5 Minute Freewrite - Prompt: Her homemade jam (Bonus Prompt: Flea)

saryn (45)in #freewrite • 6 years ago

Note: Another long post today! I wanted to use two prompts in this one and then found myself writing more and more. I enjoyed writing this little snippet of mystery and hope you all enjoy it as well! :-)

fruit jam

Colin entered the small shop and glanced around. It seemed to sell a variety of goods, from confections to knickknacks to clothing, and everything appeared to be handmade. Definitely one of the last stores of its kind in this city.

"May I help you, sir?"

The clerk behind the counter was a stout, middle-aged woman with greying hair, bright green eyes, and a genuine smile. Given his own experiences with customer service as a young adult, Colin found her apparent cheeriness difficult to comprehend.

"Detective Colin Martinez," he answered, flashing his badge briefly as he walked to the counter. "I'd like to ask Ms. Haynes a few questions. Is she in the store today?"

"Well, I'm Ms. Haynes," she answered, her smile fading. "What's this about?"

"I'd like to ask you about one of your suppliers. Her name is Diane Curtis."

"Diane? I'm afraid she ended her contract here nearly two years ago. Is she in some sort of trouble?"

Colin pulled out a small notepad and pencil, taking notes as they spoke.

"When was the last time you saw Ms. Curtis?" he asked, ignoring her question.

"Oh, maybe...six months ago? She had stopped in to see how the store was doing."

"And did she check in often?"

"Well, maybe once every month or so. She missed this place, I think. Her sales were good here."

"And what, exactly, did she sell?" he asked.

"A variety of baked goods, like cookies and small cakes. She was best known for her homemade jams."

Jams he thought, his pencil stopping. There was something about that, if only he could make the connection. It itched at the back of his mind, a flea relentlessly burrowing through his thoughts.

"Detective?"

Ms. Haynes voice interrupted him and he looked back to her. She appeared worried and her expression had turned serious.

"Yes, Ms. Haynes?"

"What is this about? Is Diane in trouble?"

"I'm afraid Ms. Curtis' remains were found last week, out near the old quarry."

"Her rem—" She cut the word short, her face growing pale. "Out near the old quarry?! But in the news, they said it was two burglars and an unknown—"

"Her name was released just this morning," he answered, noting her reaction. "We're investigating her connection to the two men found dead beside her."

These prompts were provided by @mariannewest and can be found here (her homemade jams) and here (flea).

Image sourced from Pixabay.

#story #fiction #busy