Analysis Of Henry Biddle's 'Alliance Pharmaceutical'

Henry Biddle is fifty-two years old. He has spent half of his life working for the same company, Alliance Pharmaceutical, as an assistant researcher. His milquetoast existence consisted of being told what to do and what not to do. Promotions at work passed him by repeatedly. His working knowledge of the various drugs used by Alliance Pharmaceutical in their research was the only reason he was still there. Henry was content to be an assistant with no aspirations of climbing the proverbial ladder of success. He never had the courage to reach out and grab the gusto in life, until now.

Three weeks ago his wife of the same twenty-six years that matched those at Alliance, informed Henry that things were going to change for them. She had inherited
“If you had any backbone, you would stand up to those jerks you work for. You never say anything when they pass you up for promotions and pay raises. Well… don’t think that just because I have all this money now, that you are going to have it any easier. No siree, Bob! If you think that I’m going to support you…”
“Yes dear. I know dear.” Henry would say and say… and say.
“Don’t you ‘yes dear me’. I should have listened to my father twenty-six years ago. He knew…” On and on she pushed her nagging on him.

Henry longed for the hours he spent at work. People there also told him to do whatever he was doing. There was quite a bit of “Henry do this or Henry do that.” But there, people did talk to him about other things not just his work. Sometimes they stopped by just to say hello. His work load quite often took its toll on him, but, it was better than listening to Betsy and ‘Henry do
What he found instead were visitors waiting for him.

“Mr. Biddle? Mr. Henry Biddle? I’m Inspector Gwinn. This is my partner, Detective Holtz. We need to talk to you sir. It’s about your wife.”
Henry was completely taken by surprise. Before he could answer them, a disturbing thought raced through his mind. ‘My God!! She found out and called the police!’
“Mr. Biddle? Are you all right?” Inspector Gwinn moved toward Henry and helped him to a chair. “I’m sorry sir, to tell you that your wife is dead.”
“Dead?” Henry played along. “When? Where is she now?”
“She was taken to the morgue a few hours ago.” Detective Holtz answered. “We had no way of getting hold of you earlier. I’m sorry that we had to tell you this way. Are you all right, sir?”
“I… I need a drink of water. I think my head is about to split open from shock. Let me get my pills and water. Then you can tell me how it happened.” Henry was proud of the way he was playing the game.
“Here now! You sit there and relax and I’ll get the water and pills.” Holtz