The woman was dead. The cover-up exposed.
Samson strode along the corridor of pillars flanked by his team. This was their moment of triumph, yet there was no celebration in what had happened. Their footsteps reverberated on the stone floor, echoing ominously.
They crossed the courtyard and stopped at the heavy arch door. Samson knocked. After a moment he called out: ‘Police. Open up.’
Silence greeted them. Samson nodded to the sergeant next to him and stepped back, allowing him space to use the battering ram.
He already knew what he would find inside. He knew they were too late.
The door crashed open and they filed in, the team spreading through the rooms of the old building.
Samson headed to the familiar office at the top of the stairs. The office he had sat in only the day before, questioning the Home Secretary.
The door was ajar. He pushed it open and saw the feet dangling in mid-air, the toppled chair on the floor.
The body of the Right Honourable Member of Parliament swayed gently as the stifling air moved.
‘Pillars of the Community,’ – that had been his pledge to turn around the fractured society – ‘Like I was growing up and living in my North London constituency that I am so proud to represent.’
A dead prostitute in a hotel room had been the reality. The State cover-up had been at his instigation.
And the Right Honourable gentleman couldn’t even face the consequences. He had taken the easy way out, the coward’s way.
Samson turned away as other officers arrived.
The pillar had crumbled.
This is a response to the Thursday Photo Prompt – Pillars curated over at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Click on the link to read other stories inspired by the image.
Other stories featuring Detective Samson can be found here: THE DETECTIVE SAMSON STORIES
I like the manner in which the story moves. It is revealed ony in the end, that two people have died.
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Thank you Reena, glad you liked it 🙂
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How the mighty are fallen… Er risen… you know what I mean. Nice play on the prompt Iain.
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Thanks Geoff, as a character I already had, it was a good fit for the prompt!
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Honorable member of parliament had his fun. Now he wants someone to clean up his mess. He is enjoying and looking from top, no one can touch him. Almost, no one!
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Unfortunately many of them seem to get away with having their fun and emerged unscathed. Not this time.
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Great name for toppling pillars….
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Yes, a character I had written before, so when Sue’s prompt came up this week, it would’ve been rude not to have used him!
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A good tale Iain. Too often TPTB get away with it, then when caught out, can’t face the music.
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It was ever so 🙂
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Hypocrisy comes with a price tag… nice one, Iain.
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And most often in politics it seems to me!
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I agree.
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Reblogged this on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo and commented:
First in this week…
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Thanks Sue 🙂
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I went back to read your detective Samson stories. I thought only the prostitute was dead. read it once again ..
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Yes, not just the prostitute.
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yea, the member of the parliament is the other one
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Nice, metaphorical use of pillars and the name “Samson.”
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As a character I already had used before, I had to take the opportunity when the ‘pillars’ prompt popped up. Thanks James.
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Excellent post, well written and keeping my interest from the first.💜
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Thank you, much appreciated 🙂
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I’m a long-winded writer trying to learn how to write short. Thank you for the great lesson!
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You’re very welcome, thank you for the compliment! 🙂
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Fantastic last line giving us an insight into Samson’s feelings about the rich honourable member.
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Thank you
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You were lucky with the name you had chosen long ago for your Detective Iain, could not be more apt 🙂
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It’s nice when things work out 🙂
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