Thanks to dear Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers and to Brenda Cox for the photo.
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
It was his turn to settle the debt between them, she was now an heiress. Finally they had an assignation. She leaned towards him to hear his quiet voice and he thrust the knife between her ribs, silenced for ever.
Lunch time in the sleepy town square, the meal always taken at noon. The towns people all at home, taking the soup to the table, tucking napkins under chins, soupspoons lifted halfway to their pursed lips. Madame Valerie heard a shrill scream. ‘What was that?’ she asked her husband.
The police had many witnesses, as all the towns people had a perfect sight line from their apartment windows onto the square.
October 17, 2021 at 4:14 am
The town will be buzzing about this for years. Maybe they all hated her too and none of the witnesses will tell what they saw… I like the way you left it hanging…
October 17, 2021 at 11:53 am
Thanks for your feedback Jade, glad you like ending.
October 17, 2021 at 3:38 pm
You’re welcome, Francine.
October 16, 2021 at 10:19 pm
Well, he was a bit of an idiot!
October 17, 2021 at 11:59 am
Thanks for your feedback Trish.
October 16, 2021 at 9:02 pm
I wonder if there is any way the townsfolk could be mistaken in what they thought they saw, despite the good sightlines? If not, he must have really hated her. “Finally they had an assignation” suggests that she set the time and place. Was she relying on the public nature of the square I wonder?
October 17, 2021 at 12:05 pm
Thanks for your reflections Penny. I was wanting to capture the idea of a shocking event buried within mundane daily life.
October 15, 2021 at 10:36 pm
Dear Francine,
He’s not going to get very far, is he? Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
October 17, 2021 at 12:11 pm
Thanks for you comment Rochelle, much appreciated.
October 15, 2021 at 2:28 pm
Really? Maybe he thought he was hiding in plain sight? Or he just didn’t care about being caught as long as he rid the world of a woman he hated.
October 17, 2021 at 12:19 pm
Thanks for your comment Linda.
October 15, 2021 at 1:53 pm
Not the best-planned murder 🙂
October 17, 2021 at 12:21 pm
No, indeed it is not ! Thanks for your comment Ali
October 15, 2021 at 11:50 am
Something tells me he didn’t care if he was caught or not. I really liked this, Francine.
October 17, 2021 at 12:27 pm
Thanks Dale, I’m pleased you liked the story. Sparked by all those apartment windows over-looking the square.
October 17, 2021 at 3:06 pm
Love that you focused on those instead of the carousel 🙂
October 14, 2021 at 9:02 pm
he felt so entitled that discretion wasn’t part of his agenda for murdering someone.
October 17, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Thanks for your comment Plaridel., you’re right, discretion didn’t come into it.
October 14, 2021 at 3:26 pm
Ouch! That sorted it in the worst way.
October 17, 2021 at 7:29 pm
Thanks Mason, certainly a grim way to end things.
October 17, 2021 at 7:50 pm
It sure was.
You’re welcome.
October 14, 2021 at 2:48 pm
Well, that settled that debt. Good one.
October 17, 2021 at 7:34 pm
Thanks for your comment Bill.
October 17, 2021 at 8:04 pm
You’re welcome.
October 14, 2021 at 1:50 pm
What a uniqe tale. Perfect murder this was not. Somehow I see this as a black-and-white silent movie in my head…
October 17, 2021 at 7:40 pm
Thanks so much Gabi, I appreciate your comment. I like the idea of the story being a black & white silent movie, think it would suit that, still leaving the reader to figure out the man’s crime.
October 14, 2021 at 1:17 pm
He could jhave done with a bit more planning
October 17, 2021 at 7:45 pm
I appreciate you comment Neil. You are right about the man.