November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- VICTORY TO CULHWCH

[The Judge]

Rules:​

Write a story inspired by the chosen theme and genre in no more than 75 words, not including the title​

One entry per person​

All stories Copyright 2013 by their respective authors,
who grant the Chronicles Network the non-exclusive right to publish them here​

The complete rules can be found at Rules for the Writing Challenges​

Contest ends at 11:59 pm GMT, November 23 2013​

Voting Ends at 11:59 pm GMT, November 28 2013​

You do not have to submit a story in order to vote --
in fact, we encourage all Chrons members to take part in choosing a winner​

The Magnificent Prize:​

The Dignified Congratulations/Grovelling Admiration of Your Peers

and the challenge of choosing the next month's theme and genre​

Theme:​

Secrets
​

Genre:​

Detective Novel​

This thread to be used for entries only. Please keep all comments to the Discussion thread
​

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Dead Man's Secret

I was behind the eight ball, the racket had flopped to hell.

I’d been hitting on all eight, now can’t spill the rap. I know what greasers glommed the ice, plugged the looker with fine gams.

My reflection: fedora, coat, lug holes; plugged like some patsy.

Can’t even bump gums with the elephant ears, give ‘em the lay like a snitch.

Hit by the torpedoes left me with lead poisoning.

Just a ghost looking in.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Detectives in the Closet

Joe fastened up his soft leather belt, removed his shoes from between the bottles of cleaning fluid and sat down on a box marked flammable to put them on. “Shirt!”

“Crap!” Tim rammed his shirt into his slacks. “Look… Guv… umm…”

Standing up, Joe placed his hand on Tim’s lips. “Next Thursday?”

“Yep.” Opening the door, Tim checked the corridor. “It’s deserted. I’d better go.”

 

[Remedy]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Silky Secret

The sergeant lifts police tape over my head. I should’ve delayed.

“Chief inspector,” he nods. Respectful chap.

The inside of the mayor’s skull is still soaking into his carpet. I avert my eyes from the pulp and meet Inspector Dullom’s suspicious gaze. Ambitious little sh!t.

Forensics are bagging the tacky gold barometer. Wiped clean.

I retrieve white silk to dab my face. Don’t get cocky.

Dullom is oblivious to the pink spot on my handkerchief.

 

[WriterJosh]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

An Ethereal Client

Zeddicker lit a snipe, took a drag and glowered. "You lied to me. I don't appreciate being made a fool of."

Saunders shrugged. "I didn't think you'd believe me. But ultimately it changes nothing. My estate can still reward you handsomely. All you have to do is find the killer."

"It changes everything," said Zeddicker to Saunders' flickering form. "You want me to solve your own murder!"[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[ratsy]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Keeping the Heat off

I hired him to find my dead husband's killer. I heard he was good but distracted by beautiful women -which is where I come in. As he searches the clues to find a drunk, adulterous man’s killer, I will be by his side making sure he never gets too close. Who in their right mind would hire an inspector if they were the murderer? Who in their right mind indeed.

 

[Glen]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Secret Identity

‘Detective!’
‘Thirtieth autopsy this week. This is one trigger-happy serial killer.’
‘Want the shallowly researched medical summary?’
‘No. I have too much paperwork already. Just the time of death.’
‘But she’s not dead! She’s been micro-chipped with a temporal flux device that...’
‘Hold on! This is a detective story, not sci-fi crap!’
‘But...it’s a sci-fi forum!’
‘The perp is shifting genres!’
‘It’s no longer a secret. It must be...TJ!’

 

[reiver33]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Dial ‘M’ For Mobius

I sat behind my desk, a revolver and bottle of bourbon within easy reach. The room was in darkness apart from the neon stab of a sign across the street. I smoked.

The door opened. I lifted my gun.

I heard high heels on the threadbare carpet. She laughed.

I fired. She fell.

Nobody knows I killed her. It was perfect crime 101.

Just like last night. Just like tomorrow night. Just like every night.

 

[Mith]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Anything for the Money

She entered the office, a blonde, statuesque vision. I had a feeling right there and then that she was going to be nothing but trouble.

I lit a cigarette and squinted through the smoke.

“Yeah?”

“I want to hire you Mr Chandler, I want you to follow my husband. I’ll pay generously.”

I was right, trouble. But for the money I could pretend to be my dead brother for her.

Time to follow the Mayor.

 

[martin321]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Deadly Whispers

Detective Munroe knew the name of the killer, before they'd even photographed the body. It was one of the few advantages of being able to hear the dead.

