This week's writing challenge is "go to your nearest book. Turn to page 51. Find the first line on the last paragraph on that page. Use that line to start your scene." The book I picked up was "Illusion" by Frank Peretti. Check out my sister's blog for her scene! :-)
She didn’t rush, but she did stride briskly up to the counter.
“FBI!” Carol Wilson flashed her badge. “I have a few questions for you!” She felt her voice tremble and
she hoped the man didn’t notice.
she hoped the man didn’t notice.
The man attending the front desk turned a little white, but he nodded. “Okay. I’d be happy to.”
“Where were you last night between the hours of ten and midnight?”
“Here, working late.”
“Did you deliver a package to one of the rooms in this motel?”
The man swallowed. “Yes.”
“Who left the package?”
“I don’t know. I left the front counter to use the bathroom. When I got back, there was a package left here
with a note saying to deliver it to room 15. I knocked on the door, but didn’t get a response, so I just left
it outside. I checked on it this morning, and it was gone.”
with a note saying to deliver it to room 15. I knocked on the door, but didn’t get a response, so I just left
it outside. I checked on it this morning, and it was gone.”
“Who is staying in room 15?”
“Uhh,” the man turned to his computer and typed something. “An Andrew Hill. Looks like he checked out
this morning.”
this morning.”
“Can you describe him for me?”
“I wasn’t here when he left. What’s going on anyway?”
“Can I search his room?”
“Be my guest.” He found the key and handed it to Carol.
“Thanks.”
She turned and walked from the lobby. Room 15 was the farthest from the main office. When she finally
reached the door, she stuck the key in and turned the lock. The room was a mess - the table was knocked
over, pictures fallen off the walls and broken, the bed in terrible disarray.
reached the door, she stuck the key in and turned the lock. The room was a mess - the table was knocked
over, pictures fallen off the walls and broken, the bed in terrible disarray.
Carol stepped carefully around the mess, trying her best to not disturb anything. Her eyes took in each
detail, hoping for some personal effects left behind.
detail, hoping for some personal effects left behind.
She saw something sticking out of the half opened closet door - a shoe? She stepped closer to investigate,
but stopped dead in her tracks. A terrible shiver ran through her body.
but stopped dead in her tracks. A terrible shiver ran through her body.
Andrew Hill was crumpled in the closet, his face white in death. His shirt was torn and stained in blood.
Her stomach lurched. Okay, enough of that nonsense. Focus on the task at hand! She told herself. Reaching
into her pocket, she retrieved her smart phone and snapped a few pictures of the dead body. As she stood,
she took a few more shots of the room.
into her pocket, she retrieved her smart phone and snapped a few pictures of the dead body. As she stood,
she took a few more shots of the room.
“I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Carol jumped at the voice. The man from behind the counter stood blocking the door. He didn’t look scared
as he had a few moments before.
Her heart thumped in her chest. “Dead bodies are something we get used to seeing.” She knew that wasn’t
what he meant.
as he had a few moments before.
Her heart thumped in her chest. “Dead bodies are something we get used to seeing.” She knew that wasn’t
what he meant.
The man crossed the room to where she was in a leap. “I’ll take that,” he snatched the phone from her
hands.
hands.
Carol tried reaching for her hidden pistol, but he drew his before she had a chance.
“You’re new at this, aren’t you?” He laughed mockingly. He reached into her jacket and drew her pistol
from its holster.
from its holster.
“You won’t get away with this - I’m a federal agent!”
“You’re a kid playing dress up. And no, I’m not afraid of you. But little girls like you get in the way.” He twisted
her arm behind her back. She cried out in pain. He reached for her other arm, then pulled a thick zip tie
from his pocket and firmly secured her arms in place. Carol tried to scream, but the man’s big hand covered
her mouth.
her arm behind her back. She cried out in pain. He reached for her other arm, then pulled a thick zip tie
from his pocket and firmly secured her arms in place. Carol tried to scream, but the man’s big hand covered
her mouth.
“I wouldn’t try that either.” He slapped a long piece of duct tape across her mouth. “Your big brothers will
be wondering what happened to you. We’ll make sure they don’t find out.”
be wondering what happened to you. We’ll make sure they don’t find out.”
He grabbed her arm and pull her towards the door. It was all she could to do keep up with him without
tripping over the furniture and lamp on the floor. Outside, a van had been parked just a few feet from the motel
door so there was no chance of her escape. She looked around, desperately trying to think of something.
As he shoved her up into the van, she stepped on the back of her shoe, then kicked it off. It fell, unnoticed
by the man, to the pavement.
tripping over the furniture and lamp on the floor. Outside, a van had been parked just a few feet from the motel
door so there was no chance of her escape. She looked around, desperately trying to think of something.
As he shoved her up into the van, she stepped on the back of her shoe, then kicked it off. It fell, unnoticed
by the man, to the pavement.
He forced her to sit, then slammed the doors shut. The van lurched as the driver sped away.
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