[ WP ] You 're a detective investigating a recent murder and have just met the only witness . A blind man .

“ Bernard come on, Captain says you ain ’ t giving us new information and I need to be talking to some other witnesses. Did you see him or not? 
 
 
 “ I ’ m telling you officer, I did see him, I just didn ’ t SEE him, ” Bernard said, stressing the seeing part the best he could while pointing to his eyes. “ I might be blind, but I ain ’ t dumb. I heard that man ’ s voice and I tell ya ’, I could pick him out from anywhere. Even got my hand on his before he gave me this shiner. He ’ s married, had a metal ring on that left hand of his. ” Bernard touched the edge of his black and blue'ed eye, a stark contrast to the deep green of his own. His walking cane rested in his right hand and steadily tapped out a sort of sing song pattern against the concrete. Like a musician would tap a pencil waiting for their muse to appear. 
 
 
 “ Well, what was it. Bernard. Bernard listen, if we find the guy I ’ ll get you down to the station, do a line up and we ’ ll get your ears in there, but right now I ’ m gon na need something more than he sounded like he was white and old, ” Officer Richards had repeated this line to Bernard so many times it was being more habit than necessary. “ I just don ’ t know what else to say.'' 
 
 
 Bernard sighed and extended his left hand, shaking with the officers. “ I know I ain ’ t been much help, but honest to god, if I could hear that man ’ s voice again I ’ d tell you right then who you could arrest. Jenny was a nice girl, lived down the hall from me. Made muffin ’ s for the whole floor once. Weren ’ t very good muffins, but they was free of any strings just the same. She ’ d been seeing this boy a while, used to yell a lot. I ’ dda sworn he done it, but there was some other voice in that hallway too.'' 
 
 
 “ That ’ s the third time you ’ ve told me Bernard. She sounds lovely, but “ Richard stopped to rub the irrupting spot in his forehead where the headache was starting to grow. “ We just need more to go off of. I ’ ll tell you what, why don ’ t we get you to send down with one of our sketch artist. I know you didn ’ t see him, but maybe the sketch artist can guess his age or height based off of how you say he sounds.'' 
 
 
 “ They can really do that?'' 
 
 
 “ I haven ’ t the foggiest, but you seem like the kinda guy who won ’ t let it rest until I let you do a little something extra.'' 
 
 
 Bernard let out a small laugh and finally ceased his tapping of the cane. “ You got me there Richie, `` 
 
 
 “ Richard, please.'' 
 
 
 “ Alright then Richard, let ’ s get me to that office. I ’ ll do what I can.'' 
 
 
 “ Oh, you mean right now. Okay, let me see if I got somebody down at the station. ” Richards reached for his shoulder radio and relayed Bernard ’ s request to HQ. The only response he received was a laugh. “ Looks like a no go Bernard.'' 
 
 
 “ Well, can ’ t say I didn ’ t try. Hope they find Jenny ’ s killer.'' 
 
 
 “ And the boyfriend ’ s.'' 
 
 
 “ What ’ s that now?'' 
 
 
 “ Listen Bernard, between you and me. Looks like the boyfriend, the one you named, he did it far as I can tell. His knife with his initials, we found it still in that poor girl. Somebody else though did the boyfriend in. That ’ s who we ’ re trying to find.'' 
 
 
 “ Is that right?'' 
 
 
 “ Listen, meet my Captain here, I ’ ll fill him in and we ’ ll be in touch. ” Richard ’ s walked away as Bernard began to tap his cane, again like a thought would emerge any minute. 
 
 
 “ Captain, you got ta help me here. This old guy ’ s been telling me the same story all afternoon. Just tell him we ’ re on it and get him out of here, but he doesn ’ t seem to take a hint.'' 
 
 
 “ I swear Richards, you ’ ve got to learn how to handle difficult people if you want to keep canvassing these streets.'' 
 
 
 Bernard stopped tapping his cane. 
 
 
 “ Well since I don ’ t want to be out here, I guess I ’ m doing alright then. I like my desk. There ’ s coffee on my desk.'' 
 
 
 “ Where is he? ” 
 
 
 Richard ’ s pointed and the Captain walked towards Bernard, at first long strides, but as he approached the man his feet seemed to move slower. 
 
 
 “ Uh-hummm. ” The Captain cleared his throat and Bernard smiled. 
 
 
 “ Now, I think this was supposed to be a secret. But that Captain told me the man who did Jenny in, he got gone too? Is that right.'' 
 
 
 “ Ah. Yes, so it seems.'' 
 
 
 “ Didn ’ t care for that man much. Suppose it ’ s none of my concern. Sorry to waste your time there Captain. ” Bernard extended his left hand for a shake, after a moment the Captain shook hands with Bernard. 
 
 
 “ Strong grip there. Boxer?'' 
 
 
 “ Used to be.'' 
 
 
 “ Well you have yourself a good night, be safe. Give the misses a big hug when you get home. ” 
 
 
 `` I, uh. I will. You take care of that eye. Sorry to hear that happened.'' 
 
 
 `` Oh this ai n't too bad. Could n't see before anyway, so what good are they?''
