Murder Mystery Essay Example

Murder Mystery Essay The cottage was always quiet; the soft blue walls made it seem bigger than it actually was. Rachel had always lived there ever since her auntie died and left it to her. It was very remote, along a heavy-hedged back country lane, miles away from anyone else. Rachel returned from work one evening late and lay back on her sofa after opening the french windows to let the warm grass scented breeze blow through the stuffy cottage.She lay back; her long brown hair was released from its clip and hung over the arm of the sofa. She kicked off her shoes and lay back picking up the stereo controller from the floor and turning on the CD player which began to play the CD she had put in the night before. A relaxed song started up; it was her Stereophonics album. The song which came on reminded her of the previous night when her new man Steve had cooked for her then by nine the next morning hed performed a magical disappearing act.Rachel had been single for about a year and a half and now she was tw enty-five and shed decided she needed to get out and meet a new man after her and Andrew had split up. She was now working as a family law solicitor after years of training; her job had been the cause of the break up with Andrew. Doing the job she did she got involved with a lot of jealous ex wives whose husbands shed help divorce them. This one woman called Silvia Ripley had attacked her and she had a restraining order put on her and shed never bothered Rachel again. This was about the same time that Andrew got fed up and bailed on Rachel and funnily enough for one of her clients who had just been filing a divorce from her possessive husband and had been spending a lot of time at the cottage when Andrew was also living there. Rachel had never quite recovered from finding out about it because she had been with Andrew for five years and it came as a pretty huge shock.Rachel had met Steve in a pub when she was chatting with Andrews younger brother Rob, Steve was his best mate. Steve w as younger than Rachel by two years, he worked as a chef in a restaurant in the town. He was quite muscular built with short, black, tight curly hair and gorgeous dark eyes. Rachel liked him immediately and the next night when she was at home in the bath the doorbell rang. It was Rob; hed come over for a chat. He knew she was home because all the lights were on and when she didnt answer the door Rob opened the letter box and shouted, Rachel, its Rob, are you okay?She sat up in the bath and shouted back, Rob, Im in the bath, the spare key is under the blue flower pot, let yourself in.Alright.He let himself in and she got out of the bath and put on her night shirt and dressing gown (it was about ten o-clock) and went into the sitting room where Rob was sat grinning.What? said Rachel.Rob looked at her and smiled and said, Oh dear Rach what has happened to you, you used to always be out with all your mates on a Saturday night.She looked up with a sad look on her face; Your brother is wh at happened to me, you should know that Rob.Rob and Rachel had always kept in touch because theyd always got on well as friends. When she broke up with Andrew, Rob had been a shoulder to cry on, which seriously got to Andrew and he got a bit violent with him.Yeah, but you have to move on Rach, hes an idiot to have done what he did to you and its been over a year and him and that woman didnt exactly last, it was all of a three month thing before she got back with her husband.I know Rob, but wed been together for five years it wasnt exactly a little fling we had was it?Very true but hes an idiot as I said and you can do much better and that is why I am here.Rachel looked at him puzzled, tying up her hair in a loose ponytail. Oh god here we go, this better be good.He looked at her and smiled cheekily then said, Well, I think youll like it.Come on then get to the point.Okay, Okay. You know my mate Steve who I was with last night.Yeah.Well he thinks you are quite nice and he wants you to come out with us two next Saturday night with one of your mates.Rachel was intrigued, shed thought Steve was rather nice when she first saw him but hadnt really given it a second thought because he hadnt given her any signals.Really! she saidYeah, do you like him?Like is an understatement, hes gorgeous.Oh good well you wont mind if I bring him here tomorrow to meet you then.She raised her eyebrows. No I have no objections to that, but you know my best mate, the blonde one who laughs a lot calledAlly.Yeah.I know, she came on to me at that party you and Andrew had that Christmas.Oh yeah, that was so funny, shes going to be here tomorrow.Yeah I like her, well well come around at about eight.Yeah okay, youre not going yet are you?Yeah I dont want to interrupt your evening alone.Oh it really isnt as good as it sounds, you dont want to stay here tonight do you, its just it is actually quite scary here alone and we havent had a really good chat for ages.Okay, we can have a chat about Stev e.So Rob stayed the night in the spare room after they had stayed up until three in the morning talking.The next day he left at about one and Rachel started to tidy her house before the others came round that evening. Rob was a good friend to Rachel, he checked up on her most days. He was very like Andrew in his looks; they both had short, light brown hair and bluey green eyes. They were both smooth talkers and could always make people smile. The only difference was Andrews temper sometimes when hed had a bad day or drunk to much he would totally fly off the handle, which always upset Rachel and she was the only person who could calm him down.Sunday night and Ally, Rob and Steve came around. Rachel clicked with Steve right away and Rob just sat their making Ally wet herself laughing all night with his filthy jokes. They all left at about midnight and arranged to meet at a pub on the next Saturday night for a bit of fun.The week passed quickly and it was Saturday night and Ally was a t Rachels and they were both getting dressed to impress. Their taxi arrived at half past eight and took them to Rezzas Bar. They met Rob and Steve outside but as they went through the big silver doors the first person Rachels eyes met with at the bar were Andrews. He didnt look all together too happy and he was sat alone and he looked pretty drunk. She was worried about Steve because she knew what Andrew was like when he was drunk. They went over and sat in the corner of the pub then Ally and Rachel went up to the bar to get the drinks. They ended up right next to Andrew. Ally stood between them but it didnt work and when Rachel was walking back with the drinks he whispered coarsely in Rachels ear, Youll regret this, Rachel. She just ignored him and walked back to the corner and didnt tell the others what he had said to her. It did worry her and that night when she arrived back home alone she was so scared that she had to carry a golf club around with her. It was about four in the m orning when she heard a crash from outside, she woke up with a start and sat up in bed petrified, she tried to move but couldnt, she was like a rabbit in the headlights of a car which was gradually getting closer and closer. Her eyes started into the darkness off the room her breathing became faster and faster and she was finding it hard to hold back the tears of sheer fright. She was sat