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"I had a thousand things to say to you, and a thousand reasons not to..."

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"Good morning Misses Preacher" he says with a kiss to her lips. 'Soft, sweet and tender, like a budding rose basking in the sunlight.' he thinks to himself. His newly wed wife, still half asleep, yawns and says with her own unique cheer "Good morning Mister Preacher."

The newly weds, Jack and Loretta Preacher both smiled at each other, both revelling in the day before. Walking down the aisle, the beautiful woman in the white dress, the man in the dark suit waiting at the end, the ceremonious ceremony and the kiss. The kiss sealing their fates and intertwining their destinies, body of two forever to be one. In death and in life.

While the day was magical, the night was a complete fantasy for the two. Two fearsome beasts wrestled through the night, the cries a chorus to be heard by no one. Do I need to go on or do you get the picture?

As they lay in the bed bathing in the dawn light, Jack Preacher couldn't be happier. as he lay with his wife, he prayed that this wasn't a dream, and oddly enough it wasn't a dream. No, it was a beginning. A beginning of a nightmare.

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"Jack Preacher, born February 18th, 2001, 34 years old Caucasian male, former Marine rifleman, served on the 67th infantry regiment. Married to Loretta Preacher 0ctober 16th, 2035. Found in his bedroom cuddling his recently deceased wife, unconscious with wrists cut and bleeding October 17th, 2035. Found by the wife's brother, a Mr. Keith Spaulding that afternoon. Said he came by the house after he didn't get an answer from either cellphone. After knocking on the door for some time he said he looked into the window and saw two unmoving bodies. Fearing the worst, he called 911 and then proceeded to kick the door in and found the two of them laying on the bed in a puddle of blood. Wife had stab marks around the waist and bruising around the neck. Autopsy said that she was strangled to death and the stabbing didn't happen until after she had died. Preacher was laying next to her, wrists cut and bleeding. Barely alive. The knife used to stab Mrs. Preacher was in the corner of the room, appears to have been thrown, found with Mr. Preacher's fingerprints on the handle. Mr. Spaulding was standing in the doorway when our men showed up They immediately called in paramedics and tried to staunch the bleeding on Mr. Preacher's wrists. Luckily there was a unit in that area and Mr. Preacher was brought into Emergency Care swiftly. Police then quickly sealed off the crime scene and gather evidence. All signs pointed to Mr. Preacher commiting the murder in a bout of PTSD, something he has been having problems with in the past."

"But you don't think it's that simple?"

"No. No I don't. It's too simple, too easy. Where's the catch? Where's the hook, the reason? It says in his medical records there hasn't been a reported episode in over 3 years, why should it flare up now, the night of his wedding? It's not like it's the first time he's slept with someone since he was discharged. It makes no sense to me!"

"Chief, I'm not saying you're wrong, but all the evidence points to Preacher. I think you might want to take a step back from this case."

"Why?"

"Because it's your nephew and think that is clouding your judgement. Take a step back. You can watch but leave the questioning to me and Pierce, your presence might make him antsy."

The chief grumbled but quite literally stook a step back. "I'll be listening in."

Officers Pierce and Loch stepped into the interrogation room. Pierce looked like your average frat boy, but despite his looks was rather quiet. Loch, on the other hand, looked almost as old as the Chief, just a few less wrinkles and gray hairs. They walked in and saw a man cuffed to a table. He had a little below average height, 5'6. He was wide like a football player, one that hasn't been to practice in a while. He was muscular but wasn't as defined as he used to be. Short burgandy hair was on his head, and a scar in the shape of an X was on his forehead, a gift left by his captors from his time in the service. Rough facial features and a gruff attitude made him not the most attractive. He sat at the end of the table with a dull look in his gray eyes.

"You already know the whole story Loch. I told Folleroy and Carlos the same thing I'm gonna tell you. We got married, we had sex, we fell asleep, I woke up, kissed her and wrapped my arms around her and went back to sleep. Next thing I know I'm waking up handcuffed to a hospital with IVs sticking in me. No we didn't have an argument last night. Yes I heard her say something back and NO, I DIDN'T DO IT!"

Seething with rage, tear drops coming from his eyes. "I just want to see her. This is all a misunderstanding, it's a dream. Wake me up, I'm begging you, wake me please..."

"Sorry Jack, but this isn't a dream. She's dead and you're in here. The best thing you can do is plead insanity." Pierce, straight forward and to the point.

"BUT I DIDN'T DO IT! I LOVED HER! I WOULD NEVER HURT LORETTA!" He slammed his hands on the table and sobbed. "I.... didn't d-d-do it. I loved her."

"We aren't saying you did it. What we're saying is that the best option would be to take the insanity plea. Get to an institution. Get some help. We're all worried about you Jack. I've known you since you were 5 years old. I've watched you grow up and I don't want to see you break down. Just take the plea."

Silence followed. Silence and the tears leaking down Jack's face, a waterfall cascading down, drop by drop onto the cold, metal table. Each drop, a tribute to the woman he loved.

The few moments they waited in silence felt like hours to Jack. Two seconds after the last tear drop left Jack's eye, he finally spoke up.

"Fine, I'll take the-"

"I don't think that will be necessary Mr. Preacher."

Jack looked up astounded. He hadn't recognized the voice. Couldn't even find the source of it. The two officers looked as if they heard nothing. In fact, they weren't even moving, weren't even breathing!

"No need to be afraid Mr. Preacher I'm here to help you find the man that killed your wife."

A man in a gray suit walked from behind him.

"You can call me Lucy Fernandez, certified Devil's Advocate. I'm just here to ask you a question. If you had only one chance to avenge Loretta, would you take it?"