Sand paused once more at the grave of his wife before turning away. He walked back to the bench he had sat at and picked up his bicycle. The cemetery was at the top of a hill, Sand free-wheeled down the path, scattering tourists along the way. The rush of air, leaving the resting place of death behind him, lifted the shadow that had enveloped him.
He made it back to the office as the lunch hour was ending. An afternoon of paperwork lay in front of him. As he sat at his desk he felt a nip on his ankle. He wiped away a stray ant that had survived his earlier attack.
This was the part of his job he hated the most. The hunt was over, the adrenaline vanquished, the mundane form-filling reducing life and death to paperwork and box-ticking.
The murder of Lene Olsen had been a straightforward affair. Most homicides were. A jealous husband, drunk and abusive, had gone too far once too often. It had taken Sand all of ten minutes to piece together the scenario. Then it was just a matter of gathering the evidence and finding the husband, who had woken up hungover and fled, leaving the battered and bloody remains of his wife on the bedroom floor. The manhunt had lasted only a few hours. The husband had been found in his local pub, drowning his regrets in more drink.
After an hour or so, Sand’s boss emerged from his glass cubicle in the corner of the room.
‘Court date is set for next Tuesday. You will have the paperwork filed?’ Daniel Pedersen asked Sand.
Sand nodded. ‘Yes, sir. Almost done.’
Pedersen was a tall man, a foot taller than Sand, and thickly-built. He looked uncomfortable cooped up in an office environment. He was street cop, built for dealing with criminals out in the alleys and hovels that they inhabited. Injury had forced him behind a desk.
‘Got a call for you to go and look at.’ Pedersen put a scrap of paper on Sand’s desk, with a scribbled address on it.
‘Homicide?’ Sand felt the familiar adrenaline as the prospect of another case loomed.
Pedersen shook his head. ‘Not really. Hate crime possibly. A mutilated cat. Check it out, see if it’s anything we need to worry about or just some kids getting carried away. We can pass it on to Animal Protection once you’ve checked it out.’
Pedersen carried his giant frame back to his desk. Sand picked up the piece of paper and read the address. It was about five miles away. With the afternoon traffic in the city he would be quicker cycling there than taking a squad car.
This is part two of my A to Z Challenge 2017. More information on the challenge, and other stories and blogs taking part in it, can be found HERE.
Throughout April I hope to publish a section a day, relating to a letter of the alphabet, which in the end will make up a continuous story, all based round the objects found in this children’s jigsaw:
Other entries in the challenge, and a version of the final complete, joined up story can be found here: A TO Z CHALLENGE 2017.
A mutilated cat? Well, I’m intrigued.
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – 1940s Film Noir
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Thanks, you will enjoy tomorrow’s entry then 🙂
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nice piece of writing!
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Thanks Leela 🙂
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I am hooked
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Thanks Neel, it’s a story that’s going to last all month, I hope I can keep you hooked all the way.
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Huh! Was it foul play or just some kids? Have to wait till tomorrow to find out, don’t I? 😉 I will try my best not to be impatient!
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Thanks NJ, not too long to wait for the next installment!
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Started off subdued, but before you know it Sand would be back on the road. Can’t wait to read… “c is for cat”? ☺️
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You guessed it 🙂 thanks for reading.
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You have sparked my curiosity! Poor cat!
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Thanks Joy, back tomorrow for more.
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I will be. 🙂
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Your writing is simply amazing! You write with such passion! I cannot wait to read the rest of the story and how you incorporate the challenge in it!! One of the best blogs I’ve come across! Keep it up 🙂
http://tropicalcolours.blogspot.com.au/
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Thanks Karine, you are very kind. Hope you enjoy the rest of my effort on the challenge. Look forward to checking out your blog too, Iain 🙂
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I’m so intrigued by your story and how you will weave it all together. I’ll be following it for certain!
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Thank you, so pleased you will be reading 🙂
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Such an interesting theme. All the best 👍
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Thank you, I hope you will keep following the story 🙂
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Definitely 👍
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Nice one. I’m intrigued to find out what happens with the cat. Great idea for April Challenge. I look forward to reading to the end. 😉
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Thank you, I hope you will stick with it!
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Okay, who among us thinks this is just your ordinary dead cat bounce? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Yeah, I didn’t think so either. Interesting how the Cat made an early appearance with the Bicycle, only to disappear before C even showed up!
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Yes, the cat is never seen alive, but he does ‘star’ tomorrow 🙂
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I see you got Ant (A), Bicycle (B), and Cat (C) all in the same tale.
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Yes, the task is to now for in the other 23 letters and objects in order!
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Sounds like the real intrigue starts tomorrow. Nicely done! 🙂
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Thanks Sascha, yes it’s starting to build up 🙂
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Already building up a head of steam. Have you planned this or are you doing it daily?
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Not planned other than thinking ahead to try and fit all the letter objects in. I’ve got the next couple written to try and stay a day or two ahead. No idea how it will end yet!
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Best way…
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Another nice piece of writing.
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Thanks Eva
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Lovely write up!! Waiting for tomorrow 🙂
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Thanks Megha
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Very nice! I’m loving your challenge posts.
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Thank you, hopefully they keep getting better as the story develops.
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OOoh, I’m on tenterhooks. I see a zoo in Sand’s future.
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Yes, I can confirm it’s the only way I can get panda and octopus and zebra in there! 🙂 Hopefully how he gets there will surprise you 🙂
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I’m sure it will. 🙂
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Hmm, a mutilated cat… seems to me like a budding psychopath, or maybe it’s just too much crime books 😂. I guess sand would find out for us, really enjoying your write up.
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Thanks Ameena, the case is warming up 🙂
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Wonderfully written!
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Thank you
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I’m getting seriously involved…waiting to read more. Nicely written!
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Thanks Shelly, hope you keep coming back for more!
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Aww, poor kitty!
The stray ant was a nice touch. 🙂
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Thanks, trying to keep the stories joining up and referencing each other 🙂
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That poor cat! (I can’t help it, I’m a cat lover…) Can’t wait to see how this story plays out!
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Thanks Christine – just to warn you C for Cat is not one for cat lovers – hopefully Sand will avenge the cat for you 🙂
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I figured it wouldn’t be. It sounds like there’s a budding serial killer in the making involved in this story somehow. Justice for the kitty! 😛
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Awful kids or the beginnings of a serial killer case? I wonder, I wonder…
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Meee-ow! Or should that be meee-ouch? Intriguing.
Another day in Amble Bay!
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Wow, a mutilated cat. I’m loving this mystery!
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The thing about catch-up is I can read a few instalments in one go. Then I’ll be checking in daily to find out what’s happening. Love that you’ve already got a whole lot of followers enjoying this tale. Brilliant.
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I’m intrigued. Sorry it took me so long to check out your posts!
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Thank you, a few people have been enjoying them more by reading them all in one go – it might be the best way. Hope you enjoy catching up 🙂
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Oh yes, the suspense is intense. It’s so hard to wait. But now that I’ve started reading, I can’t wait to read the next post. 😀
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Hooked already, but I am binge reading and still excited 😀
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Glad you are enjoying it. Binge reading the whole story might be the best way to read it 🙂
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