A flash fiction contribution for Macabre Mondays.
“The Mitchell’s were a really nice family.” The old lady began.
Detective Jim Hawthorn stood at the doorstep of 1202 Devonshire street. Mrs Kyle from next door had come to speak to him about the murder. “Any fights?”
“No, nothing. They were quiet. Nice people but very quiet.”
“Do you know who this belonged to?” Detective Hawthorn presented a tablet in a green case. It was in an evidence bag but Mrs Kyle could make out red hand prints on the black screen.
“Oh that was Rylan’s. He never went anywhere without it. It was a little sad, really. I don’t think he saw much of the world, just that screen. In the stroller, the car, the restaurant. Like all the other kids today I suppose. It’s not like it was when I was raising kids, detective.”
Hawthorn thanked Mrs Kyle for her time and gave her his card, should she be able to provide any more information at a later date.
He stepped inside into the hall where the the mother’s body lay. Forensics were still photographing the scene. They zipped up her body bag.
“Dad’s in the restroom. Injuries to the lower abdomen and legs. Defence wounds on the hands. The knife came from the block in the kitchen.” Said the pathologist as she watched her team bag up a bloodied children’s sock. “Same knife that was used on the mother.”
“We still don’t have a location on the kid.” another detective, Mark Watson, was talking to someone on his phone . “Yeah, missing child.” Watson was looking to the back of the house where a trail of small bloody footsteps had led him to the open back door.
Hawthorn looked down at the bagged tablet in his hand. He had accidentally knocked a button on the side and it resumed playing a video.
"Watson, look at this.” He showed it to his colleague. The two men stood watching, unable to look away. It was a children’s YouTube video called “Nursery Rhyme Time” and had three million views. Against a brightly coloured background with random household objects and trees in view, hideous, animated animals were singing.
Hickory Dickory Dock
The Mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
Then I killed Mom
Hickory Dickory Dock
Tick Tock
END
First Momo, now this??? haha
Loved this little ditty. As a parent, I think about this quite a bit. Good job!