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16.2.22

IN HIDING

 

IN HIDING

The police answered the alarm call too late.

While officers scoured the grounds, Jeff from Forensics did his work, kneeling on the blood-soaked Persian carpet, his bag of tools on an onyx table.

He jumped as a book fell from a shelf, revealing a scared face, but it was just a cat. He made a note to call Animal Control.

The body went to the morgue, the police ended their fruitless search, and the isolated mansion fell silent.

Nobody heard the children’s cries from the panic room – no-one was even aware of its existence, let alone the codes to open it.               

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The way my mind works often surprises me! Dale's photo made me think of secret rooms concealed behind bookcases, and from there we have this story. Thanks to Rochelle as always for running Friday Fictioneers for umpteen years, and for posting the prompts that get our minds working.   https://rochellewisoff.com/  Go to her blog to read other stories - or to write your own.

31 comments:

  1. Interesting concept.
    Creative. Immense possibilities are there.
    When they don't know, they cannot find.

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    1. He should at least have left instructions with his solicitor.

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  2. Oh, my! What a creepy twist in that cat's tail!

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    1. I tried for a happier ending but it wouldn't work!

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  3. That went very dark at the end. Terrifying nightmare for the children.

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    1. My heart still aches for them, and I put them there 😳

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  4. Well imagined, Lizy. Very creepy

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  5. Ah gee... That is so not right! (But so well done!)

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  6. Cats indeed can be barometers for a home. An attuned detective would have picked up on it. Poor kids!

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    1. Is there such a thing as an attuned detective, except in fiction?

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  7. I like where the prompt took you, Liz.

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  8. Terrifying and tense. Let's hope animal control hears them when they come for the cat.

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  9. The picture certainly took you to a dark place, well done, Liz.

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  10. shame, shame, i don't think the police tried hard enough.

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  11. Nice details to build the picture of the wealthy family's home. The panic room fits right in. I also like the sudden appearance of the cat's scared face. Very good. I have my fingers crossed for the poor children.

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    1. Thank you, Margirene, you always make such well observed comments 🙂

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  12. Dear Liz,

    Oh dear. I hope someone finds the children before it's too late. Well told tail. ;)

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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  13. Maybe next week's photo will prompt a sequel?

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  14. This is certainly a different twist on the prompt. Nicely done.

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  15. A tragedy in the making? We can only hope the Animal Rescue people hear the children.

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  16. Oh, goodness! A multi-faceted tragedy.

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