First, please allow me to apologize to any readers who are feeling neglected these days. I’m working extra hard these days and have been short on time and energy. Thanks for coming along to read and comment. I appreciate you, and I promise I’ll be back mingling soon.
Now, it is time for Friday Fictioneers, and most of you know the drill. Write a 100-word story based on the photo prompt. Then join the rest of us by reading and sharing your thoughts. This week’s photo comes from the inimitable Jennifer Pendergast of Elmo Writes.
Copyright Jennifer Pendergast
Author’s note: It’s been a while since we’ve caught up with Lauren Shrecklich, and today she’s meeting another of my characters for the first time. I think you can enjoy this story on it’s own merit, but feel free to follow the links to read related stories.
Interview with a Police Chief
Darkness enveloped the small Missouri town as Lauren turned south on Railroad St. She pulled up to the trailer home, and her cell phone rang.
“You found the place.”
“Yes.”
“Ben is not your mark.”
“But isn’t he . . .”
“A vampire? Yes, but he’s working with us. He’s been successful in eliminating several sexual predators, and I have reason to believe he has other insights to share.”
Lauren disconnected the call.
The trailer door opened before she knocked.
Lauren gasped, recognizing the face of Maryville’s former police chief—the one recently killed in the line of duty.
Being MG 
It works well on its own Marie Gail, I love the feel of the small town with its dark and supernatural elements
Thanks, Siobhan. I hadn’t planned on doing more than a couple flash fiction stories about either Lauren or Ben, but they seem to be growing on me. I’m working hard to create a collection of short stories that will both stand along and hold together as a longer work.
All my best,
Marie Gail
That’s good. Seriously draws the reader in. Great idea – well done
Thanks, Sandra. It had been far too long since I wrote about these characters, and I rather like all three of them–including that disembodied voice over the cell phone.
All my best,
MG
This is exciting. I wonder how they’ll get along. You create a great atmosphere.
Thanks! I’m not sure how this will go, but I think there will be a few more of these stories. Stay tuned.
MG
Definitely works on its own; great feel for the set-up and character and a nice bit of intrigue at the end. Thanks for the link, I shall endeavour to live up to the epithet inimitable too!
Thanks, Jen.
As to “inimitable”: You’ve already mastered that or I wouldn’t have used the epithet. 😉
Cheers!
MG
It all makes sense…..
Very glad you said that, Dawn. Thanks!
All my best,
MG
It works just dandy on its own.
I’m always glad to hear that, Alicia. It’s important to me that each of these flashes remain a story within itself as well as a part of the larger story. Kind of a writing experiment, I guess. Readers definitely come away with a different experience based on how many of the other, connected flashes they have read. My biggest concern is making sure that all (or as many as possible) of the readers enjoy the read.
All my best,
Marie Gail
This drew me in straight away. I like how you described the darkness drawing in too!
Thanks, Francesca!
MG,
It seems that lots of people are apologizing for being busy these days. I am in the same boat: the last few weeks I haven’t had the time to read many at all.
I like the ending. It looks like Ben has been busy. This should shake things up in the little Missouri town. 🙂
-David
Maryville and the surrounding area are some of my favorite places to visit. I hesitated to bring the Shrecklich saga here as she is based in Boston, but I’m going with the “write what you know” bit of writing advice. I’ll get her back to the East Coast soon enough.
As to being busy, I suppose it’s just one of those things that happens sometimes. I’ve been rather negligent in reading other bloggers for the past three weeks, so it seemed like the right time to address the issue.
Have a great week!
MG
Dear Marie Gail, Super story and it is scary! Nan 🙂
Thanks, Nan. I think we will ultimately find that the powers Ben is fighting are far more frightening than he is–even though he is one of the undead.
MG
What a great plot developing. I want to read the book!
Aww . . . geez. Thanks! I’m flattered! If you want to read more about these characters, click on the word “vampire” or one of the character names in the word salad along the right side of the blog.
All my best,
MG
Oh well…it certainly can’t end here. It can, of course. I hope it doesn’t.
Ellespeth
Oh no, of course it can’t end here. There will be more. I think a water pistol filled with holy water will be involved soon . . .
MG
Face to face with a dead guy! The plot thickens. You could definitely get a novel out of these stories.
I fear that may be were this is headed, Ali. 🙂 Thanks for weighing in!
MG
Dear Marie Gail,
Few vampire stories spark my interest. You, my dear, have exceeded them all. I’m guessing the former officer isn’t there to take a bite out of crime. 😉
Perhaps we’ll be meet again for lunch sometime soon in the midst of our businesses. Meanwhile, I’m happy for both of us.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Dearest Rochelle,
I am flattered. Since I know you’ve read the Anne Rice novel that inspired this week’s title, I’m exceptionally pleased.
And, yes, we shall meet for lunch in the future–hopefully the near future.
Love and hugs,
MG
I like where this is going.
Good. Stay tuned.
All my best,
MG
Strange occurrences in the Midwest. I like it.
Tracey
Agent Schrecklich is racking up those frequent flyer miles for sure. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed this one, Tracey.
MG
Vampire in a trailer, huh? Drinking blood from a PBR can I suspect. 🙂
An interesting twist. I love it, MG.
heh heh. That’s one take on it, Russell. Leave it to the guy from Arkansas to come up with that spin. Glad you enjoyed this one. I hadn’t exactly planned on sticking Ben in a trailer, but that’s what Google maps shows on Railroad St. in Maryville, MO.
Cheers!
MG
Dear Marie Gail,
You probably know that I don’t, as a rule, usually enjoy Vampire stories. Most are trite and unimaginative and cliche ridden. Interview with a Police Chief is exactly the opposite and made for good reading. You never tried to shock or force feed us gore or any other of the overworked attributes of the genre. I think the pacing was perfect and the plot was interesting and that the entire piece lends itself well to a larger work. Very nicely rendered.
Aloha,
Doug
Dear Doug,
I’m flattered. Thanks so much. If this saga becomes a book, can I count on you to write a review?
All my best,
MG
With pleasure, Marie Gail
This works really well on its own but I also enjoyed reading the other stories about Ben. It’s an interesting set-up and i look forward to reading more. 🙂
Thanks, Fairy.
Wow! MG– whoa! Suspense, terror, chills and intrigue… and a story with layers; you really nailed this one! And you got yours in first this week! That means you’re working hard and not sleeping enough either. 😉
Thanks so much, Dawn. As it happens, I just fired a Fortune 1000 client. I might be getting more sleep soon, or I might just be working harder for less money. LOL At least my blog readers are making this gig rewarding as well as fun.
This is good and, as others have already said, stands perfectly well on its own. Well done.
Thanks so much, Dee.
Gripping. I like the voice on the other end of the phone giving us the background – clever.
Thanks, Margaret. Incidentally, that voice happens to me Senior Agent Michael Morales. We may be hearing from him again shortly. Stay tuned.
All my best,
MG
You have taken what could be an overdone concept and made it gripping and compelling. Nicely done!
Thanks, Erin. I personally have enjoyed only a select few vampire stories, so it surprised me when all these started flowing from my pen. It’s always nice to hear that my readers are enjoying the results.
Very eerie, MG, I’m ready for more!
Thanks, Perry! I appreciate your read and your comments. There will be more soon.
Good story, Marie Gail. I would suspect a vampire if someone came back from the dead. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
[…] with my Lauren Shrecklich saga, so please bear with me. Let’s join her as she stands outside the trailer of Maryville’s former chief-of-police. (Although this portion of the story should be able to stand on it’s own, you can click the […]