Work to do
Telltale crimson trail: part 5
Trapped by her steely stare, which seemed to last an age, I felt the need to run and hide. Instead, I reached for the soft pack and tapped out an untipped. Pressing the fibrous roll between my lips I realised, too late, how stagey this must have looked.
“Thought you’d given up,” she said.
“That was yesterday,” I replied, feeling she’d just let me off the hook.
She took a step forward. I thought she was going to kiss me. Horrified, I stepped back, but not before she had plucked the coffin nail from my bottom lip, taking a shred of skin with it. Again, she fixed me with those baby blues.
“What took you so long, John?”
“What?”
“Why did it take you so long to get here… after you drove off?”
I was taken aback at this. Was I a suspect already? Even though I had rehearsed my answer to this question, I was expecting it from the prowl boys, not from Stevie. I hesitated for a moment, transfixed, like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
“I went for a coffee, I blurted out,” without conviction. Then, breathing a sigh of relief, I remembered the paper cup I left on the car seat. Sometimes you can be too clever.
I could see she was trying to work it out. Before she turned away, crumpling the cigarette.
“Some of us have work to do,” she said, dropping the twisted remnants onto the floor as she walked out the door.
O ~ 0 ~ o ~
What next? Is John a suspect? What will he do now? Find out in part six:
O ~ 0 ~ o ~
- Part one: Telltale Crimson Trail
- Part two: Ten Minutes to Mask a Murder
- Part three: Meltwater
- Part four: Chain of evidence
TAKE SOME TIME TO READ SOME CRIME
Time for crime? Lots of short stories and other great reading matter, all with criminal intent and all written by yours truly: Raymond G. Taylor
Thanks for reading
Ray
About the Creator
Raymond G. Taylor
Author based in Kent, England. A writer of fictional short stories in a wide range of genres, he has been a non-fiction writer since the 1980s. Non-fiction subjects include art, history, technology, business, law, and the human condition.
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More stories from Raymond G. Taylor and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Chain of evidence
By the time I got back to the house, there was a patrol car waiting. A uniform stepped out of the passenger side and, confirming my ID, asked for my car keys. I prised them apart from my extensive collection and handed them over. As the patrolman drove off in my car, his buddy following him, a third car screeched to a halt outside.
By Raymond G. Taylor2 months ago in Fiction
Perfect Little Pirate
The rough, sodden rope bit into her fingers as she swung over the roiling water far below. Reaching out with the toe of her boot, she managed to catch hold of the rain-soaked railing of the ship- and promptly slipped. Throwing herself forward, she landed hard on the deck, slamming her elbows against the wood planks. The sharp yelp of pain quickly bubbled into a laugh, and she rolled onto her back, laughing up at the gray sky as a torrent of rain washed away the soot covering her skin.
By M. A. Mehan 4 days ago in Fiction
Comments (10)
"With a little bit o' luck, with a little bit o' luck, you'll come up with something quick enough.
Could this be a television detective series kind of like Rizzoli and Isles or even McMillian and Wife from the 70's.
Ok. I can’t wait for part six!
Went to look for Part Six and realised it's not there yet. Damn it! I guess I'll just have to subscribe so I don't miss it. Nicely done, Raymond G. Taylor. Nicely done.
Love interest too? There's a lot going on!
Lol, I hope Stevie bought it! I want John to get away with it! Waiting for next chapter!
I like Stevie's spunk!
I love watching the characters develop through this series! Great read.
Woot, go Stevie! I knew she'd be quick. Loving the suspense about the brother and the patrol cars getting there first. Will we see a flashback or get the info in an interrogation? I'm very excited. 😀
Very good descriptive writing. I need to start from the beginning!