Every detective has a cold case. A case that sits in a drawer and calls to you in the night. Mine is the Case of the Moved Sofa Cushion, which occurred in the autumn of 2019 and which I have never forgotten.
The facts
At 6:00 PM, the cushion was in its place, at the left end of the sofa. At 6:15 PM, it was found at the right end, upside down. No one in the household admitted to moving it. The cat, the dog and the two humans were all present. Each said they were elsewhere.
The alibis
- The father, who was making tea, but could not name the type
- The mother, who was on the telephone, but to whom is unclear
- The dog, who was asleep, and who snored, which may have been a cover
- The cat, who was, by her own account, “everywhere and nowhere”
The evidence
There was a dent in the cushion, a few crumbs, and a very small tuft of fur. I analysed the fur. It was grey. It could have been from any of the three animals in the house, or from the sofa itself.
Theories
Over the years I have considered many explanations.
- A draught of unusual strength
- A ghost with an interest in soft furnishings
- A prank by the children
- A practice run for a larger crime
None has convinced me.
The cost
This case has cost me sleep. It has cost me three weeks of my life, and an unknown quantity of biscuits. I have returned to the sofa, many times, and sat on it, and looked at the cushion. The cushion has said nothing.
Some mysteries are not meant to be solved. They are meant to be sat upon.
A new lead
Last week, a reader wrote to say that she had seen a cat do exactly the same thing in her own home. She asked if there was a connection. I replied that there was, and that the connection was the cat.
That is not an answer. But it is, at least, a place to begin.
The case remains open. Anyone with information is asked to leave it on the sofa. This blog is fictional and no cushions are actually missing.