PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz
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The loud rock music and fireworks were perfect to cover up her last screams. All Jack had to do was dump her corpse into one of the cheap seats and walk away. Anyone noticing her would think she’s stoned. He’d be on a plane to his next job before her death was discovered.
He hated the weird ones, but that’s what he got paid for. Jenny called herself a witch or a medium or something. Who cares why someone wanted her dead.
Jack’s fingers were on the door handle of his rental car when he saw her bloody ghost inside.
Yes, it’s that time again. This is another entry for Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ 2 June 2023 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image above as the prompt for crafting a poem or short story no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.
The fireworks (but not the rock concert) instantly reminded me of the climatic ending to the 1981 film Blow Out starring John Travolta and Nancy Allen. You can read the summary to learn more about this excellent Brian DePalma movie thriller.
I’ve also been reading a series of short stories in the latest edition of Cirsova Magazine. So far, most of them are crime noir, some with a supernatural twist.
Put that all together, and you’ve got the story I’m submitting. Jack’s about to find out that killing Jenny wasn’t the end of her, but only the beginning.
To read other tales inspired by the prompt, go to inlinkz.
For some of my published fiction, try this one:
At the end of time, the world is hot and men travel the vast oceans in merchant sailing ships. Captain Ki-Moon Yong of the Star of Jindo has discovered a new horror at the bottom of the world. Can he and the Star escape disaster long enough to warn a disbelieving world? https://www.amazon.com/Ice-James-Pyles-ebook/dp/B09MYJ6B1L.
ADVENTURE ON THE HIGH SEAS OF THE FUTURE
AVAILABLE AT AMAZON
KINDLE PRICE $2.99
poweredbyrobots.com 
It seemed like the perfect cover too. Great film as well.
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True that. Thanks.
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It was going so well! Nice one, James.
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He’s a hit man so I don’t feel too sorry for him. Thanks.
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OOPPS! That didn’t go as well as expected. Maybe this heartless soul has dues to pay.
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No doubt. Thanks.
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Oh! That last line was a punch in the gut for him, I’ll bet! Great take on the prompt 🙂
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Thanks, Linda.
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Well, Jack, you didn’t think this assignment through. She will haunt you forever now. Perhaps she could join you and become an asset in your murky business.
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I don’t know that the victim will ally herself with her killer, but it’s an interesting thought. Actually, I did write a short story a few years back called “The Haunted Detective.” Set in San Francisco in the late 1940s, private detective Marguerite Potter finally opens her own office. However, her first “client” is the ghost of a young women who befriended her years ago and who went missing right before Pearl Harbor. Turns out the office Potter leased has a grim history. You can find it in “The Trench Coat Chronicles” https://www.amazon.com/Trench-Coat-Chronicles-Ruth-Littner/dp/1951967720
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Thanks, James.
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Hah! Gotcha! Excellent story.
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Thank you.
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Ha that will teach him, I don’t think he’ll be getting rid of her all that soon! 😄
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Nope. Thanks.
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Oh, great turn of events. Not for him though. Well done.
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Thank you.
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Ooo…a paranormal twist. Excellent.
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Thanks, Dawn.
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If you’re going after a witch you’d better do your research. I wonder how, or if, he ever got rid of her…
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We may never know. Thanks.
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You’re welcome. That was a scary story!
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Haunting! Great spooky tale this week!
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Thanks.
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