ, I am so sorry.'' It was strange trying to comfort a man who seemed so numb; my consolations were merely a formality that we both knew would not ease his grief in the slightest. So I continued with the questions. `` Any idea who would have wanted to hurt her?'' 
 
 `` Yeah, I know who it was.'' He had n't once made eye-contact with me. His head was resting on his right hand, eyes pointed to the tiled floor. He leaned over and reached his other hand behind his back and pulled out a gun, which he offered me in his outstretched palm. 
 
 `` And I'd like to report another murder,'' he said. 
 
 My eyes bulged. I confiscated the gun and handcuffed the man. 
 
 `` Is that blood all hers?'' I said, pointing to his shirt. 
 
 `` Not all.'' 
 
 `` Well go on then! What did you do?'' 
 
 `` My wife was taken for ransom. I paid up but also put a phone in the bag to track it. When I found my wife dead I decided to find and kill the kidnapper.'' 
 
 `` You'decided'? That was n't you'decision' to make! Why not call us instead? You could have saved a lot of trouble and the rest of your life!'' 
 
 The man locked eyes with me for the first time all night. `` What life?'' he said. `` My life is lying on the floor of my apartment.'' His eyes were not teary or watery, but empty. Uninterested in anything the world had to offer. 
 
 I had never had a walk-in murder confession. I was at a loss for words, but had one last question. `` Why? Why come here and admit to this?'' 
 
 `` Because I may not be a good man. But I've always been an honest man.'' 
 
 And with that I guided the man in red inside the station.