up, dead still for almost fifteen minutes before she plucked up the courage to turn on the lamp next to her bed. She began to cry with her head gripped firmly in her shaking, pale hands. There was nothing she could do and noone she could call who wouldnt be fast asleep or drunk. She lay back in the bed with the light on; wide awake until it gradually got light outside. That night her and Steve had actually got somewhere, theyd chatted all evening and at the end she got a goodnight kiss and he arranged to come around to cook her a meal the next day. It became light and Rachel couldnt stay in bed any more, she got out of bed at about quarter to seven and checked everything was okay. She sat watching television clutching a cup of tea in her hands. At about half past ten she decided to ring Rob and tell him what had happened and what Andrew had said to her. Rob told her not to worry and that Andrew wouldnt do that to her.During that day Rachel had to work on a case about a man who was trying to sue his wife because she found another womans underwear under their bed and torched his new car and broke his wrist with a tennis racket. It was confusing and she didnt have much information to work with. She spent most of the day working and then at seven the doorbell rang, it was Steve with a bottle of wine and all the ingredients he needed to make Rachel dinner. Rachel had cleaned the kitchen that morning which was lucky because later Steve told her he hated working in a messy kitchen and commented on how clean hers was. Rachel carried on working for another hour or so while Steve contin ued cooking away in the kitchen. At eight Steve came into Rachels study and said, Its all ready.They both ate in the dining room and the both talked, by eleven they were both shattered and slightly drunk. Steve couldnt drive home so he stayed the night and not on the sofa!That evening Rachel returned home from work and dreaded spending the night alone.A week or so had passed and Steve had been around quite a lot, Rachel was still working on her case and it was going really well because she was winning.One Tuesday night Rachel returned from work and picked up the post from the doormat. Most of them were bills but one was had a hand written address which intrigued Rachel. She thought it might have been from her sister Beth who lived in South Africa but then saw an english stamp. She opened it and unfolded a plain piece of paper and typed on it in big black letters was, I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND NOW IM GOING TO RUIN YOUR LIFE LIKE YOU RUINED MINE, RACHEL!Rachel was written in red lette rs, this was just another thing that scared Rachel after the night when she heard the noises outside. She didnt know anyone who would have written something that twisted and deranged as a joke so Rachel rung the police. The police came to her house and looked at the letter. There were two policemen, Inspector Mark Gates and Inspector Peter Fielding. They couldnt do much to help but apart from that she should have someone living with her.Back at the station Gates and Fielding looked at the letter.Its a wind up, noone round her would write something like that. Said Fielding.Mark Gates studied the letter and then said, Nah, I doubt it, its probably a mate trying to scare her. Do you think we should find out a little more from her just in case?Fielding looked up from his newspaper and said, I suppose we ought to really.Back at her cottage Rachel was sat looking at her phone list to see who she could call, she didnt really want to ask Steve because if it was Andrew messing around it woul d make it worse. She decided to ask Ally. Ally was all for it and that evening brought round all her stuff and they watched a film. That night they shared Rachels bed because they were both scared, they talked about memories and Andrew. Rachel had known Ally ever since she was seven and theyd been best friends all the time.Another fortnight passed and Ally was still staying with Rachel it was an early Friday morning at three thirty when the phone rang, Rachel answered it, her voice shaking. From the other end nobody answered but she could hear them breathing. She hung up to see Ally stood in the doorway looking like a ghost. She picked up the handset again and rang one, four, seven, one. From the other end the womans recorded voice said, You were called today at, three thirty Am. The caller withheld their number.Rachel held the phone away from her ear, her whole body was now shaking, who was it Rach. Said Ally in a faint voice.Rachel put the phone back on the hook and said, I dont k now, they didnt say anything and with held their number.Oh Christ Rach. Said Ally, Andrew wouldnt do this to you would he?Rachel looked up now looking quite angry and said, I dont know, I havent spoken to him properly since we broke up so he has no reason to do this. Maybe hes changed I dont know but Im going to his house tomorrow to find out. If it isnt then itll get the picture of it being him out of my head.Are you sure Rach? What if something happens.He wouldnt, not in the house and anyway his little brother Ed will probably be there or his parents.He doesnt come across as the kind of person who would do this to a girl?I know but it was just something he said to me one Saturday when I was out.What?Yeah, he said Id regret something, I didnt say anything because he was drunk and I didnt want to deter Steve.Rachel. Said Ally in shock, Why didnt you tell those police men that.She didnt say anything at first then said quietly, Andrew isnt like that, everyone has got this notion that hes aggressive, he isnt he never laid a finger on me all the time I was with him. Just because he beat Rob up so bad when that woman finished it with him, everyone reckons he used to hit me.So he didnt hit you, but what about at that party when you arrived not speaking and you had a huge bruise on your face just before you split up.It wasnt him, it was that woman who beat me up and had the restraining order put in place on her. We werent speaking because I refused to go to the police about it and he had a go and we didnt speak.Rach has it ever occurred to you it might be her.Rachel went quiet and began to tie up her hair then said, No she had the restraining order put in place and that was ages ago, she hasnt touched me since.Well I havent got a clue but can I sleep in your bed?Yeah.They both went to sleep and the next day they both went off to work. At work Rachel had a message from Peter Fielding that asked her to ring the station because he wanted to make an appointment to see he r the next day. It was all okay and he was coming around at seven the next evening to get some more information. That evening after work Rachel went up to Andrews, she pulled in the drive and saw his sixteen-year-old brother Ed sat in his mums car. Andrews car was parked next to that. Rachel got out and walked up towards the house and as she walked past Ed he said, Oh my god, who is that, is that Rachel. Havent seen you here for a few years.She laughed and said, Yeah tell me about it. She walked on and gave him a cheeky grin then knocked on the door. Andrews mum Marcia answered, Rachel! Hello darling, I havent seen you for ages, since Rob moved out, hows it going?Rachel smiled and said, Im okay, getting a bit snowed under with work but Im going okay, thanks and you.Yeah Im okay, so why do we get the