A Storm With A Shadow

A short dark story, set in England

‘… AND NOW SOME farewells, a big thank you to Mrs Perkins. For your years of diligent teaching, best wishes in your retirement. Lastly, we rarely see our Shadow Man, but he keeps the grass cut and the gardens tidy. So good luck with your new job on the mainland, thank you for looking after our sports fields. A big round of applause for Mrs Perkins and Mr Bell…’ The headteacher droned on.

A bang on the window to Harper Storm’s office shook her out of her daydream. 'Storm, get in my office now,' shouted her boss.

'Sorry, sir, I remembered that terrible day, exactly ten years ago.'

'That crime was never solved. Make sure you crack this one.' He hurled a skinny file at her. She opened it, and a single sheet of A4 paper floated to the Detective Sergeant’s desk, showing a photograph of a puddle of blood on a tiled floor, plus three paragraphs of detail.

‘A sixteen-year-old schoolgirl was snatched from her home…’

'But, sir?' Harper started.

'Yes, yes, I know, the same as your friend all those years ago.'

Harper returned to her desk, and the daydream returned. ‘Girl, what are you doing here?’ asked the uniformed officer. He stepped across the blood splattered on the floor.

‘I’ve come to meet Jenny, we are going to the cinema.’

‘Sorry, but there will be no cinema for Jenny. Was anyone else supposed to be going with you?’

The officer, now her chief, and the inhabitants of their small island still felt remorse at the young girl’s disappearance.

Harper prepared to leave for the new victim’s house.

'Hello, Miss Storm, or should I say Officer Storm, or should it be Mrs Somebody?' The young lady approached her desk, and her grin brightened the whole station.

'My God. Jenny? How, why, what? Her mouthful of questions fell over each other.

'Surprised?'

'Look at you, are you okay?'

'I am now.'

'You look fantastic.'

'Thank you. Do you remember Nicky Bell?'

'The gardener?'

'Yes, it was him. We were secretly dating. My parents went crazy. So we eloped.'

'But the blood?'

'I turned to run and crashed into the door and broke my nose. That was all.'

'But ten years without a word to anyone? Why? Tell me, what happened? I have another case like yours, I should go.' She tried to arrange her thoughts. Failing miserably, she was rooted to her seat.

'I think you should hear me out; it may help you. Nick always said our marriage would only last ten years. I was chained to my bed. Thankfully, it was long enough, long enough at least to reach the restroom.' A giggle escaped, and then she continued, 'I watched TV, listened to the radio, and learned to knit. And waited for my husband.'

'Husband? You married him?'

'Yes and no, we took the role of preacher and choir, and married ourselves.'

'Did you try to escape?'

'No, I loved him.'

'How come you are free now?'

'The ten years were up. He wanted a new wife.'

'So, he let you go?'

'Yes.'

'Do you want us to bring him in and charge him?'

'No, you can’t.'

'Why not?'

'I’ve killed him and his new bride.'

The END

Just published at Amazon US HERE

Amazon UK HERE

$1.99