Penny’s Pass the Parcel - Part 6

By marandina
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Part 5 at: https://www.abctales.com/story/makis/pennys-pass-story-part-five
Penny’s Pass the Parcel - Part 6
Back at the station, Sheriff Milton found himself staring at a computer screen. His head hadn’t been in the game since the incident with the silk purse. Worse still his psoriasis was itchy today. Absently reaching back over his shoulder, he scratched at the scabby patch on his neck.
A takeaway coffee in a Styrofoam cup sat on a cluttered desk, an in-tray silently beckoning for paperwork to be done. Documents rustled lightly, flapping as air from desk top fans dotted around the office was circulated from rotating fans whirring quietly. The AC unit was down yet again.
In front was a scrap piece of paper with conjecture scrawled in haphazard entries. He badly wanted to know where Snodgrass had gone.
Thoughts drifted to his previous wives. He had mixed feelings about number three walking out on him. He was not going to change for anyone. Hell no! Perhaps it was time to trade up to Missus Milton Mark IV. He pondered all the wifey things that he would want done. Andrew Tait was right about everything. How he enjoyed his totem’s online output. When he wasn’t watching porn or eating pizza.
Deputy Marandina had radioed in that he had an update on the case. Jeez…he was annoyingly good looking, Milton thought. He’d often sensed an unspoken conflict sitting just below the surface whenever he engaged with his erstwhile fellow officer. Quite why anyone would have a problem with an upstanding pillar of the community serving the Public with devotion and dedication was beyond him. Folks were strange at times.
Across the gaggle of desks scattered around the working side of a counter with flip top entrance, the tapping of keys distracted the sheriff. Officer Polanski was busy documenting citations. In his twenties and of Polish descent, Polanski was a striking individual, liked by the ladies with his chiselled chin and film star features. A rolled up ball of paper bounced off his cheek.
“Y’all gonna get the next round of Donuts, Officer Po-lan-Ski?”
Looking up from his keyboard, the rookie cop smiled then grimaced.
“Should you be eating that shit given your weight situation?”
“I beg your pardon. That sounds like insubordination to me. Just get the damn donuts!”
Despite being popular with most people in the district, it seemed that the odd citizen objected to him. He couldn’t think why whilst channelling his inner Trump. HE was always right, never wrong and despite the fact that he didn’t really approve of the Tangerine Turd, he did like his macho style.
Milton was the Sheriff and demanded respect even where it was begrudging.
Polanksi stood up with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm and recalcitrantly shuffled off day dreaming of setting his superior’s stupid squashed hat on fire.
“Y’all be back as soon as you can, y’hear.” Milton revelled in the fact that he was in charge.
With his subordinate suitably put in his place, the sheriff rocked back in his chair and returned to his daydreaming. Reaching into a crumpled shirt pocket, he pulled out a cheroot and lit up. Yes, he was the man with no-name. A latter day Clint Eastwood.
As proud as he was of his career to date, there had been some awkward partners over the years. In particular, Sel Ticman had been one of the most difficult. How many times had he struggled to understand that Scottish brogue? What was this guy even doing in the country? ICE enforcement soldiers were derelict in their duty in allowing so many reprobates and scumbags to inhabit his beloved USA.
Sel always had a particularly strange affectation with Burn’s Night or Neet as it sounded to the untranslated ear. One minute they would be drinking whiskey in a bar, the next a haggis would be wheeled out and a macabre ceremony conducted culminating in the stabbing of the wee beastie with a ceremonial knife to the sound of screams from those too close to proceedings.
Things had worked out, though. Eventually a guilty secret had become known that the Scot (semi adopted American) had been banished from his homeland due to a string of minor misdemeanours at soccer matches played in Glasgow. He had left under a cloud before Trump’s foot soldiers could catch up with him. The last sighting of the British outlaw had been a pink Cadillac throwing dust into the air, wheels screeching as the Gaelic renegade drove off into the sunset, arm outstretched with a theatrical V sign wafting at the Heavens.
There was a rumour that Snodgrass had been in Glasgow at one point in the past. Was there a link between Ticman and the missing local? Maybe they were both working for the Israelis.
Conspiracy theories raged like a storm inside his head.
Milton looked up as the front door swung open. Marandina bowled in, all limbs pumping and assertive stride.
“We got a lead.” He declared, beaming at first before looking serious once more.
“Okay, whatcha got?” The question was posed with a mix of indifference and reluctant interest.
“A VW Beetle driven by our very own Jenny Padget has just hotfooted across the county line to a printing works. Y’know, the wife of a known felon who just happens to have been incarcerated for forgery.”
Milton’s brain cells fired, thoughts jostling for place amongst any plan that he might have to take things forward. He was still annoyed at the incident with the counterfeit note that he’d been duped with.
“Did ya get a statement from her?”
“Nah….I was outside jurisdiction. I’ve decided to pay her a visit when she returns.”
