Unreliable Resource

Written for the Daily Flash Fiction Challenge with a word limit of 300.

The prompts: This story must contain the words: Flowerbed, Peacock and Predator

Unreliable Resource

“It says to check the flowerbed,” said junior detective Shamrock.

In his hand, he held the detectives “bible” on tracking serial killers. Right there, in the very first chapter, it said that most serial killers liked to bury the dead in flowerbeds. It said most people were remiss to dig up flowers, even if they were looking for a body.

Not for the first time, Shamrock shook his head in admiration. That Professor Kindling, the man that wrote the book, was a genius.

“Nothing here sir,” reported the officer. The flowerbed had been a bust.

Shamrock wasn’t about to be put off by a lack of immediate gratification. Mrs. Template had been missing for more than a week. The note from the serial killer, while cryptic, had suggested foul play.

He opened the Detective’s Guide to Serial Killers looking for something that could be helpful.

Your typical predator will tend towards eccentric behavior. They are often attracted to Christmas caroling. Again, Shamrock was impressed with the author’s insights.

Minutes later, Shamrock and his officers were doing their best to get through the Twelve Days of Christmas. They made it halfway when an argument broke out. Johnson said there was no such thing as a French Hen and Mulligan said there was. According to him, they were like tiny peacocks with berets.

Shamrock, frustrated, dug back into the book for more brilliant answers.

Across the street, a curtain was allowed to fall back into place. He’d done enough peeking at the Keystoners across the street to know he was in no danger of being caught. He figured he’d take another look in a few minutes. By then they should be on the chapter about juggling.

Serial killer Kindling smiled. It was easy to escape capture when one wrote the book.

Word count 299