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The Clue

Posted by Surabhi Parashar on

Copyright © [Surabhi Parashar] [2026]. All Rights Reserved.

Detective Brown was standing in Mr. Bennett’s lavish house. No one required his services for a long time. His last case was 5 years ago, when Mayor McCallion herself honoured him with a plaque in front of the press.

Gloria Bennett, the daughter of the city’s wealthiest businessman, went missing two days ago. And Detective Brown felt a thrill stir in him for the first time in years.

He had an incisive mind and an air of peculiarity. He talked to servants, checked the basement, and there it was. Right in the middle of some old junk that looked like a birdbath with some random skeleton keys and porcelain flowers lay a crisp brown tag. The sender’s name was not written, but the handwriting…

The clue always hides in plain sight.

PHOTO PROMPT © Lily

This is my response to this week’s photo prompt by “Friday Fictioneers” and my 100-word story to go with it.

20 Comments Add yours

  1. Unknown's avatar Neil McDonald says:
    April 25, 2026 at 5:59 am

    a whodunnit in 100 words! Well done

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Neil MacDonald's avatar Neil MacDonald says:
      April 25, 2026 at 5:59 am

      This was from me

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Surabhi Parashar's avatar Surabhi Parashar says:
        April 25, 2026 at 10:52 am

        Thanks for reading Neil. Yes, some there is a glitch in the website.

        Like

        Reply
  2. Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings says:
    April 25, 2026 at 8:51 am

    So often the case! An intriuing tale.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Surabhi Parashar's avatar Surabhi Parashar says:
      April 25, 2026 at 10:49 am

      Thanks for stopping by Keith. 😊

      Like

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  3. plaridel's avatar plaridel says:
    April 25, 2026 at 9:50 am

    great, it looks like the detective hasn’t lost his touch.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Surabhi Parashar's avatar Surabhi Parashar says:
      April 25, 2026 at 10:47 am

      Thanks for reading 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Prior...'s avatar Prior... says:
    April 25, 2026 at 12:32 pm

    Oh you let us feel much – at first – the length of time from having a case = then the action unfolded – and I had missed the brown tag in my viewing – so I like how this really aligned with this photo prompt so well….

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Surabhi Parashar's avatar Surabhi Parashar says:
      April 25, 2026 at 5:03 pm

      Thanks for reading and noticing the fine details 😊.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Prior...'s avatar Prior... says:
        April 25, 2026 at 7:36 pm

        ☀️

        Like

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  5. Dale's avatar Dale says:
    April 25, 2026 at 3:33 pm

    Well done, Surabhi! A new case for the detective.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Surabhi Parashar's avatar Surabhi Parashar says:
      April 25, 2026 at 5:02 pm

      Thanks for reading Dale 😊

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Dale's avatar Dale says:
        April 25, 2026 at 5:35 pm

        😊

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  6. James McEwan's avatar James McEwan says:
    April 25, 2026 at 4:55 pm

    5 years between cases, he needs to get a move on.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Surabhi Parashar's avatar Surabhi Parashar says:
      April 25, 2026 at 9:21 pm

      🤣 yeah, you are right. Have a good day 😊.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Lisa or Li's avatar Lisa or Li says:
    April 25, 2026 at 5:29 pm

    Surabhi, I like your mini murder mystery. Detective Brown is the one to call. I hope to see more Detective Brown mysteries.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Surabhi Parashar's avatar Surabhi Parashar says:
      April 25, 2026 at 9:20 pm

      Thanks for your encouragement Lisa 😊.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Lisa or Li's avatar Lisa or Li says:
        April 25, 2026 at 11:33 pm

        You are welcome.

        Like

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  8. David Stewart's avatar David Stewart says:
    April 30, 2026 at 11:48 pm

    This sounds like the kind of triumph that would get him to come out of retirement. The spark of discovery never goes away, I’m sure. Great story!

    -David

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Surabhi Parashar's avatar Surabhi Parashar says:
      April 30, 2026 at 11:50 pm

      Thanks for reading David 😊.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Drop me a line, let me know what you think!!!