pleasure of your company then?I actually came here to see Andrew, is he in?Marcia raised her eyebrow and said, Yeah, hes upstairs go on up, Ill see you later, Ive got to go shopping.Alri ght then, bye.Rachel walked up the stairs and realised that she was alone in the house with Andrew. She walked across the landing and into the doorway of Andrews room. He looked up and gave a half smile half frown look, Rachel said softly, Andrew, I really need to talk to you.Andrew looked up again from his computer where he was typing something for work and said, What could you possibly need to talk to me about?Andrew, Im serious, I really need to know what you meant when you said I was going to regret something.Why?Just tell me what you meant Andrew. She said in a strained voice.Okay, calm down Rach. Steve is what I meant. Rob obviously didnt fill you in on what he did to his last girlfriend.She looked him worried about what he was going to say next, What did he do?He used to hit her, once he put her in hospital when he pushed her down the stairs. Hes bad news Rachel. Rob says hes changed but some people dont change. Anyway why did you want to know so badly?Rachel was quite stunne d by what Andrew had just told her then with her voice starting to shake and tears starting to trickle from her eyes she said, I got a death threat a few weeks ago and then this morning a half three someone rung up and didnt speak I could just hear them breathing.By now Rachel was crying and she knew it wasnt Andrew because of the shocked look on his face. He said, Rachel, babe I didnt mean to scare you with what I said in that pub. You didnt think I would do that to you did you? She looked at him with her face wet with tears and didnt say anything; You did didnt you? Id never do that to you Rachel or anyone its sick, come here. He put his arms around her and she continued to cry. Andrew held her and said, Im really sorry about everything Ive done to you, I was such an idiot, I dont even know why I cheated on you because I loved you so much.Rachel was quiet and for a moment Andrew thought she was going to run right out of there. She didnt, Look Andrew, I dont want to confuse why Im here, I loved you too but you hurt me so much, do you understand why I have hated you so much over the last year?He looked quite stunned because he was hoping for some kind of reconciliation but instead she was just rubbing the fact that basically she hated his guts into him, Yeah I understand so if youre not here for that reason, why do you think Id do something so petty as to threaten you if I dont love you which I obviously didnt because I wouldnt of run off with Jules.Andrew, Im not here so you can rub the fact that you cheated on me in my face, I went through enough at the time dont you think.Andrews temper was starting to kick in and he said in a annoyed tone of voice like a father, I didnt exactly get off easily, my whole family hated me for doing it to you, I even had a fight with my own brother because of it.Dont expect me to be sympathetic with you, you brought it all on yourself and got everything you deserved.Yeah exactly so why cant you just forget it Rachel, I made a r eally huge mistake and I wish I hadnt now because I came off worse in the end because I lost both her and you.Rachel went quiet, she was perched on the end of his bed and he was sat opposite her on a chair, she couldnt resist and they kissed. After about two minutes Rachel pulled away and said, Wow, well you havent changed I dont know whether thats a good or bad thing. Anyway look Andrew I have to go home because Ally will start to get worried if I dont go back. Im glad were friends.Andrew gave her a really cheeky smile and said, Look if youre worried about staying alone or if you and Ally are scared you know where to find me.Rachel raised her eyebrows as she was walking out of the door on to the landing and said, Lets not go jumping the gun, remember Im still loosely seeing Steve.Andrew rolled his eyes and said as he began to follow her down the stairs into the hall, Yeah I know but just be careful with him Rachel, hes got a weird temper and it doesnt take much for him to get out o f control.They were now at the front door and Rachel was making her way out of it towards her car and Andrew was stood propped up against the doorframe looking happy and Rachel said, Thanks Andrew, for warning me about Steve and if I need anything Ill give you a ring.Okay then see you around.Yeah bye.She got into her car and drove home. She walked in the door of her house smiling to herself, secretly she was really pleased that she hadnt lost her touch with Andrew but she was major worried about what Andrew had told her about Steve. Ally was there and said, Well did you go to Andrews? Rachel smiled, What did you do? said Ally in an expectant tone.Rachel began to giggle then said, Oh not much, we kissed and it isnt him.Allys jaw literally dropped, Rachel, I thought you hated his guts?I did but he apologised for everything and it was a long time ago now, Im willing to forget.Oh well but did you find out what he meant about the regret thing?Oh my god, yeah, he used to beat up his girlf riend big time, he put her in hospital when he pushed her down the stairs.Ally didnt believe her, Yeah right, are you sure that isnt just Andrew trying to scare you off him because he wants you back.Rachel thought for a second, Andrew wouldnt do that Ally, hes not like that.The conversation drifted off in other directions and the girls decided to go out for a meal together. Rachel hadnt seen Steve for a few days now, so she was hoping that maybe hed gone off her. They ended up in a pub and had carvery and sat there talking until kick out time. When they returned home Rachel looked at the front door and in red paint someone had written R.I.P on the white painted wood. The girls looked at each other and were totally freaked out by this, this was getting seriously scary now and a little past a joke and they both knew someone was serious. Rachel opened the door, shed picked up a garden fork, which had been outside the door, and they went in. On the floor, infront of them was an unmarked envelope on the doormat infront of her. They looked at one another with fear shooting through them. They quickly got into the house and shut the door and turned on all the lights. Rachel carefully opened the letter on the kitchen table; out of the envelope she pulled a piece of white paper and unfolded it. It said this time in big, typed, red letters, HOW MUCH LONGER WILL I WAIT?Both of them began to cry with terror and Rachel picked up the phone and rang the police. The two original inspectors soon arrived and came in and saw the letter and the door, even they were getting worried now. This time they sat and took some thorough notes on Rachel and called some more detectives to inspect all around the property. She told them she was a solicitor and she had to tell them all the details about Steve and Andrew. Afterwards Gates said that hed have someone there to watch the house all night and that they should call up someone else to stay with them. It wasnt surprising for Andrew when h is mobile phone started ringing at midnight. He recognised Rachels number and answered sleepily, Hey Rach, whats up?She explained to him and he came around right away with loads of his stuff and a baseball bat. As he drove into her drive the policeman sat outside