The sheriff slowly stroked his chin.
For a few seconds an awkward silence pervaded.
The standoff was ended by the sound of shrill tyres breaking and shouts from outside.
Both men stared at each other, pondering what the commotion was.
The station door burst open and a middle-aged man sporting a goatee appeared wild-eyed and frantic.
“Come quickly, a man’s just been thrown from the back of an SUV. He’s been abandoned and lying prostrate in the gutter!”
Milton’s whole body froze.
“Damn Mossad agents again.” He postulated.
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Comments
the case gets stranger and
the case gets stranger and stranger. Sel Ticman sounds like an Irish gaelic type and best be avoided in case he's also Protestant. But my guess is Mossad and Milton have other fish to fry?
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good luck indeed. I don't
good luck indeed. I don't expect a happy ending. I hope somebody else will give it a go.
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Hahaha - brilliant
Hahaha - brilliant contribution Marandina, and what a stroke of genius your new character addition is!
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It doesn't look likely that
I am sorry to be a dissenting voice, Paul. You have written a fluent sequence for Penny's story, but I feel that, with only four parts to go, the narrative ought to be tightening, not expanding with extra characters and situations if we want to reach a reasonable ending.
It doesn't look likely that the Mornington Heights incidents are going to be resolved soon, what with the sheriff and his bickering staff concentrating more on the political situation of the country and berating their lunatic leader than on its domestic problems, arguing about weight as an effect of consuming donuts. The only sensible person seems to be the reliable deputy who is doggedly in pursuit of lawbreakers. Sheriff Milton ought to stop reminiscing about his ex-wives and get on to restoring order to a chaotic situation. Only then will the net tighten around the perpetrators.
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Well personally I'm very fond
Well personally I'm very fond of films and books which don't tie it all up in a neat bow at the end. Leaving the readers to make their own deductions - they'd have to be better at it than Tubby Milton can manage.
I loved this episode, it's very entertaining, which is what we're all here for. It's fun seeing how many ABC-ers are sneaking into the cast list.
Even if you did go by the old three act drama formula (Scene setting, Action, Resolution) we've still got 4 more episodes, so we're only just past half way though. Plenty of time to tie everything up, if that's what is required.
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I'm a big Paul Auster fan.
I'm a big Paul Auster fan. Have you come across him ? Made his reputation with writing novels which aren't tied up all neatly.
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Thank you for this great
Thank you for this great addition to the 'pass the story' challenge Marandina. Your detailed police station and undertones of animosity between the staff painted a convincing picture. I'm so glad every author is putting their personal spin on this, that’s what makes it fun, and it's almost a blank page for the next author to take in any direction. To add another suspect we haven't seen yet or follow one we have. I am curious to know-- is that body found going to be Snodgrass? Hmmm, I guess we'll have to see who takes the next chapter challenge and reveals the identity.
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Yes, Kat, I agree that all
Yes, Kat, I agree that all the chapters so far have been well written and entertaining and it has been fun reading the various interpretations. My only concern was that with four parts remaining, with a limit of 8,000 words in total, the next authors had enough scope to start unravelling the mystery by discarding irrelevant facts that may preclude a coherent ending to the story, if that is what was intended, though I understand that some readers may prefer to use their imagination and make their own deductions. Personally, I would be disappointed if I read a thriller and find the final pages missing.
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Our Man in Mornington Heights
Splendid stuff Paul. The plot is thickening like a good broth.
I'm itching to know what happens next and how the story finishes.
I think the butler did it.
Turlough
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Close Encounters
I still think aliens abducted him. But we haven't got time for all that space malarky.
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Beam me up Spotty!
Go on Kat. Give it a whirl!
Sure an episode of Star Trek only lasts 50 minutes so you've plenty of time to write an instalment. Light years, in fact.
Turlough
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No I'm sorry, I really don't
No I'm sorry, I really don't think I would. I only write really short stuff, I just couldn't write a chapter which would be long enough.
The real Jay Padgett is already lined up for one episode so it's only another 3 people needed.
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JP?
My brain hurts... who is the real Jay Padgett?
Have I missed something? Is he the gadgey that runs the meat raffle in the Red Lion?
Turlough
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Keep up at the back there
LOL - he's the wonderful SoulFire77 ! One of the many ABC-ers whose names are turning up in the story. There has been a Kat, but as she was described as looking like a rooster I'm really hoping that wasn't me ..
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The Butler
I wouldn't put it past him. It was Lambert and Butler that saw off my Auntie Jessie.
Turlough
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Okay, I will write Part 7
Okay, I will write Part 7 this week, if everyone approves. I am taking a break from my current work for a week so it seems to be a good time. Thank you for the invitation!
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Brilliant - thank you
Brilliant - thank you Soulfire. I also really look forward to seeing where you take it!
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wonderful Soulfire. Look
wonderful Soulfire. Look forward to see which (underground) path you take it.
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