Building A Short Story | The Deep End

Building A Short Story ~ The Deep End

One last shot at what I knew was going to be a failed attempt at tripping Denny up, “I honestly believe you Denny,” maybe I didn’t, because he’d go off the deep end before he would lie, “I’m having a hard time understanding how it is that the attacker broke down the door and got to Nora while she was in the kitchen, before you got to him. Denny, I have seen you in action and know that your reaction time is a lot quicker than most of the Blues who are half your age.”

Denny sat back, relaxed and smirked, “Jack, you know better. The asshole came in the back door. Had to have. Like I said, he didn’t bust down any door. He was hiding back there in the wash room. Nora went to the kitchen to get some wine while I finished up in the office. She screamed and I ran to the kitchen where I saw that fuck hit her. I pulled him so hard that we tumbled into the living room…you” the word ‘you’ was said loaded with accusation, “don’t believe the rest of it.”

I didn’t quite not believe it. That was the problem. Nora’s story, up to where she was knocked unconscious by the would be rapist, matched Denny’s to the tee, and there was no way they could have corroborated any mis-truths. What ever happened at Denny’s place, happened suddenly, leaving no room for a cover up.

I was done and I needed to make good use of the time that Joanne had bought me. “Denny, you got a tough day ahead. Let’s sneak out of here and get you to my place where you can freshen up, and grab some shut eye.”

“That would be great, Jack. But not before I see Nora,” his eyes were passion filled.

Denny’s need to see Nora, I could quite believe. Ordinarily it wouldn’t be allowed. Where there’s a crime all possible steps have to be taken to prevent witnesses and suspects from talking to one another; from swapping stories and twisting the truth.

However, it was something I couldn’t deny him. Not after what he’d…no, they’d both been through. I didn’t think my boss would see it the same way, though.

But, seriously, did I really believe that Denny was a suspect in this case?

Watching Denny and Nora’s reunion at the hospital was like watching the last ten minutes of a chick flick. Denny paid no attention to the specks of dried blood that still decorated his hands, arms and clothes as he nearly sprinted from the hospital room door to Nora’s bed.

Nora didn’t give the blood a second look either.

The scene was no real surprise. The love that the two had shared was as legendary as the one that was squashed like a bug on a windshield last year. Shawna and I were dedicated to each other every moment of every day. She completed me, and now I am nothing more than a husk.

I had to tell Denny he had five minutes. Otherwise, the boys might find him here and arrest him. What I didn’t tell him was that it would be embarrassing to all of us if a nurse stepped in and caught him and Nora in the throes of passionate reunion sex.

The five minutes were up and I had to practically pry Denny from Nora and drag him out to the car.

The trip back to my house was littered with a one way conversation about how the day was most likely going to go down. Denny was too spent to make more than an effort to listen.

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Years ago I started writing Flash Fiction for just the sheer enjoyment of writing, and now it has turned into a full blown addiction. I can't quit the horse, man! Another dirty little secret about me is my ability to write all kinds of web content. SEO content, articles, blog posts, manifests; you name it, I'll write it. Looking for some help? My gun hangs at r.alex.crabtree@gmail.com