The Stakeout

Photo by: Ady

Junior Detective Coombs was already regretting getting roped into another of Detective Bunt’s bizarre investigations.

Coombs said, “So…we’re staking out a park bench?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“There’s no pigeons at this bench. Over there and there, pigeons visit the benches. The other benches have bird poop and stains. This one looks brand new.”

“So?”

“I checked the park records. The park never put a bench there.”

Coombs sighed.

“I checked deeper. A crooked cop and a corrupt politician used this bench for dirty dealings. Both last visited the bench before disappearing.”

“They knew they were being investigated.”

“Look!” Bunt pointed.

A seagull suddenly alighted on the bench.

“It’s a seagull.”

“From out of town, probably. Doesn’t know to avoid it.”

The park bench suddenly surged up like a wave and engulfed the seagull, consuming it. Quickly, the bench reformed back into its normal shape.

“My God!” exclaimed Coombs. “It eats things! That explains the cop and the politician.”

“Those poor bastards,” sighed Bunt.

“I know. Even crooked men shouldn’t die so horribly.”

Bunt shrugged. “I meant the seagulls.”
________________________________
Written for the weekly Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers writing challenge. Look here for the original prompt and more stories for the week: https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/fffaw-week-of-february-9-2016/