The body had been found a mile away.
The blood stains on the park bench, and the ground surrounding it, corresponded to the mutilation seen on the victim. His death had been violent and tortuous.
A uniformed officer finished putting up the crime scene tape. A crowd of onlookers had already gathered.
Samson scanned the faces, wondering if the killer was among them, coming back for a look at their handiwork.
Laurie came over, notebook in hand.
‘We have a name,’ she said, reading from her notes. ‘Paul Richards. Dental records confirm it, his DNA is on our database. Convicted of indecent assault four years ago. The assault took place right here in this park, a young female.’
Samson raised an eyebrow. ‘We have our motive.’
He pictured Richards sitting on the bench, people watching. The park was popular with joggers. Is that why he had returned? Did he sit here and watch them go by, suppressing his base urges?
Until someone recognised him from the past.
Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story or poem in around 150 – 175 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Previous Detective Samson flash fiction can be found here: THE DETECTIVE SAMSON STORIES
Iain Kelly 
Shades of Charles Bronson in Death Wish.
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But will there be a Death Wish II !? 🙂
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Pretty sure there were a whole slew of Death Wishes AND a remake!
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Gruesome crime in a serene locale.
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That was the idea, thanks for spotting the contradiction 🙂
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Lynched by a mob?
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Has that feel to it – maybe a group of joggers got together?!
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I thought so.
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I hope no one gets caught!
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Interesting, you are comfortable with people taking the law into their own hands in some cases?
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I have conflicted view on this. I swing both ways!
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Perhaps in some cases if the law fails to serve the correct punishment…
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True
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I say the police shouldn’t look too hard for his killer. Great story!
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Or is there more to it? Was he lured there? It may not be as straightforward as it seems 🙂
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It will take many years for humans to be without violence – indeed it may never happen. Intriguing read.
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I suspect it will never be the case.
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intriguing read. Loved the end Iain. U have an obsession for thrillers..
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I do like a good crime story 🙂
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🙂
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Creepy! Going for a jog and being watched !
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Not a nice thought, I agree
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I have not come across the other stories of Det Samson. I’ll click on the link. I did a detective series on the previous AtoZ. They’re fun to write.
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They are fun, and a good fall back with these prompts if nothing else comes to mind!
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Great story! Chilling! I think the women he had attacked got together and killed him! LOL!
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Definitely a good theory for the Detective to start with! Thanks PJ 🙂
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Hahahaha! I just couldn’t help myself! LOL!
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Intriguing. This has every potential to develop into a longer story.
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Thank you Sonia
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Never trusted these peaceful locations 🙂
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There’s always something lurking
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Such a great opening. I suspect one of his victims might have seen him and brought him back to end it where it began. It would be a brave/ stupid individual who went back to the scene to test their resolve. The risk of recognition would be great. Unless, that individual was very arrogant and deluded. You can see your tale has got me thinking…
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Thanks Sarah Ann, lots of theories going on 🙂
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