The Beginning

Photo Prompt © Janet Webb

Read chapter 25 or start from the beginning

Chapter 26

Outside the courthouse, I could hear the rain pounding. My lawyer said parking lots were flooded.

Inside the courthouse, my handcuffs were as cold and hard as the rain outside. I sat before the judge, ready for my verdict.

“I hearby declare the defendant not guilty in the murder of Dempsey Baynart.”

My restraints were removed and I bolted from the courtroom. Brogan’s face lit, his arms wide as he leaped from Ione’s lap and into my arms.

“Mommy’s secret worked.”

“It did, buddy. He thought that big baby doll was you”

Ione approached me smiling. “Let’s get back to Nova Scotia, shall we?”

I couldn’t wait.

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Not to be continued…

I hope you liked the journey. This is the last chapter of this series. It ran for 26 chapters. I highly encourage you to start at the beginning. Our character had quite an adventure. This was a fun challenge I posed to myself. Thank you Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting these photo prompts. I will continue to write my Saturday prompts, they just won’t be connected. A HUGE thanks to all who have been following!

 

The End

Photo © Jan Wayne Fields

Read chapter 24 or start from the beginning

Reflecting, boating into NY, I was still shaking, nauseous, sweating.

It had been just the three of us on the farm.

“Give me Brogan.”

“If I don’t?”

The gun he pulled was answer enough.

I responded, pulling out a small silver switch box. “The car’s rigged, Dempsey. If I’m dead anyway, he’s better off with me than you.”

He moved toward the car when saw Brogan’s silhouette. “STOP!” I hollered. “You’re not getting him!”

“Stupid, bitch. Yes, I am.”

I flipped the switch. The explosion rocked my world. He turned the gun towards me. I flung myself at him. We landed hard on the ground. A second explosion rang in my ears. Dempsey’s body, limp atop me, muffled all other sounds.

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Read chapter 26

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. I hope you have enjoyed the stories. It’s been fun trying to connect these stories. This certainly wasn’t the ending I was expecting to reach when I started this challenge. Thanks, Rochelle, for providing the catalyst for creation!

 

Princess and the Pea

Photo Prompt © Sandra Cook

Read chapter 23 or start from the beginning.

Chapter 24

My knuckles were white on the wheel. These God damn sheep weren’t helping. Why in Jesus’s name would he want me to bring Brogan to hillbilly country? Perhaps we were being led to a slaughterhouse, too.  As I neared the farm, I couldn’t stop the tears. My heart hammering so hard my whole body vibrated its pounding rhythm. The envelope sat silently screaming on the passenger seat. The message inside clearly letting me know I had no other choice.  The item in the envelope now a lump in my pocket like the princess who slept on a pea.

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Read chapter 25

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. I am going to try to end this story with the next 2 pictures. July will be the last month. I wonder how it will end? Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

 

 

Running Out of Options

PHOTO PROMPT © Jan Marler Morrill

Read chapter 22 or start from the beginning.

Chapter 23

God damn black sedan! I spotted it three cars back. On foot I knew the car couldn’t keep up. So I slipped down a side alley. In the muffled distance I heard a car door slam and I took off running.

“HEY!”

Without looking at who shouted, I took off running. I ran until I suddenly ran out of alley. Breathless, out of options, I ran directly at my predator, hoping to get past him. He was too strong, bear hugging me to the ground.

“Dempsey wants Brogan.”

“Over my dead body, asshole.”

“Dempsey gave me full permission to make that happen. He even threw in a bonus if it did.”

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Read chapter 24

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. I am going to try to end this story with the next 3 pictures. July will be the last month. I wonder how it will end? Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

Summoned

© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Read chapter 21 or start from the beginning.

Chapter 22

Through the soapy window I could see the headlights of the black sedan pull up to the house. “Brogan, go up to your room and play for a bit, please”. I tried to keep my voice calm.

He found us. Or rather his lawyer did. I saw the dark clad figure approach, but the staccato knock still startled me. I finished cleaning the window before opening the door. “Ma’am. I’m here to deliver this. We’ll see you in court Monday morning.”

Game on.

“Brogan! Time to go!”

I have just two days left.

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Read chapter 23

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. I am going to try to end this story with the next 4 pictures. July will be the last month. I wonder how it will end? Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

 

Touchdown… Again

 

© Rich Voza

Read chapters 19 and 20 or start from the beginning

Chapter 21

Brogan and I caught the 6am flight from Halifax to Laguardia. The court date wasn’t set yet, but I knew it was just a matter of time. I also knew it was going to be a shit show, high publicity, circus. I wanted to leave Brogan with Ione. Safe. But I wanted the courts to see the sweet, little boy involved in this. Funny thing is, he never said anything about wanting to see his father. Dempsey must know we’re back in New York. I just hope he doesn’t figure out where we’re going.

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Read chapter 22

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

The Perfect Spot

Photo Prompt © Douglas M. MacIlroy

Chapter 20

Read chapter 19 or start from the beginning

“Thanks for taking me cave diving. I think I was in University the last time I went diving and that wasn’t yesterday. If what you say is true, no one knows about that spot but us, even better.”

“I’ve been diving there for years. Never seen anyone else. Have you worn a diving helmet before?”

“My dad used to have one when I was growing up. I never used it. Mind if I try it out next time?”

However, the only thought clouding Dempsey’s mind was how to get that woman down there permanently before she ran her big mouth to any more media outlets.

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Read chapter 21

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

 

The Serene Before the Stress

Piya Singh

Read chapters 17 and 18 or start from the beginning

Chapter 19

Ione showed me this place where it’s so serene you could imagine never leaving. A tumbling stream in the distance. Birds in the branches. Wind in the trees. Sun on your face. Your toddler climbing everything climbable. I needed this quiet because life was going to get loud. Stressful. Demanding. His lawyers tracked me down at Ione’s. Demanded to know what I had released to the media. In not so many words, threatened hired guns. I guess it’s time Brogan and I headed back to NY. God help us all…

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Read chapter 20

I apologize for the long wait between chapters. I’ve been having trouble deciding which direction the story the should take and making it fit the photos. Also, life is getting busier with the weather finally warming up. Thanks for your patience. This story will go on!

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

 

The First Clue

Photo Prompt © Ceayr

Read the last chapter or start from the beginning.

Good friends are great for pointing out flaws we try to justify. Ione was definitely a great friend. Over our cups of tea we reminisced about the good old days.

“Remember that private charter boat we won? That’s when I knew Dempsey wasn’t the kind of father he said he’d be.” She told me.

“I remember. Brogan was only a couple months old.”

“He loved that boat, though. Nothing like being on the water to put a baby to sleep.”

The feeling of my baby boy asleep in my arms brought tears to my eyes. “Then I gave Brogan to Dempsey so I could pee.” The image of my return and seeing Dempsey dangling my baby boy by his ankle over the water made me sob uncontrollably.

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Read chapter 19

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

The Next Move

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Read the last chapter or start from the beginning.

Chapter 17

I made record time to Ione’s and hugged Brogan so tight… Now, from our third floor bedroom, I could see the rains coming, in more ways than one. It was going to be a shit storm. CNN and the New York Times have been contacted. Dempsey wasn’t going to be happy. Actually, if he wasn’t prepared to kill me before, he will be when they contact him. He was running a multimillion dollar company. Too bad he was taking short cuts. Too bad he killed employees to quiet them. I just have to turn in the book that proves it all.

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Read chapter 18

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.