watching the house saw him and he had to explain to him and call up the house to tell Rachel some weirdo with a baseball bat was coming to stay. Rachel answered the door and as soon as he saw her he hugged her. They went indoors and they all went to bed. The night went quickly but all of them found it hard to sleep with all that was going on. The next day the police had managed to discover where the prank phone call had been from and unfortunately it was from a phone box out in the middle of nowhere. During the day they tapped Rachels phone line so if someone rang again they could trace it straight away and hopefully catch who was tormenting her.In the next week unfortunately for both Andrew and Rachel, Steve discovered tha t Andrew was living with Rachel but he didnt know why because Rachel wasnt allowed to tell anyone what was happening apart for Andrew and Ally of course because if there really was some psycho out there theyd be the most vulnerable and they might scare them off if they went around telling everyone or it might endanger their lives as well. Steve wasnt happy about it and he rang Rachel and had a real stress out on her and got quite aggressive towards her which unfortunately the police were tapped into the phone call and heard and it made him a prime suspect and also the fact that he had been reported to the police by his neighbours when he was with his last girlfriend because they thought they could hear screams but his girlfriend said it was on the television and they couldnt pin anything on him. Rachel didnt have a clue who would do this to her and what with the last letter she didnt know what to do next, even with the police living outside her back door she somehow still didnt feel one hundred per cent safe. That Friday night when Ally, Andrew and Rachel had a quiet night in Rob turned up. The policeman had had to ask him who he was and had to ring the house up to check that Rachel actually knew him. Rob came in and didnt look to pleased with Rachel or Andrew.Hey Rachel. He said, So whats going on, the police played Steve a little visit yesterday, do you want to tell me whats going on here and why Andrew is living here and why there is a policeman outside your drive.Rachel didnt know what to say she couldnt not tell him after all the things hed done to her. Look Rob if I tell you what is happening you have to promise not to tell anyone not even Steve.Yeah, yeah. He said.Just listen Rob. Said AndrewRachel took a deep breath, I keep getting death threats and phone calls, the police questioned Steve because he got quite aggressive down the phone the other day and they were tapped into it. Im not meant to tell anyone but now you know you cant tell a soul.Rob look ed totally stunned by what he had just been told, Christ, Rach you didnt honestly think Steve had done that.No I thought it was Andrew, I honestly havent got a clue who is doing this to me and I dont want to endanger any of your lives but I when youre here I know youre safe.The three carried on talking for most of the night and Rob stayed the night. The next day they all went out which was a bit of a mistake because when the post came there was yet another two death threats and they were numbered one and two. The first one said, HOW LONG? and the second one said, WHERE, WHAT WITH AND WHICH ONE OF YOU? FOUR IS A BIG CHOICE!!!That did it they were all totally freaked out, now they had to tell Rob that he was a target as well. Rob took it quite badly and Andrew was about ready to bail on them because he knew that it was seriously getting bad now. Ally couldnt sleep; the inspectors managed to get her some sleeping pills so she could at least get some sleep. A week or so passed and nothi ng else had happened, they had managed to see the bright side of things using alcohol as an aid but it was only temporary and when reality did hit in, it was ten times more frightening.Another fortnight passed and that is when everything started to go totally wrong. It was a Saturday night and Andrew, Ally, Rachel and Rob had all been out together and they all went back to Rachels for a safety in numbers reason and as the drove towards her house they could see that Rachels bedroom light was on. They didnt think much of it until they were walking up the garden path to see the back door wide open. They couldnt go any further when they saw it and they ran back to Allys car. They then noticed there wasnt a police guard there and they rang the police straight away. Inspector Gates and Fielding turned up again and behind them were another group of detectives who went through the house they went into the house and they saw nothing, they went upstairs and thats when they saw what had happen ed, Rachels room had been ransacked and hanging for the roof by string were pictures of Rachel, Ally, Andrew, Rob and Rachels sister Beth.The police took them to the lab to be fingerprint tested and the four stayed at the police station. They didnt go back the next day but the police had finished inspecting the property by the Sunday morning, Rachel, Ally and Andrew were steering clear and decided that they were going to go back on Monday morning.Monday morning came and they all jumped in Allys car and went back to Rachels house. As they walked to the front door they saw a suitcase outside the front door. It was daylight so they werent so scared about someone being there. Rachel looked at a tag on the suitcase handle. It said in block capitals, PROPERTY OF: MISS BETHANY SARAH BRADBURY, MILL FARM, COOMBE MARTIN, DEVON. EX31 5LH.It was her sisters old suitcase, deep down Rachel knew that Beth was dead it was imminent that what with the photo and her not being in sight that someone wou ld have done something to her.Its Beths, where is she?Rachel couldnt hold back the tears, the door was still locked but the door that led around the side of the cottage to the back garden was open. They walked through the doorway and they knew what was going to greet their eyes. On the white flag stones outside the french windows lay the dead body of Beth lying in a pool of blood. Her lips were purple and her skin was white, Rachel broke down into tears. Within minutes the place was crawling with policemen and the whole place was turned upside down looking for anything that would be a clue to who it was. They found nothing and whoever it was they were good at not leaving clues. Rachel, Andrew, Ally and Rob were now put in new accommodation because there was no way that any of them would spend a night in that house ever again.It took a few weeks before Beths funeral but the day soon came. Rachel and Ally were at the church and at Rachels parents all day and Andrew was coming later fo r the actual funeral because he had to work. He finished work at twelve and realised that he had to go back to his parents house to get his suit. The funeral was going to start at half one and he had to have a shower so he decided to have it back at his old house. His little brother Edward was at school and his parents were both at the church helping Rachels mum and dad. He went in and had something to eat and then had his shower and then put on his suit and was just about ready. As he stepped through the door to go outside something hit him hard on the head and he fell to the ground unconscious.At the church the funeral was beginning. Rachel was quite angry that Andrew hadnt turned up. As they