💯 STORY CHALLENGE (19)/100)
Skeletons in the Closet, Chapter 1 — The Investigation
In the hope of incriminating evidence, two investigative journalists enter a politician’s office. Soon, they discover that some conspiracies are beyond imagination.
This is a serial fiction story. Please find the table of contents here.
Nobody is that good. Seriously, that guy must have blotted his copybook at some point.”
Keegan looked at Nyra with concern, fidgeting with his pocket watch.
“Nyra, that guy is untouchable,” he insisted, “Let’s give up, please!”
He regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth.
“Giving up?! Why do you think I became an investigative journalist?” Nyra hissed, “I will certainly not give up because some rich f**k thinks he is untouchable!”
“We have to approach this with caution. The man is powerful ….”
“… and a brutal, power abusing megalomaniac,” Nyra said, finishing his sentence.
“Let’s go back and do some more research, Please!”
Nyra looked at him intensely, holding a heavy hammer in her right hand. She tapped it against her left hand a few times before swinging it full force, smashing the large window to the millionaire’s office. The glass shattered loudly into a thousand pieces.
“F**k, Nyra!” Keegan shouted maniacally, “What if he hears us!”
“Don’t shout my name all over the block, moron. The guy isn’t even home. I checked before.”
“B-but … a guy like that will have precautions.”
“He doesn’t because he feels unimpeachable. Now, let’s find those skeletons in his closet.”
Before Keegan could say another word, Nyra was already through the window. Unable to leave his friend behind, Keegan followed her with an uneasy feeling in his gut.
The office was expensively furnished. The desk alone would pay Keegan’s rent for the rest of the year. Cautiously, the two advanced, holding their flashlights low to avoid detection. They searched through the papers on the desk and other apparent places, finding nothing incriminating the politician.
“There is nothing here, Nyra. The guy is just another crook playing the system.”
Keegan picked up an ornate plate decorated with intricate symbols.
“Amazing, a pie plate!” Keegan said mockingly, holding up the metal plate speckled with something rust red, “We discovered the lord of the pies!”
Nyra glared at him. She tried to calm him down with her perfect smile, but it never reached her eyes.
“We just need to search harder,” Nyra insisted, “He got skeletons in the closet, and we will find them.”
“There is no Illuminati conspiracy, demonic possession or even a corporate paycheck here!”
Frustrated, Keegan spread his arms as if he wanted to encompass the whole room. In a maniacal fit, he started to open drawers and cabinets.
“This must be quite the conspiracy,” Keegan joked, pointing at an old college fraternity award, “Maybe he’s with the Illuminati after all.”
“Stop being so silly, Keegan,” Nyra snapped, trying to get him to focus on the task, “Since that guy showed up, people are disappearing.”
The young man grimaced as if in pain. His furrowed brow indicated his growing anxiety and frustration.
“You see?! This is madness,” Keegan shouted, “There are no….”
His words stopped abruptly when he opened another door, and a skeletal hand grabbed him around the neck. Nyra looked into his kind brown eyes, widening with shock. She would never forget that look of reproach before the thing snapped his neck.
Nyra took a step back; slacked-jawed, she stared at the animated skeleton holding her dead friend by the neck. Her retreat was stopped short when she bumped into something, no, someone.
“Your friend was right,” a male voice said, “I am very cautious, even though I rely on a skeleton crew.”
© Jay C Wells, 2022
Table of Contents | Next Chapter
💯 Story Challenge (19/100)
This story used three items, “a pocket watch, a pie plate, an old award,” provided by Christine Graves’ writing prompt for June 4–10. (Ravyne Hawke)
You can find out more about the 💯 Story Challenge by Zane Dickens here.
My pick from the 💯 Story Challenge
I always like to finish with a pick from the 💯 Story Challenge. Please find Cathylouise’s gripping story “Small and Quiet No Longer” here.
