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