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Something I wrote a while back
Found this in some old files on disk...
John Prophit stood in the doorway and let his gaze wander slowly over the room. The body had been inspected, bagged and taken to the coroner’s. The photographer had exhausted all the angles and the uniforms had knocked on doors and taken statements. CSI had done their thing and were satisfied.
But something was wrong.
“Your coffee, boss.” Blane Thompson, John’s new partner, handed him a plain Styrofoam cup. Blane never wore a suit. Today he wore a blue tee shirt and jeans. “Black with just a little ice to cool it down.”
“Thanks.” John gave him a disapproving frown.
“Whatcha lookin at?” Blane said quickly. He pointed in the direction of the room.
“Look at this room,” John stepped back allowing Blane to stand in the doorway. “What do you see?”
“Ok then.” Blane shrugged. “Looks like a typical living room. Painting on the wall, couch, chair, reading lamp and carpet. Big ole bloodstain…”
“Yes. And?”
“I don’t think I follow, boss,” Blane said grinning.
“Look again,” John said. “Think Feng Shui.”
“Uh…Who?”
“The chair, Blane. What’s wrong with the chair?”
Blane cocked his head to the side and considered the chair. After a moment or two he snapped his fingers.
“It doesn’t fit,” he said turning to flash a toothy grin at John. “Am I right?”
“Yes. Everything in that room works with everything else except that chair.”
“An old favorite maybe?” Blane asked. “Just can’t part with it. That sort of thing?”
“Maybe.” John shrugged. “But for someone into Feng Shui, it’s all about harmony. This chair would be fingernails on a chalkboard to him.”
“Or,” Blane said. “Maybe someone else was the decorator. Wife? Mother? Sister?”
John nodded staring at the chair. Then he walked in, through the room to the hallway. He passed the bathroom on the right and stopped at the bedroom on the left.
He was facing east as he looked into the room. The bed was centered on the north wall and took up the greater part of the room. A dresser with a small television on it was on the south wall and a bookcase occupied the west wall. In the corner of the north and east walls was a chair.
“That’s not it,” John said.
They continued to the end of the hall where the master bedroom was located.
That had a futon.
“Garage?” Blane suggested.
“Nope. Let’s take another look at that chair.”
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