Malinda Andrews is our First Place winner! Yay!
Opening scene from an In-Progress Urban Fantasy Detective Novel tentatively titled “Blood and Pearls” by Malinda Andrews, also writing as M.R. Peterson. The weather was against Melanie Dunn. She sat in the black un-cushioned fold out chair with her hands folded in her lap. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a neat low ponytail, the ends of which rested on the black fabric of her dress between her shoulder blades. Her sunglasses, fashionably large, did a good job hiding her red and puffy eyes. Unconsciously her right hand fingers twisted the diamond scroll work that made up the wedding band on her left ring finger around and around. No one was seated next to her. James hadn’t any family left to attend. And few people stood around. Melanie had spent the better part of the last two weeks in a tear-filled stupor; ever since the man in a dark suit had come to her door to give her the news. She still remembered the last time she had seen James. His dark hair was ruffled as he flew off of the couch to answer his cell phone, one flannel pajama leg still scrunched up around his knee. He always took the calls she wasn’t allowed to overhear in the study. He came back, his face flushed with excitement. “The witness is willing to come in and testify!” He kissed her on the cheek with a remark to not wait up for him. James worked odd hours, but that comes with working for the FBI. She had gone to a cold bed, and woken by the doorbell and the man in the dark suit. A drum roll started and she was yanked back to reality. A tear threatened to fall, but she’d be darned if she let anyone see her cry. James’s partner stood opposite the casket from her. His hands were folded in front of his waist and his dirty blonde head was bowed. Two Marines proceeded to fold the flag. Birds chirped in the background. The day was unusually warm for a spring day. Why couldn’t it have been raining, or at least overcast? It would have matched her mood much better. Melanie accepted the flag, and watched in stony silence as her husband—the only man she had ever loved—was lowered into his grave This is the conclusion of the Story Beginnings Contest. Keep your eye out for the next one!
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