TL;DR - Write about a would be detective. Any genre. More than 1000 words is fine. Post a link in the comments if you want.
We are all curious, some more so than others, and some especially curious about crime, either committing or solving it. What skills does a detective need? Carefully observing what they see, or don’t see. Listening, as in parsing and analyzing what people say. A good imagination and the ability to think outside the box. Some insights into human psychology, as in why do we do the things we do. And finally, experience helps, but your would be detective will get there.
I decided to set my band of Fairy Tale Folk at a crime scene and have one of them act as a detective. I’m mostly happy about it, but can’t decide who it’s about - Barney, Agnes, or Snow. 1627 words.
Fairy Tale Felon
“I didn’t take your drugs,” said Red.
“You’re all saying that,” said the witch. “But yet you were all in my place last night, when they were taken. Red, Snow White, Romulus, all there. So, unfortunately, one of you did.”
“Maybe you took them yourself,” said the wolf.
“Come on Romulus,” said Red. “Why would our Agnes do that?”
“Of course I didn’t,” said Agnes. “But just to keep this neutral, I’ve asked Barney to look into it, as an outside party. I’m pretty sure he’s in the clear, as he has a hard time even fitting all that bulk into my place, and his system seems to neutralize any drugs he takes. So, grab a spot on the porch and let him work.”
“I’m new to this,” said Mabney,” but I’ll try. Agnes is right, she’s tried different remedies and potions on me for the various minor ailments I’ve had, but nothing has any effect on my prehistoric metabolism, so I would have no use for them. But I think I can help you guys figure this puzzle out. I’m not as dumb as I look. My dino-nose is even better that your’s, Romulus, so I did some sniffing around. Last night’s visitors to the witch’s place were you, Red, Snow, and, of course, Agnes. So you were all here at some point. ”
“So where were you last night, Grandma?” said Snow, smiling at the witch. “Bingo with the old folks?”
“Hey, show some respect,” said Barney. “She was with me over at the coffee shop, from about 9 to 11. We were working on some scripts for stories. For you guys. The barista will vouch for us. Her workshop looked OK when we left earlier. When we got back at 12, Agnes went in, and I started home. I didn’t get far down the path when I heard her yelling for help, so I rushed back. I looked in, carefully, and her place was a mess.”
“You’ve seen how I like to keep it all tidy,” said Agnes. “Everything labelled and in its place.”
They all nodded.
“Did you figure out what was missing?” asked Red.
“She checked her inventory lists and was able to narrow it down to a few things,” said Barney. “I forget the long names for them, but it was two types of things, really. One group was various uppers, energy potions, like amphetamines. And the other were libido enhancers.”
“Say what?” said Snow.
“Sex drugs,” said Agnes. “Get you worked up and in the mood, physically and mentally. Not that you’d need any help for that.”
“Hey,” said Snow. “Lay off. You’ve been on my case ever since that Cat Fight story we did. I can’t help it if you were cast as the old cougar perched on a barstool.”
“You looked pretty good, Agnes, considering,” said the wolf. “And little Snow looked damn hot as that skinny little thing on the bar stool.”
Agnes and Snow both looked ready to leap at each other, so Barney stepped between them.
“OK, calm down, ladies,” he said. “Agnes, as senior member here—meaning experience— you need to set a good example. Snow, you’re new, and I know you have been having problems adjusting to the changes.”
“It’s been a strain not doing the old tales anymore,” said Snow. “And then having to adapt ourselves to all the roles we get in new ones. And in between, all we seem to do is just sit around.”
“I used to give her some potions,” said Agnes. “Mostly to pep her up, make her more positive. But I got tough and cut her back, figured it was time she sucked it up.”
“And I did, so don’t worry about me,” said Snow. “I’m tough.”
“You still seem stressed out, though,” said Red. “And jittery as all hell. I honestly thought you were still on something—not that we don’t all sometimes need a little boost.”
“Nope,” said Snow. “I’m clean now. Just nerves.”
“Well,” said Red, “you about drove me crazy trying to keep up with you at the karaoke bar.”
“I wondered where you ladies went last night,” said Romulus.
“When were you at the bar?” asked Barney.
“We went down after supper,” said Red. “Hung out together for a while, then we got separated. I ran into some old friends who insisted on buying shooters. Too many. too fast. I think I left around 10. Not sure, I was pretty sleepy by then. I just fell right into bed when I got back here to my room at the witch’s.”