walked down the aisle of the church behind the coffin she noticed Beths husband James, who she was separated from sat in one seat and right infront of him was Steve. Rachel was baffled as to why they were both there but as soon as it was over and all the guests went back to Rachels parents fa rm she soon found out. James was stood alone with a drink in his hand and Rachel was talking to him and he asked her something, Tell me Rachel, who is the bloke in the dark blue shirt?His names Steve Manning.Oh right.Rachel moved on and went to talk to her cousin and as she did so she saw from the corner of her eye James walk up to Steve and hit him full pelt in the face. They were soon split up and thats when she found out why it had all happened from James. Steve and Beth had been having an affair behind James back for a year when they were first married two years ago, then they moved to South Africa. James had been tidying up their bedroom before he was about to decorate it and found Beths diary. A few bits of paper fell out and one had a photo stapled to it. It was a letter from Steve talking about their affair and how stupid it was, and Beth must have stapled the photo of him to it. Thats why Beth had come home because they had split up and she wanted to see Rachel first.It was about half five the same day that Rachels mobile phone started to ring. It was Andrews home number that flashed on the screen at her. Andrewss parents were still at Rachels parents house so it must have been Andrew. She was just about ready to give him a full blown earful when a voice she recognised but not Andrews spoke down the phone to her, Rachel, its Edward here, you have to come here and tell mum and dad. Ive just got home from school and found Andrew unconscious outside the back door. Ive called an ambulance but I cant feel a pulse.Oh no. said Rachel. Ill tell them and come straight away, keep talking to him.Okay.Rachel was as white as a sheet, she went and told Andrews parents and they all rushed to their house, it wasnt very far away so it didnt take long. As they came down the last few metres of their lane they could see the lights of the ambulance flashing from outside the house. They pulled into the drive to see Ed with his head in his hands and Andrew being lifted into the back of the ambulance. The ambulance crew had managed to revive him and were taking him back to the hospital to make sure his head was okay and that there werent any blood clots or severe damage to his skull.After spending a week in hospital they gave him the all clear and sent Andrew home. Rachel was now feeling totally responsible for Beths death and the attack on Andrew it was starting to get to all

Top 10 New and Unique Teacher Gift Ideas Revealed

Top 10 New and Unique Teacher Gift Ideas Revealed Buying for teachers can be hard. A gift card is usually the best choice because lets face it, everyone loves a gift card. But this year, if you want to think outside of the box and get something totally new and unexpected for a teacher, then we have some new and unique ideas for you. Whether you are a teacher looking to buy for another teacher, a superintendent looking to buy for your school staff, or a parent looking to buy for your childs teacher, you will find something special and unique in this gift guide. This teacher gift guide is split into two sections: one for school staff that is looking for new ideas to buy for their fellow teachers, and one for parents looking to buy for their childs teachers. You will find that there is something for everyone, as well as at different price points. Administrators Buying for Teachers Here the top five classroom items that are on most teachers wishlist. You will find items as low as $30 and as much as $375. 1. FlexiSpot Sit-Stand Desktop Workstation Standup desks are an amazing new tech tool that educators everywhere would love to have. They allow easy transition between sitting and standing and are perfect for teachers who spend a lot of time on their feet. They are also great for teachers who love to use PowerPoint Presentations or a SmartBoard in their classroom. Simply place the FlexiSpot on top of your existing desk and you are ready to teach. 2. Table Storage and Charging Base Now that many classrooms are fitted with a classroom set of iPads or tablets, teachers need somewhere to charge and store them. Table storage and charging base (which can run between $30-$150) is a great classroom gift because it can hold up to six tablets with or without their protective cases. 3. High Speed Label Printer Teachers label everything from student desks and folders. You can purchase a good high-speed label printer. If you are going to get one, a wireless, portable printer is the way to go. 4. Document Camera A document camera is a great tool for teachers they are particularly handy for science activities that require students to look at things from all different angles. Parents Buying for Teachers The average parent is said to spend between $25-$75 on their childs teacher for each occasion (teacher appreciation, holiday, end-of-the-year). Here are five new and unique teacher gift ideas that are on many teachers wishlist. 1. Apple TV   Apple TV has become the new must-have for classroom teachers. Educators love them because they can be used to mirror their iPad screen (much like a Smart Board).  You can use the Apple TV display student work, watch movies, and even Skype with peers around the globe. 2. Personalized Letter Probably the best gift that you can give a teacher is a heartfelt letter showing him/her your appreciation for a job well done. This thoughtful gift can really be the stepping stone that the teacher needs to advance in their career (when you send a copy to the principal). The letter doesnt have to be long, just a few sentences talking about how much you appreciate them can go a long way. By sending a copy to the principal, you are adding a positive recommendation to their file. This recommendation can be just the thing a teacher needs to help them advance in their job. Heres an example to help inspire you:   Im writing to you to express my appreciation for a job well done. My daughter has had anxiety in the past  and was quite nervous about starting school this year, that was until she met you. You have made a tremendous impact on my daughter thus far. 3. Headphone Splitter At only $12 a pop, you can give teachers a gift that they will actually use in their classroom. The Belkin Rockstar headphone splitter allows teachers to plug in multiple headphones into one iPad or tablet, which is great for listening centers. As many as six students at a time can now plug their headphones into one outlet at the learning center. This cheap and practical gift is a great tool for the classroom. 4. iPad Projector Instead of spending money on an impersonal on a gift card, you can purchase an iPad projector for less than a hundred dollars. Running in at a just under $70 (via Amazon) a mini portable LCD projector is easy to cart to and from school, and teachers can use it for personal use as well. 5. Stay and Play Balance Ball Alternative seating is quite popular in todays classrooms. However, many teachers do not have them just yet. For around $20 per balance ball, you can help turn the teachers classroom into a ball of fun. These seats (which are essentially an exercise ball with feet) make learning so much fun.

