Instant Replay
Hi Everyone,
I'm sharing another short story with you today, from my Short Story Podcast. Where you hear a fast-paced short story and get a quick writing tip afterward. Here’s a summer murder mystery for you to enjoy. There’s nothing like going to a baseball game at the ballpark you might even see one team get murdered at-bat.
Detective Silas Straight stood over the dead pitcher, “Alright, ump, one more time, what did you see?”
The home plate umpire replied, “It was a fastball. All I heard was the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd. As the baseball sped by the pitcher’s head, he collapsed. I thought he was hit by the ball even though it flew straight into the second base man’s glove.
I was the first to get to him. Turning him over, I saw his bloody chest with the bullet hole in it. I figure he must have been shot when the ball was hit or while the crowd was cheering to cover up the sound of the gun.”
Detective Straight crouched down, noticing the pitcher’s bruised temple where the ball struck him. The detective carefully examined what looked like scorch marks around the bloody bullet hole. Thoughtfully, he asked, “Ump, did anyone else come near the pitcher beside you?”
Sweating profusely, the umpire swore, “I swear, I kept everyone back, no one else did.”
Straight, excused himself, stepped off the mound to consult with his colleagues. Returning, he looked the umpire in the eyes and asked, “Why did you kill him?”
Shocked at the accusation, the umpire started to slid his right hand towards his ball pouch when two officers grabbed both his arms. They cuffed his hands behind his back.
As he struggled to get free, his baseball’s flew out of the ball pouch tied to his waist; along with a small gun onto the pitcher’s mound. “How? How did you know it was me?” He screamed at Detective Straight.
Detective Straight coldly looked the umpire in the eyes, explaining, “I’ll give you an instant replay:
“Strike one, the bruise on his forehead knocked the pitcher out.
“Strike two, burn marks around the bullet hole means you pressed the barrel of the gun against the pitcher’s chest to muffle the shot.
“Strike three, you would not let anyone else near the body. You were trying to cover up your murder.
“Therefore, you are the only one who could have killed the pitcher.”
Detective Straight paused, then yelled, “You’re Out! You’re Under Arrest!.”
The umpire stopped struggling and collapsed into the arms of the law.
The End
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