The Unicorn Challenge.
A magical new weekly writing opportunity from her – Jenne Gray – and me.
Visit her blog every Friday to see the photo prompt, and post your amazing story in her comments section.
Or on your own blog, and stick the link down in her comments.
The rules are:
Maximum of 250 words.
Based on photo prompt.
That’s it.
To hear me read my story, just click here:
The Shoe
I sigh as I examine the single shoe.
It is lying in the gutter at the side of a narrow street off one of the main thoroughfares on the city’s seedier side.
There are late night bars and night clubs, all closed now, along both sides.
I have been investigating murders for almost 15 years, so the whole scenario plays out in my mind within seconds.
I can tell that the foot that fits this belongs to a young, pretty woman, probably out on the town yesterday evening.
Separated from her friends, perhaps, or on a date that went badly wrong.
I see her being forced into a car, maybe already dazed.
I fear the worst.
It is still early, not much after 8 a.m., but whatever happened here was probably six or seven hours ago, so I’m already behind the clock.
As I shake my head sadly, a little red sports Mazda zooms up.
A door swings open, and I admire the delicious long legs in the delightfully short skirt that slide out.
‘I knew it,’ the ravishing creature exclaims. ‘I knew I must have dropped it when I changed into my flats to drive home!’
I remember suddenly that I am scheduled to be off today.
‘Excuse me, Miss,’ I say, flashing my ID and my second best smile, ‘but do you have time for a couple of questions, perhaps over a coffee?’
Nice one! What an arresting vision that must have been!
Thanks, Keith, but as this is a family-friendly blog I’m going to resist all the other police-related puns!
I wonder if he’s had 15 years of jumping to the wrong conclusion. That could be a disadvantage in his line of work. And he doesn’t remember it’s his day off??? Ha. They might make a tv series about this one.
I like the twist after twist in this. Great ending.
Maybe he’s so successful that he’s been called out even though it’s his day off!
Glad you enjoyed, Margaret.
A little bit different than your usual story. No one died or is going to die unless the cop is a serial killer. 🙂
I like to think, Tessa, that my writing has changed significantly since my FF days, and should point out that this widespread expectation of a weekly death was the main reason I abandoned that challenge.
I had no real expectations, but every post seemed to deal with death in some way. Even now I still notice you seem to deal with death in a few of the Unicorn challenges. It was natural for us to expect it. You could have changed it if you really wanted to. I am sure people would still have read them. Your stories are good. I read one of your books that is listed on your blog page.
Only your second best smile? Funny, that. Very cool little vignette, Lt. Columbo!
Moving can be exhausting and tedious but makes for an excellent tardy excuse. Enjoy your digs, CE!
Yet to see if she merits the full radiance!
It has been both, Nancy, especially dealing with the French utility companies.
And thank you, I can see the Med from my balcony!
Ah, the Med! That makes it all worthwhile!
Nice story! Ha! Expertly told!
Thanks, Rosemary, glad it worked for you!
Good bit of misdirection there.
But I’m glad to see that, although 15 years investigating murders has led him to expect the worst, it hasn’t dulled his appreciation of a nice pair of legs.
PS I like ‘my second best smile’.
Time will tell if she deserves the full wattage!
A man’s a man for a’ that!
Nicely done, CE!
Thanks, Chris!