“How about you, Snow?” said Barney.
“Not sure of the time. I got bored and left—before Red, I think. I was too tired to walk all the way home, so I texted Rapunzel I wasn’t coming and just crashed here on the couch.”
“So did either of you see each other when you got back here?” Barney said.
Red and Snow shook their heads.
“Great,” said Barney. “OK, how about you, Romulus?”
“I was home all night,” said the wolf, “in my place out back. I did a webinar from 9 to 11, on dating and social networking. Nice source of extra revenue for me to help pay off the bills. Over 500 signed up to watch - I can give you a list if you want.”
“I’d like that,” said Barney.
“Anyway,” said the wolf, “I don’t need any uppers or sex drugs, I’m doing fine on my own.”
“I do understand these all have a high street value,” said Barney. “So someone could have taken them just to fence them. Just sayin’.”
“Wasn’t me,” said the wolf.
“OK,” said Barney. “Oh, one more thing. Was your session interactive, with a live chat?”
“No,” said the wolf. “Some people sent in questions before, but for the show, they just sat and watched. Flows better that way.”
“Now you, Red,” said Barney. “Why would you need any drugs?”
The wolf snorted, and Red glared at him.
“We, ah, had an incident a while ago,” said the witch. “Sorry, Red, he needs to know. And it was all a misunderstanding, really. Red was feeling in a rut for the past while, stuck in her single, loner role. She came to me for a potion to sort of enhance Wolf’s interest in her.”
“Like a love potion?” said Snow.
“Sort of,” said the witch. “Unfortunately, she used too much, and he was more than a little interested.”
“He was all over me; it was just too weird,” said Red.
“Well, you weren’t actually pushing me away,” said Romulus.
“Red, you little devil,” said Snow. “Who knew. But why would you want any of that now? You’ve got Bruce, your woodcutter. He’s a little old, but cute.”
“OK, this doesn’t leave this room,” said the witch. “Or I’ll hex you all. But Red did come to me looking for a mild potion to fire Bruce up a bit.”
“He is nice,” said Red. “But he’s pretty shy. Anyway, it wasn’t me.”
Barney looked around the room. “And now we have Snow.”
“Why pick on me?” she said.
“Because you look like a junkie and act like a junkie,” said Agnes.
Barney reached out a purple arm and snagged Snow as she ran at Agnes.
“Calm down,” he said. “Nobody’s being accused—yet.”
He looked around the roomt them all crowd.
“I’m fairly new here, too,” he said. “And I didn’t have too many years in my old stories to let go of. But it was still stressful. When I arrived, it was the woodsman, the witch, the wolf, and Red Riding Hood. You were a close group, and you did your best to make me welcome.”
“You’re part of our family now,” said the witch.
“And what about Snow?” said Barney. “I know Red took to her. Romulus was pleasant, too, although he’s likely nice to anything in a skirt.”
“Hey,” said the wolf.
“Just teasing you, man,” said Barney. “But Snow needs help more than I did, not just drugs, but some understanding and counselling. Things you are good at, Agnes. Yet you’ve had a grudge with her since she arrived. And to me, it looks like a bit of jealousy that she’s a pretty young thing, like you used to be. Am I getting close?”
Agnes nodded.
“And now the distasteful news,” said Barney. “Something that shouldn’t have happened, and I hope will never happen again.”
He looked at Agnes and held onto Snow’s arm.
“I’ve also got very keen hearing,” said Barney. “And as I was leaving last night, before Agnes called out, I thought I heard some noises from her workshop. I had forgotten about them at the time, but now, after hearing from you all, they make sense. It was you, Agnes, trashing your own place.”
Red and Romulus gasped, while Snow tried to leap at Agnes.
“You witch, you set me up!” she cried.
“Jeez, Agnes,” said the wolf. “What’s gotten into you? I thought you were our friend.”
“I was, I am,” said Agnes. “Believe me, I’m so sorry. Barney was right. I’ve been a stupid and jealous old woman. Please, Snow, this is not like me. Can you forgive me?”
“Never, you bitch,” said Snow.
“I can’t say I blame her,” said Red. “I thought we had a nice, happy family here, and could trust each other.”
“You do all have a solid group,” said Barney. “I think you all can get over this. Friends care for each other, even if they do something stupid.”
He gave Snow a gentle hug. “These are good people,” he said. “And Agnes is, believe it or not, a nice person. So, never?”
“Give me some time,” she said.