PHOTO PROMPT © Nick Allen
Even after the investigation was over, I left the crime scene tape up in the shed. It was mine now: the house, the land, his shed.
I went in there sometimes; stood in the greasy dark, smelling the dried blood, the ancient fear, imagining the screams of his victims. And when I got used to the light, I’d see his still-intact oil can collection, and the outlines of his implements of torture on the now-empty pegboard wall. Sharp shapes; so many.
I’d look at them and wonder…would the police give them back?
And what would I do if they did?
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100 words
This has been an edition of Friday Fictioneers. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting this party and thanks to Nick Allen for this week’s photo. To read more stories inspired by the prompt, click here.
k. Rawson 
Yes, bad guys have mothers, sisters, brothers sons, and daughters. Nature or nurture?
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I love that you said that Mike. That was exactly what I was going for it!
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We had to sit with the mother of a fellow who murdered another man. She didn’t say too much but as we were leaving she wiped away a tear. My partner said to her, “Don’t cry for him, he knew what he was doing and what would become of it.” She reached out and touched his arm, “Oh, no sir. I’m crying for the other boy’s mother.”
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I liked the ghosts of the implements
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Thanks for reading Neil!
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Dear Karen,
That’s quite the legacy. An understated story well told.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for reading. 100 words was a tight fit for this one, I’m glad it came across.
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Very sinister tale that leaves you wondering what she would do with the objects indeed. Well told tale!
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Thanks for your kind words, Brenda!
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And so we return to the dark side…nice to see you again. 🙂
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Ha, you know I can’t stay away from the dark side for long 🙂
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You’ve managed to convey a huge story in this short tale – very neatly done!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks so much.
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We somehow saw a similar thing in those oil cans! Nicely done 🙂
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Eerily similar. Thanks for reading Iain!
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I’m calling the police right now to beg them not to give any of those tools back!
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Haha, that might be wise! Thanks for reading granonine.
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What, indeed… some mementos are best not kept.
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I think you’re right. Thanks for reading Magaly!
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Shed used to be a torture chamber! Creepy!
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Thanks for reading Abhijit!
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That’s nice, pondering whether to carry on his legacy (eek!) 🙂
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Some family traditions are better not carried on. Thanks for reading!
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So often it falls to the offspring to carry on the family business. Interesting!
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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Ha! I guess you’re right, although this is one family business that would be better not carried on. Thanks for reading Keith.
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Not something you think about, is it? What happens to the instruments after the trial. Something to consider there. Good take.
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Thanks Sandra!
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Not sure I’d want that inheritance. Great write!
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Thanks Jelli 🙂 Not a good inheritance at all, I fear.
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Very sinister & dark. Great write!
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Thanks Lisarey!
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Love: Sharp shapes: so many.
Hilarious that he outlined his torture implements, as so many of us do. (Our tools, I mean!😊)
Now, what to do with that inheritance?
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Got a giggle out of your reply! He’s an organized killer, I’ll give him that. Thanks for reading 🙂
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oh my this deserves further exploration!! very nice!
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Thanks Violet, glad you liked it.
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I wonder does the evil intention run in the family. A sinister tale of surprise.
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I hope the evil intention doesn’t run in the family but I fear it does. Thanks for reading, James!
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What a legacy to leave. And why want those instruments, unless…
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I’m just hoping the police don’t return them. Thanks for reading, Dale 🙂
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Yeah… No. 🙂
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Oh, it sounds as if those instruments are calling to your main character. Kinda creepy in a very good way.
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Thanks Lish!
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Because none of us lives in a vacuum there is always someone who has to deal with the consequences. Thought-provoking story.
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So glad you found it thought provoking. Thanks for reading, Jilly.
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God, what will she do with the tools? I hope this isn’t happening in Worcestershire.. Good tale
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Haha, I hope it isn’t happening anywhere! Thanks for reading.
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There is a legacy I know he never expected to inherit. I love how you segregated the shed, “his shed”. It foreshadowed the story well.
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Thanks for reading, and thank you for such a thoughtful comment.
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I really like the thought in this one.
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Thanks so much.
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Brilliantly Excellent!
Scott
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Ooh.. sounds like there might be a sinister career in the making.
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I felt gripped by the oblique undertow of menace in the story – more creepy than the actual nasty deeds. Nicely done.
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