The Body in the Bistro
Detective Lila Novak stepped into the quaint French bistro, her eyes immediately drawn to the lifeless body sprawled across the checkered floor. The victim, a well-dressed man in his fifties, lay face down in a pool of his own blood. Lila's partner, Detective Jack Ryder, was already on the scene, questioning the visibly shaken staff.
The owner, a petite woman named Claudette, tearfully explained that the victim, a regular customer named Vincent Dubois, had arrived for his usual evening meal. Minutes later, a waiter found him dead.
Lila examined the body, noting the deep gash on the back of Vincent's head. The weapon, a blood-stained wine bottle, lay shattered nearby. As she surveyed the scene, Lila's eyes fell upon a peculiar detail: a single, pristine white glove lying beneath a table.
Claudette mentioned that Vincent had dined alone, as usual. However, a waiter recalled seeing a well-dressed woman with short, dark hair leaving the bistro in a hurry shortly before the body was discovered.
Lila's instincts told her that this woman was the key to solving the mystery. After reviewing the bistro's security footage, Lila and Jack identified the woman as Vincent's estranged wife, Margot Dubois.
When questioned, Margot claimed she had not seen Vincent in weeks. However, Lila noticed a small cut on Margot's hand, and the missing glove matched the one found at the scene. Under pressure, Margot confessed to meeting Vincent at the bistro to discuss their divorce settlement. An argument ensued, and in a fit of rage, Margot struck Vincent with the wine bottle.
As Margot was led away in handcuffs, Lila couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness for the couple whose love had turned to tragedy. Another case closed, but the detective knew that the memory of the body in the bistro would linger long after the final report was filed.
