The+Unexpected


 * We read mystery stories as part of a language arts unit. Students became familiar with this genre and then wrote their own mysteries. Some of the stories the students produced were dark and serious while others were and light and funny. The characters and settings were varied. All the students worked to produce a story that built suspense with a mighty middle. Check out this dark, serious story with just a touch of humour. Be sure to comment so the author can improve his piece based on feedback from readers! **

**The Unexpected[[image:Picture30.jpg width="117" height="116" align="left"]]**
 “What?” You’ve got to be joking. I’ll be right there” I arrived at the scene. White chalk marked the floor. My side kick Keegan was already there. I wondered how he had gotten there before me? I asked, “Who called you?”

“I-I was in the area,” stuttered Keegan.

“Okay, let’s find some evidence,” I replied. We searched the area. I found a clue. A cigarette. I asked Keegan to take the cigarette to the evidence locker.

At 16:05 I got a call from a anonymous tipper he said one word, “Thompson”. I was puzzled. Was he trying to frame my side kick Keegan Thompson?

Later I went to the evidence locker the cigarette was and missing. I was starting to get suspicious but I still had my suspects Willem Jonson and Bill Mandel to interrogate.

When I questioned Willem Jonson I found out Willem was the father of the victim. He had a alibi. He was at a night club when his son John was brutally shot.

I still had another suspect- Bill Mandel a friend of the victim. I called him to come in. He had a criminal record as long as his arm. He’d spent some time in the slammer in 2003. We found a gun in our scene search. His prints were on it. I started my interrogation.

“ Well, it’s like this. It was almost John’s birthday and he wanted to go hunting so I got him a 30 Ott 6 and bullets,” explained Mandel. “I asked, “Did you kill John Jonson?”

“It was an accident,” Mandel sobbed. I had my confession.

The next day Mandel was in court. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? said the court clerk.

“I do,” said Mandel. The attorney started shouting questions like bullets.

Keegan looked at me and whispered, “We got another one boss.”

Then Bill cracked under the pressure and screamed out, “It wasn’t me. It was Keegan Thompson.”

Keegan’s face turned tomato red. He grabbed his gun and started to fire, then ran out of the court room. He stole a car from the parking lot. I got in my car and me and 5 cruisers chased him for 35 minutes through the city. When Thompson stopped, he ran into Joe’s mall, the busiest mall in town. He ran in the front door with me and 10 officers in pursuit. We lost him in the crowd. Then the intercom boomed. “Everyone to the main pavilion. I have a hostage.” It was Thompson.

We ran to the main pavilion. On the way I called the S.W.A.T team. When I got there Thompson pointed a gun in my face. “Do you know why I did this? I wanted one case on my own for a change. You always got all the credit. It was your face on the front page but I did all the work.”

That’s when I heard a S.W.A.T officer say, “Freeze we have you surrounded.” Thompson was mad but he kept it in. He slowly put his gun down.

“You have the right to remain silent,” I said when I cuffed my partner.

Later he went to federal prison. Several months passed. Then I got a call at 3:00 A.M one night. The caller said, " I will find you. You can’t run, you can’t hide.” It was Thompson. I immediately called the prison.

The guard who answered was out of breath. He said, “I was about to call you. Keegan escaped and he killed a guard.”

I was shocked to hear this. I hung up slowly and picked up my revolver. I heard a knock. Slowly I opened the door. My new deputy fell on the floor and Thompson walked in bracing a gun. His bloodshot eyes were haunting. I put my hands in the air as we stared at each other. I broke the silence by saying, “Why are you here and how did you escape?” He shrugged.

“You shouldn’t have locked me up in a prison I know so well.” Bang! Thompson dropped. I stared at him and saw that my new deputy had shot him. He put up his head then he dropped it again.

I called 911. “I need a bus”.

Later when I went to my office to do the paperwork on this case I got a call from the director he had a new assignment for me. “What you’ve got to be joking?” I sputtered. by Lawrence