Telecommuting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Telecommuting - Essay Example Telecommuting has been touted as the wave of the future as far as workplace trends go. This is due to the large number of individuals and corporations that are opting for this method of work against the physical work at the office model. Telecommuting basically is the idea where one works outside the confines of the conventional office space (Amigoni, 2009, 3). There are various benefits that have been attained by firms that have adopted this method as part of their human resources management strategy. While some have had success other firms have experienced a negative effect with their bid to try and adopt telecommuting policies. A recent incidence may have brought the issues that are raised by telecommuting to the fore and this was with the recently appointed chief executive (CEO) of Yahoo banning the telecommuting policy of the company. Discussions have been raised on whether this was a good move or not? What may have called for her action? How does this affect the future producti vity of Yahoo as a company? There are a number of advantages that a company may stand to gain from adopting a telecommuting policy. Various different studies have been conducted that have looked at the improvements that a firm may get from having a section of its workers telecommuting to work. Some of these studies have found that telecommuting helps boost the performance of the workers and this has been attributed to a number of factors. One of these factors is the amount of time that is saved by workers who do not have to commute to work every day. Each day there is an increasing number of hours that workers spend on the road on their way to and from work. These hours can be better spent working on their various tasks if they telecommute. This savings are also in the fact that a large percentage of the workers are now not forced to endure traffic jams that also consume a lot of the time which limits the workers productivity. If this time is spent doing company related tasks and as signments they can help improve greatly on the output of the company (Johnson, 2001, 169). The other idea is in the fact that those who telecommute to work have been found to have an increased amount of productivity as compared to their colleagues who do not telecommute.  

Racial conflict Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Racial conflict - Research Paper Example The management of racial conflict has in the recent past turned out to be a severe challenge in the post-cold war era. Recent years has witnessed manifestation of racial conflicts in different ways including: intimidation, property vandalism, verbal threat, ethic/racial jokes, as well as physical violence. Racial conflicts have as well received infinite critics from various entities due to its long term harm to victims’ physical, psychological, social, and emotional wellbeing that is brought about by body mistreatment, verbal harm, and the impacts of consistent threats (Enrique189). It appears that, some of this racial unrest is brought about by inadvertent and intentional physical verbal and non-verbal actions. Racial conflict can be defined as a situation that explains either a misunderstanding or planned racial discrimination and harassment that leads to physical distress and interpersonal altercations in the affected population. Peaceful coexistence between different racia l groups is extremely critical for sustainable political, social, and economic development. Lack of peaceful coexistence amongst different racial group may lead to consistent racial tension, hostility, and conflicts that lead to destruction of properties and loss of lives. To necessitate global uniformed economic development and growth, maintenance of global peace is paramount and inevitable. All plays are therefore expected to step up and initiate mechanisms that can offset animosity experienced among different racial groups. Additionally, to realize the relevant change for social development, individuals ought to be committed toward bringing the required change in the society. The essay below therefore seeks to persuade individuals to take the necessary actions to actively defy racial conflict in the society. Due to racial conflicts, societies in different countries are divided; more that 20 million lives have so far been lost, future generation is as well at risk of extinction an d there is increased racial based hatred and fear in the world. Racial conflict has become a global economic development predicament that requires instant action to minimize its effect on the contemporary society. Based on the assessable global statistics, it is clear that, racial motivate conflicts occurs almost on daily bases in diverse social settings. In 2007, the world spent over $ 67 million to help racial conflict victims. In 2003, the United States of America’s Department of Justice received over 210,000 cases of racially motivated hate crimes in different states. The current statistics is a clear indication of elevating cases of racial conflict in a considerable number of the world society. Based on the current statistics, it is astonishing to understand that, a good percentage of modern racial instigated violence is more apparent among young people. For instance in 2005, the 21% of hate crime offenders in United States of America were under 18 years of age. Addition ally, most racial conflicts occur in learning institutions. Present statistics indicates that, over 64% of global conflicts in many learning institutions are motivated by nations of origin and race (Mitchell 621). By considering the fact , most of the racial conflict cases are common among young people, it is evident that, unless acute action is taken against racial conflict suspects, the menace is likely to be worse in the near future People vacating their homes due to racial conflicts in Italy Additionally, despite its daunting level, the accessible statistics may fail to present the actual cases of racial conflicts in different societies. This is due to the fact that, most of the available statistics is based on the reported cases. A good number of the affected

Greek and Roman Sculptures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Greek and Roman Sculptures - Essay Example This activity provided steady employment for many architects and sculptors who organized leading workshops in Greece, revolutionizing Greek classical art and architecture. The Parthenon, built by Menesicles and Ictinus, along with the Propylaea (the gateway with the finest paintings and sculpture of the Classical age) crowned the Athenian Acropolis. Other prominent works included The Panhellenic shrines, Delphi (oracle of Apollo) and Olympia (the shrine of Zeus). Delphi (460 BC) is the athlete offering libation of oil from patera (sacrificial bowl) in thanks for victory1. Roman art and architecture was founded on a different principle than their Greek counterparts. The Romans believed that for the continuity of the Roman Empire, they could only do so only through art. Since an emperor could not be omnipresent, it was necessary to set up the statue of the emperor in law courts, market places, public assemblies, and theatres. This policy led to the sculpture of a large number of the imperial effigies to adorn prominent buildings in Rome2. Since its discovery in 1963, the sculpture of Augustus of Prima Porta has been the subject of much scholarly discussion. The marble sculpture is probably a copy of a now-lost bronze statue which was made shortly after 22 BC. Augustus was lionized by the Roman people, he promoted conservative Republican values. He tried to restore faith in the Roman state by equating his role as Pontifex Maximus (Head Priest) with religious and moral values. Augustus used religion to reorganize state and to establish his own rule. He also promoted the cult of emperor as divine by building a temple to the Divine Julius 2.0 Augustus of Prima Porta (Roman Sculpture) Photo of Augustus of Prima Porta (Courtesy: Late Antiquity: Imperial Image) In Augustus of Prima Porta, Augustus is portrayed as a general, draped in a cuirass (breastplate) richly embellished with reliefs. The waist is draped in a paludamentum or officer's cloak. The upraised arms of the figure are an interpretation of ad locutio, a gesture conveying the power of speech in Roman art. It gives a visual demonstration of the emperor's power. Augustus saw himself as the Principate of Rome. Augustus of Prima Porta is one of the earliest examples of imperial portraiture used for political propaganda; the statue's purpose was to identify the state with a well-meaning and enlightened Augustus. The sculpture of Augustus of Prima Porta is a Greco-Roman example of exquisite craftsmanship of the Roman period. The sculpture has the power of expression in its god-like appearance. Practices of deifying rulers and erecting temples in their honor began in Rome as early as the reign of Augustus. Augustus of Prima Porta is the type of statue that stood in such a temple. It adapted an orator's gesture, combined with the pose and body proportions, as prescribed by the Greek Polykleitos and exemplified by the Spear Bearer, Doryphoros. Bare feet suggest that the work may have been posthumous and signified his apotheosis, or elevation to divine status. Carved on the cuirass are scenes, recounting outstanding achievements of Augustus' reign and pictures of the gods and goddesses. The Greek influence can be seen in the depictions of divine figures. The depiction of a Parthian giving back the

