This is one of my stories from Suppose: Drabbles, Flash Fiction, and Short Stories. A beta version of this piece won the Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge of October 12, 2013.
A remote bridge on a road used by moonshiners in the old days is the scene of three recent murders. Old-timers say it happened back in ’31 as well. That’s when they discovered Jack Keeley, or at least most of him. Locals believe these murders are related. Do you suppose they could be right?
—
Detective Seamus Roper flinched when the medical examiner peeled away the sheet that covered the remains of their latest John Doe. Three bodies in less than two months.
The ME apologized. “I haven’t found anything new since the last time you visited. Poor slob was alive when the person or creature that committed this atrocity ate the guy’s face and internal organs.”
Seamus’s expression soured, and he cursed. “It’s been four weeks. Vic and I will watch the bridge tonight. If a serial killer did this, he’s sticking to a schedule. Maybe we’ll catch him trying to dump another body.”
Daylight turned to dusk. The two detectives crunched through frozen underbrush until they found an outcropping with an unobstructed view of the bridge. The October air smelled frosty, hinting at an early snowfall.
They waited. And they shivered.
A coyote yelped from across the creek. Wind rustled the few fragile leaves still clinging to nearby trees. A noisy car spewed the pungent stink of burning oil as it sputtered over the bridge. It dissolved into the darkness. An owl hooted.
Vic checked his iPhone and cursed. “No reception here. If anything happens, we’re on our own.”
Seamus’s brow knit in a deep grimace. “My stomach hurts. I must have eaten something for supper that didn’t agree with me.” He leaned toward his partner. “I think …” He inhaled Vic’s intoxicating scent. Prey. Must eat. Now!
He succumbed to his instinct.
And his pain disappeared.
Seamus flexed his bloody claws. He gaped at the full moon through glowing, yellow orbs. Then he yowled.
—
You’ll find more short fiction like this in Suppose: Drabbles, Flash Fiction, and Short Stories.
The Writer’s Lexicon series
and additional resources on my Facebook page.
Discover more from KathySteinemann.com: Free Resources for Writers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I loved this short story Kathy! I like the twist too – first thought it would be a standard crime series novel (which I love), and then turns out to be much more than that. Will you write a novel from it? It’s a great concept.
Thanks, Rachel!
This piece will go in the Indies Unlimited anthology for 2013, and I’ll eventually publish it in a short story collection. It’s just one of many shorts I have on the go right now, and each one I write could be the springboard for a novel. However, I’m working on book three of the Sapphire Brigade series. I won’t make any decisions until it’s finished … and I still have book four taking roots in my mind.
Congrats on your win and thanks for the comment on my blog. It’s good to know when people read through all the stories. I’m usually at the end.
Please keep entering! I liked your story. If you reply to this comment the next time you post a flash fiction piece at IU, I’ll share the voting link via Twitter and Facebook.
I think I’ll use the contest as a source for writing prompts, but I’ll probably limit the frequency of my entries to once a year.
Good luck, A.L.