They were always whispering, day and night, driving him mad. If only they would stop.

They told him secrets, whispered things. Things he shouldn't know, things he didn't want to know. Like the adultery of his wife. And the name of the man responsible.

 

[Brev]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

A Gut Instinct.


They were still present at the crime scene; the vicar with his haughty look of disgust, the fancy dame with tears in her eyes, the suited dandy with the nervy smile, and the stone faced harridan with grey curls tighter than her lips.

Someone had let something slip, that much was obvious.

As the elevator continued to the next floor, I grimaced, held my breath, and wondered which one had eaten cabbage for dinner.

 

[Bowler1]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Another divorce case, another wife scorned, or so it seemed.
A week on the case, I had more questions than answers.
It didn’t feel like a hany panky gig, it felt dirtier, more dangerous.
My gut told me to cut and run - too late now - with a bullet in my gut.
Dark secrets and great legs don’t mix, but I couldn’t stop.
I always knew a blonde would be the death of me!

 

[Abernovo]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Suspicious Characters


They'd said rural Derbyshire would be quiet. So why was Lord Broxton's corpse nailed to his own front door?

"Well, Wilkins?"

"Morning, sir. The scene's secured."

"Suspects?"

"Three, sir. A Catholic priest, an elderly busybody, and a local toff. All known for being around when crimes are committed."

"But?"

"Well, sir, I don't know. I've heard His Lordship was secretly having it off with the butler's wife."

"We'll make a detective out of you yet."

 

[Rafellin]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Off-Piste
​

It’s not like they lied to me. One detective-inspector on the fast track; one case with an obvious resolution. Too bad I like truth, not theatre.


“You should’ve followed the script.” He’s my boss and not looking at me.


I drop to the left and swing the taser. There’s a sigh and a body falls. My boss’s boss.


This will either make me or break me.


But whichever way, justice has been done.

 

[chrispenycate]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Pink?​

"Get out of the closet, Cato"

No reaction. I leap onto the bed, which collapses under me, without agonised scream. The padlock is still on the concealed passageway behind the bookshelves. All the furniture is Danish, offering no hiding place.

The bathroom, perhaps? A blow destroys the shower curtain, but no attacker.

As I charge into the living room the entire shelf system topples onto me, still padlocked to itself.

Ah, the secret passage.

 

[nixie]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

Who's Afraid.​

​

They’ve been making the poor guy’s life misery for months.
Damaged their own building site for insurance, told everyone this fellow done it.
Asked him to dress as Santa he climbed down chimney, they left a pot of boiling water on fire, our victim fell in, literally boiled him to death.
Clever plan, no one would believe pigs would terrorise a wolf, but the sheep seen it all,
Pigs your bacons cooked.

​

 

[crow.]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

The Tenderloin

"I'll take your skin off!"

And he does.

The popping tendon I won't repair. The ribs crack open distantly, and bow, like a monkey grinder's tuxedo front.

Could've stopped there, my eye peering out forever.

"Now they'll see you!"

But they won't.

They'll never know my secrets now, that I'm out, because they'll never get close. Because without my skin and bones, I'm just an oddity.

All you are is secrets, when you're alone.

I'm . . .

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

NOTHING TO TRUMPET ABOUT


The elephant was in the room: large, grey and impossible to hide. Even behind such a huge sofa.

I tightened the broad’s blindfold and touched her lips. “I’ve something to get rid of.”

She smiled, confirming I didn’t need an audience. I gave Nellie a shush gesture – elephants, they’re smart – and started to lead her out. All was going well, right up until the sneeze.

Turned out the broad wasn’t an animal lover.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

A Study in Gender

"By Jove," the Doctor said. "How did you know that pretty little flower girl was really a notorious cracksman in disguise?"

"Elementary," the Detective replied. "I simply noted the size of the laryngeal prominence, as well as the ratio between the lengths of the ring fingers and index fingers."

"Remarkable!"

"Not at all. Merely observation and experience." The Detective crossed his legs, savoring the feel of fine silk and lace under his trousers.

 

[Culhwch]

Re: November 2013 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!

We All Have Our Secrets

Forty years. I’ve seen some things. But one case really stuck.

Little girl, snatched from her yard. Eight, blond, pretty little thing.

Frantic parents, useless cops. So they hired me. Worked for months before getting a lead. Middle-aged man, history with kids.

Found her in his basement. The things he’d done--

No. Some secrets should stay secrets. Couldn’t even tell her parents.

I buried her on a hill covered in wildflowers.

Him, I burned. Alive.