Evolution of Leadership

Evolution of Leadership Amber Goshe An Evolution of Leadership In order to thrive in the realm of leadership, companies and individual departments have started to recognize that leadership must be adaptable, continuous, and be able to play various roles to create synergy in the work place. Quantum leadership and the path-goal leadership theory are discussed in this paper, as well as, the benefits and limitations of both theories in an organizational environment. A real workplace scenario is presented with a discussion of the type of conflict presented, in addition to, strategies that could be used in addressing the issue at hand. Quantum Leadership Quantum leadership is chaotic and is based on principles of physics and constant change and transformation. It is always changing and evolving. Therefore, the leader’s role is focused on understanding the intricacy of the change and then transforming it into a way that can be understood by those it affects (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). By evaluating a change and anticipating change, a quantum leader can project to see where the change is going (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). The theory focuses on adaptation, integration, interaction, and prediction (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). Quantum leadership is not based on a hierarchy. It views an organization and its members as interrelated team members that is better served through collaboration (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). Quantum leadership emphasizes the importance of the relationships between individuals in the organization rather than focusing on solely the individual. Leaders and the people they lead have to be comfortable with ambiguity and the challenges brought forth by continuous change (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). Quantum leaders must be vulnerable and open to different realities but also be aware of their limitations (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). Quantum leadership also embraces values for individuals and groups within the organization. There is an emotional investment that is important because it provides a perspective of ownership and integrity and should be visible because values stand out by a person’s actions every day (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). Also, shared basic underlying assumptions in quantum leadership define the invisible culture and determine what makes the organization function every day (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). Yet, these are basic and highly influential in a group’s behavior. This often goes overlooked until someone oversteps on one and then it usually comes out as frustration expressed by a team member that identifies the violation (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). The artifacts in the culture address the things someone first comes into contact with an organization and therefore it is easy to see what one encounters but it is hard to decipher the true meaning of the culture (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). Another assumption includes beliefs and values including the goals, identified goals and spoken values (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). These assumptions can be driven by groups or by individuals who have influence inside the institute. However, it can be challenging to make these underlying assumptions visible and used to add value. Quantum leadership focuses on the process and embraces that it is indefinite and limitless and does not place emphasis solely on the results and how one gets there. Quantum leadership embraces finding potential. It is not always controllable or predictable and that is a good thing because a leader should become worried once everything becomes predictable (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). Quantum leadership lets go of control and opens up the opportunity for various leadership styles to emerge to align the motivation between team members (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). It emphasizes collaboration between members and building upon others strengths but knowing their weaknesses and limitations. Quantum leadership instills meaning into leadership but it does have its own action plans. The action plans within the organization, however, do focus on accomplishing goals appropriately and meaningfully (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). The group must have good communication and interaction within the organization to accelerate success which can be aligned by the leader. The individual’s interest in the organization is also taken into account (Malloch Porter O’Grady, 2009). Path-Goal Theory The path-goal theory is based on identifying a leader’s motivation or style that best suits the employee to facilitate goal achievement. This theory focuses on three main aspects of leadership which include the leader, the subordinate or the secondary, and the environment (Alanazi Rasli, 2013). The characteristics of the subordinate include their own perception of their abilities and control and leaders can adapt to this perception by approaching the leadership from different angles based on their understanding. Characteristics of the environment focus on the structure of the task and the work group. This behavior enables the employee to become empowered, it increases their motivation, and improves employee satisfaction which assists the employee in being a productive member of the institute (Wofford Liska, 1993). A main concept of the path-goal theory is that the leaders will make rewards available in order to motivate their subordinates (Wofford Liska, 1993). These rewards can be adaptable and dependent on the situation at hand which makes the leader vulnerable to opening up to acclimation. In this theory, various different styles of leadership are used for different situations. There are four original types of leadership behaviors in the path-goal theory which include directive, supportive, participative, and achievement oriented. In directive leadership, the leader is specific and gives directions to the followers about what needs to be done and includes details on how it should be done, the expectations, and when it needs to be done (Alanazi Rasli, 2013). The leader will still provide guidance along the way. This style of leadership can be used when dealing with a complex or unstructured task of if the subordinate is inexperienced (Alanazi Rasli, 2013). The second leadership behavior is supportive leadership. In this style, the needs and well-being of the subordinate is taken into consideration, as well as, creating an approachable work environment (Alanazi Rasli, 2013). This is a larger focus than completing the task at hand. This style may be used when the task is boring or puts the subordinate at risk for physical or psychological distress.The third style of leader behavior is participative. In this style, the subordinates are consulted in the process and those ideas can be used when making decisions (Alanazi Rasli, 2013). The subordinate’s opinion is highly respected in this style and often this can be used when the subordinates are