Photo Copyright: Al Forbes
This story was written for Sunday Photo Fiction–September 25th, 2016. Each week the host, Al Forbes, provides a picture prompt. The challenge for each member of the group is to write an original story or poem with no more than 200 words, not including the title and inspired by the prompt.
To read the other stories written by group members, just click on the link below, then on the little blue frog in the blue box.
The link to the other stories this week is as follows:
Genre: Realistic Mystery Fiction
Word Count: 200 Words
THE THRIVING BED OF DAFFODILS by P.S. Joshi
Detective Gilbert loved cold cases and seeing if he could solve some before he retired. He did it on his own time so no one objected. He’d solved a few. With the introduction of DNA testing, it became easier.
He was especially interested in the disappearance of wealthy young widow, Margo Hitchens. First, her husband had died suddenly in an auto accident. The car found abandoned and burned yielded no clues to identify the driver.
Gilbert suspected Margo’s stepfather who would inherit both her share and his if she couldn’t be found. He drove out to the estate but wasn’t allowed on the ground.
He thought, My hands are tied.
He was suspicious of various landscaping projects carried out on the property, especially a thriving bed of daffodils. The department head finally gave permission for the grounds to be excavated due to pressure from other family members, part owners of the grounds. Detective Gilbert had sought their help, explaining his suspicions.
Digging began on a Tuesday. Shortly someone shouted, “We’ve found a body.” It was later identified as a former servant. Margo’s body was eventually found in a rose bed nearer the house. Case solved.
* * *
[Additional note: The servant was thought to have been the driver of the car that struck and killed Margo’s husband. It was also thought he’d been paid well by her stepfather.]
Pushing up Daffodils was the clue. Good one, Suzanne.
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Thanks, John. After two bodies, they may dig up the whole estate. You know those CSI people. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Too bad about the flowers though. 🙂
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Very well written story 🙂
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Thanks, Tena. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Excellent Suzanne, had me thinking of an Agatha Christie murder mystery as I read it 🙂
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Thanks, Iain. I’m pleased you liked the story so much. Thanks for the great compliment saying I reminded you of Agatha Christie. I appreciate it. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I was going to say Agatha Christie too! As soon as they found a body – and it’s not the right one! — that’s a great twist, and made me wonder how many other bodies they might find if they keep digging.
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Very well done!
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Thanks, Sascha. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Happy for him case is solved . How sad there are bodies buried in the flower beds. The poor rest of the family.
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Thanks, Mandibelle. Yes, it’s too bad they had to dig up all the lovely flower beds. The family will no doubt call in the landscapers again, though. The whole grounds are probably torn up in the search to see if there are more bodies. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Reblogged this on Matthews' Blog.
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Case solved! He can retire now and plant some daffodils of his own!
Visit Keith’s Ramblings
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Thanks, Keith. Yes, he can retire satisfied he’s done his best. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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One should always be suspicious of thriving flowers soon after a disappearance 🙂 Great story!
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Thanks, Ali. You’re right. I’m pleased you liked the story so much. I wish I could write longer mystery stories. Maybe some day. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Great story! Love the crime fiction angle.
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Thanks, Jade. I’m so pleased you liked the story. I’d love to write longer crime fiction stories. 🙂 — Suzanne
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You should give it a shot! You never know, you might discover you have a knack for it 🙂
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Very good. I like that. I also like the addon at the end for the little bit of information.
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Thanks, Al. I’m pleased you liked the story and my added information. I couldn’t get that in the 200 words but it was needed. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Adding the info afterwards is a good idea.
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I wonder what will happen if they excavate a few more flower beds! I enjoyed the story, Suzanne. Another murder solved 🙂
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Thanks, Diana. You never know what they’ll find if they keep digging. I would guess the CSI team won’t quite with a couple places, though. I’m pleased you enjoyed the story. I love mysteries. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Quite a murder mystery!
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Thanks, Dahlia. I’m pleased you liked the story so much. I love mysteries. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I liked the story. It would have made a good episode on a crime show. 🙂
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Thanks for the great comment, Bun. I appreciate it. I’m pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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