Fiction Shorts

The Bridge of Silence

The Vignette Gazette Edition #195 | skewer

Image created by the author via ChatGPT

The message arrived at midnight: Meet me under the bridge. Detective Ernie Simmons waited.

An odd place to meet his informant, but Ernie would risk drowning for any clue leading to the stolen artwork.

His cell phone illuminated again. I’m close.

A black sedan slowed overhead, then a single gunshot shattered the silence. Seconds later, a body splashed into the water. Ernie recognized his informant’s black suit and gold belt as the current carried him away.

Protruding from the corpse was a steel skewer pinning a photograph of the stolen artwork.

A message flashed across Ernie’s phone:

Your move, Detective.

The story was based on a prompt created by Nancy Oglesby:

[embed]Tuesday’s Prompt: The Drabble Queen Returns! A blast from the past! #195medium.com

Here’s an interesting take on the prompt from Miriam Connolly:

[embed]A Taste of Matteo The Vignette Gazette Edition #195 | Skewermedium.com

RMW