Cut Short

It didn't work out. Sadly, I didn't make it through to the second round of the competition, but I'm happy with my story. I'm should receive feedback from the judges soon. Looking forward to seeing what they thought.

In the mean time, here's the story. Let me know what you think.

Their Man

His face was unforgettable. It had been behind the gun that killed her sister. Seeing him, Number 5 in a lineup for her stolen purse from the day before, brought back all the fear and confusion Dana felt five years ago.

How reassuring the police had been back then. With CCTV from the convenience store and my eyewitness description, they were sure to find their man.

Well, here was “their man”. Could she point him out, keep all the other details of the bag snatch the same? They would take DNA samples, right? Then match him to Shanice’s murder? She’d heard stories about DNA evidence going to waste. Could she falsely accuse him and hope?

But there was number 2. That was the man who robbed her, for sure. The comb-over and huge overbite were giveaways. If another witness were to pick him, both men might get away. Dana was raised to do the right thing, and she’d been growing past fear.

“Number 2,” she said, pointing at comb-over.

“You’re sure, Miss Carey?”

“Yes. I’m sure.”

“Hey. About number 5...”

“Officer Denton?” He looked like he’d been caught stealing. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have told you that. He’s one of ours. We sometimes ask the guys to step in. Did you see him earlier?”

That figured. He was “their man”, through and through, and never caught.

Dana decided to buy the gun she’d resisted these last five years. What might she, raised to do the right thing, use it for?