the experts of the content matter. The fourth style of leader behavior is the achievement oriented leader. In this behavior, high expectations are set for the subordinates and challenging goals are set. A high level of performance is expected from the subordinates is expected while the leade r instills confidence in their abilities (Wofford Liska, 1993). The path-goal theory is flexible in that the leader adapts to the subordinate, taking into consideration the environment and task at hand. This situational framework is strength for understanding how various leader behaviors affect the efficiency and satisfaction of the workers. It also incorporates motivation principles of the expectancy theory (Alanazi Rasli, 2013). However, it can also be complex to try to integrate many different aspects of leadership. Comparing Quantum Leadership and Path-Goal Theory One major difference between quantum leadership and the Path-Goal theory is control. The quantum leader is about aligning motivation between team members and is open to different views on a subject. The path-goal theory focuses on discovering the best behaviors for subordinates and attempts to control subordinates behavior with incentives. Also, the path-goal theory refers to subordinates indicating a hierarchal system where the quantum leader focuses on horizontal communication (). Yet, a similarity is that the leader in the path-goal theory works to facilitate task achievement for the followers and in quantum leadership the leader is focusing on aligning motivation between other team members which results in task achievement. However, quantum leadership is always continuously evolving and is a process, whereas in the path-goal theory there is a specific goal and expectancies on how to get from point a to b. Conflict Scenario In 2010, I started working as a radiographer at Nationwide Children’s hospital. Before starting my new position, I had worked as a student assistant in the radiology department and I was now a peer to those who had been over me. While running images for a fellow co-worker, I noticed she would withhold images to â€Å"run† them herself. As I observed my co-worker and her method, I noticed she was deleting images when there was likely potential for motion. One day, an image was deleted after the wrong radiograph had been taken. A forearm was taken instead of an elbow and the forearm radiograph was deleted. After the elbow came back negative, the physician ordered a forearm and therefore the patient was exposed twice for the same picture unnecessarily. I found this odd, since in every other aspect my co-worker upheld patient safety and often advocated for it. The reject image rate which is calculated for patient safety is based off the images rejected in the computer syste m. Since there were images not being accounted for, an inaccurate portrayal of data occurred. When my co-worker was confronted, she stated that the information from those images was not beneficial for the department and claimed she was unaware that it held any wrongdoing. In my opinion, this is a data-based conflict due to the lack of information and limited access to information. There is some value based conflict components presented in the scenario but the big picture is that data is not being collected and therefore it is affecting patient safety. Since that information would be extremely important for the effectiveness of the department and patient safety, certain measures or in-services were not being implemented based upon false information. The clinical work suffers as a result of not acquiring the appropriate information (54). The information and how it is generated, as well as, how it is distributed and the importance of it all have an impact on the effectiveness of the organization, as well as, its integrity (55). As a quantum leader in this situation, one would need to ensure that proper processes and generation of information are set in place and appropriately structured within the organization. To address the issue presented in the scenario, as a quantum leader I would want to get a basic understanding of the issues at hand and hear from the co-worker their issue with the process put into play, ask her to clarify her reasoning for why the information is not beneficial to the department, and what her feelings are on the issue. I would want to know if she has fear about running images that have â€Å"mistakes† on them and why. I would bring up patient safety with the co-worker for common ground. I would discuss with the co-worker how I praise her advocacy of patient safety in all other aspects and ask her to reflect on the situation to determine if there were patient safety issues involved. Also, this conversation would need to be done in a safe place so she felt open to discussing the conflict at hand. Throughout the conversation, I would discuss expectations for patient safety and assure the co-worker that the data collection system put in place is for the patient safety and for the employees. That information is not used to get employees into trouble, but to help determine in a non-blame way, what could be done in the future to prevent unnecessary exposures to patients. Agreements would need to be made on the process of data collection and a plan to follow-up on the agreement action (). References Alanazi, T.R. Rasli, A.M. (2013). Overview of path-goal leadership theory. Comprehensive Research Journal of Management and Business Studies, 1(1), 01-06. Malloch, K. Porter O’Grady, T. (2009). The quantum leader: Applications for the new world of work (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Wofford, J.C. Liska, L.Z. (1993). Path-goal theories of leadership: A meta-analysis. Journal Of Management, 19(4), 857-876.

Therapy, Not Punishment Essay -- Crime Consequences Essays

Therapy, Not Punishment Problems with crime have always been a concern to society. There are many different ideas about what causes it and even more ideas about how to stop it. Dr. Karl Menninger believes that our current prison system is not adequately addressing the motivation behind crime. In his article "Therapy, Not Punishment", Menninger says of the old prison system, "In its place should go a quiet, dignified, therapeutic programÉ" (544). He sets forth the claim of policy that criminals need to be treated with professional therapy. I don't think an introduction could be more clear than this. Menninger's ideas are directed toward a wide audience of generally law-abiding citizens. This article first appeared in Harper's Magazine, a general-interest magazine that provides collections of essays and fiction. The type of person who would read a magazine such as this would probably be an educated person who is interested in the affairs of the world around them. Menninger reveals his impression of the audience in his introduction, where he says, "And from these offenses the average citizen, including the reader, is deterred by quite different restraints" (537). Armed with this vision of his audience, he presents his argument in a logical, authoritative tone that invites the reader to make the inevitable conclusion that Menninger is right. Menninger begins to support his claim of policy by demonstrating the failures of the present penal system. He states, "Today it is no secret that our official, prison-threat theory of crime control is an utter failure" (537). He illustrates this assertion by pointing out that in England when pocket picking was punishable by hanging, pickpockets targeted the crowd that gathered to witness ... ... a solution to crime. This method prepares the reader well for Menninger's proposals. This logical progression through his views of the prison system is a large part of Menninger's clear, understandable tone. By keeping to his topic and remaining organized, Menninger contributes to his own credibility. He also draws credibility from his credentials and often refers to the psychiatric community as "we". Menninger wraps up his argument just as logically as it began by saying that society must make positive moves to rehabilitate criminals. His logical style and expertise provide an effective argument and reveal a well-planned solution to a serious problem.Cedric probably needed to mention that Menninger is often sarcastic and insults his opposition at least once. It is important to comment on what isn't working for a writer as well as what he does that is effective.