Fiction Short Story

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Fiction Short Story

by Connie Ferdon

Author, Author

"'We accepted one just like this,'" Charlotte read, holding up a form letter for the writer's group.

"My rejection last week stated the same thing," Ashley said.

"Yesterday my rejection commented that they'd seen the incriminating clue before." This came from Peter.

"My rejection stated that they've had too many bank robbery crime stories lately," Brittany said.

"Charlotte, you show a lot of talent, but I'd suggest researching poisons more. Come up with a new one and send the story to a different market." Shirley was always full of ideas. Maybe that was why she was the most successful of their writer's support group. Charlotte nodded yes. Being a new member, she was eager for advice. .

"Okay, you're the expert," she thought and tried again. She rewrote the story and resubmitted it to the group for critiquing. Ashley, Brittany and Peter were supportive and, again, Shirley suggested more revisions.

"Charlotte, you're very creative. You keep coming up with winners like this and you'll be having your own book signing soon. Start practicing your signature."

With renewed resolve, Charlotte typed, hoping that she'd come up with the perfect plot. She also practiced her signature with her cover letters.

A month later Charlotte received another rejection, stating, "We just accepted a similar piece." Discouraged, she thumbed through the rest of her mail. There was a crime story magazine.

"Maybe I'll get some ideas in here."

Perusing the table of contents, she saw Shirley's name by one of the stories. She read the piece of fiction with her mouth open. It was Charlotte's first story with a different title and a slightly different angle, but it was her story. She sank in her computer chair.

"It can't be."

Charlotte's computer beeped with the delivery of a group email, congratulating Shirley on her story being published in Mystery Press. She rushed to check the web site. There was another one of Charlotte's story, but again with Shirley's name, a different title with a different take.

Charlotte understood. Shirley was appearing to be helpful, but in actuality she was stealing her stories, and likely the other members' too, submitting them as her work, and getting them published while Charlotte and the others looked like poor copy-cats.

Charlotte's anger raged. How dare Shirley claim to be the author of her stories! And just how long did she think she could get away with it? Didn't she realize that one of them would get suspicious sooner or later? No matter. She decided to write "the" story that would solve her Shirley problem for good by creating an original plot to murder her mentor. Do it for real, make it look like an accident and get a publishable story in the process. She had nothing to lose.

Charlotte remembered an email that Shirley had sent her just the other day on carbon monoxide poisoning. She found the email, read the article, smiled, and pounded furiously on her laptop.

"Let's see you steal this story, little Ms. Author."

A few days later, Charlotte called her mentor.

"Shirley, may I come over to your house? I need your help."

"Is it a writing problem?"

"You could say that. I'm stuck on something. It can't wait until the next group meeting."

"Sure, come on over."

Charlotte stuffed a typed piece of paper in her portfolio and in no time she was at Shirley's.

"I'm so glad you could see me. I'm in a bind."

"Come on in. Would you like some hot green tea?"

"Sure."

Charlotte sat on the couch, waiting patiently for her moment to act.

"Okay," Shirley said, sitting down two cups of tea, "What's the emergency?"

"I'm entering this writing contest and the deadline is tomorrow. I'm having trouble visualizing the plot."

Charlotte pulled out a vial from her purse.

"My story has the main character poisoning her victim, so I thought if we could reenact the crime, it would help me write it better." She added the liquid to Shirley's tea. Charlotte noticed Shirley's eyes grow wide. "Don't worry, it's just food coloring."

"Okay, my victim innocently drinks the liquid and is knocked out immediately. The killer sets out a suicide note and leaves."

"And then what?" Shirley asked, leaning forward.

"Well, that's where I get stuck. My killer has to get caught, but she created the perfect crime."

"What kind of poison is it? Maybe that's traceable back to the killer?"

"It's a simple tranquilizer."

"That's not a fatal drug," Shirley said, taking a big sip of her tea.

"No, but it makes the person pass out enough to commit the real crime."

"And what is the real crime?" she asked, taking another large sip. "What's the killer's motive?"

Shirley blinked. Her cup crashed to the floor.

"You've taught me well, Shirley." Charlotte smiled as her victim collapsed on the couch.

In a rush, Charlotte dragged Shirley's slim body out to the garage, placing her in the driver's seat. She inserted the key into the ignition and placed Charlotte's typed suicide note beside her victim. She went back inside to remove all traces of her visit and the broken teacup. Charlotte got into her own vehicle, drove around the corner and hit Shirley's remote starter. Her deed completed, she went home.

Later, Charlotte clicked happily on her laptop, writing the ending of the sad story of Shirley's demise for her next submission when she heard pounding on her front door. Two officers stood before her.

"Charlotte Forrester?" one asked.

"Yes..." Charlotte looked from one policeman to the other. She knew why they were here, but she knew she didn't leave any evidence at the scene.

"You're under arrest for the murder of Shirley Morris."

"Murder?" Charlotte feigned shock. "Shirley?"

"We found this by the body." He held up the suicide note. "It tells of the victim's reasons for suicide, but you signed it with your name. Thanks for being the author of your confession."

Copyright © 2004 Connie Ferdon

About the Author
Connie Ferdon lives in Springfield, MO with her husband, two daughters and two cats. Her crime fiction has appeared in Futures, Monthly Short Stories and Orchard Press magazines. Primary Treasure Magazine has published four of her children's stories. She is a member of Sleuth's Ink, OWLs, Juvenile Writers of Kansas City, Writers for Children, and SCBWI.