Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The Rule of Three Blogfest: Troublemaker Part 2


Welcome to Renaissance, where everyone has a secret.

Today I introduce you to Keith Masterson, Laine's son and captain of Rennaissance High's football team.

If you missed last week, here's Part 1.

Today's prompts:

A relationship becomes complicated
A character lies to another on an important issue

Word Count: 596




Troublemaker


Where is it? Not under my unmade bed, not in any of my shoes lying around unused. I pick up my clothes and shake them.

Nothing. 

No chain. No class ring. 

Wait… maybe it’s being washed with my clothes. Maybe it’s being sucked into the washing machine’s innards or to that place where socks go. 

Or maybe I lost it somewhere outside. My stomach turns at the ground that covers. I’d been everywhere this week and I can’t remember when the ring wasn’t hanging around my neck. 

Crap. 

Mom is so going to kill me. 

The front door slams shut, hitting me like a thunder clap. Of course she’d show up now. The ring has to wait. There’s no way I’m going to tell her I’d lost Dad’s class ring. What do I do? Go greet her? No. That will tip her off that something's up.

I fling myself onto my bed and grab some book next to it. It’s barely open before she appears by my door. I take one look at her tired eyes and muddy boots and my heart stutters.

“Who died?” Her frown makes me want to bite my tongue off. A hundred ways to introduce the topic and I fall into the worst one. Shit she makes me nervous when she stares.

“How did you know someone died?” 

Because I’d spoken to Brad minutes ago and news traveled fast in a shithole like Renaissance. Because she’d been out working since yesterday morning, adding the tally to about 50 hours. Because she looked like hell.

I put the book aside. “Murders always hit you hardest.” 

Maybe I should just dig my tongue out with a spoon.

She didn’t miss that mistake either. “How did you know it’s murder?”

“Mom…” 

“Do you know who did this?” 

Shit. Just what I was worried about. Do I or don’t I finger Brad and the boys? Damn it I have to keep cool. “Mom! This is Renaissance.” 

She blinks a few times. “Right.” Rubs the spot between her brows. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to go all cop on you.” 

Mom never goes cop. She is cop.


“It’s ok. Will you make it to the game?” 

Mom’s mouth turns down and her eyes go distant on me. What’s on her mind?

“Mom?”

“I don’t know. I’m hoping to solve this thing fast. The last thing this town needs is another unsolved tragedy.”

A waste of space like Sean Drummond was hardly tragic, but I keep that thought very far from my face. 

“Had any friends over while I was gone?” 

Her eyes burn mine and my palms sweat. She isn’t asking for no reason. She’s asking for my alibi. This is my last chance. Either I finger my team or I cover for them. Whatever I decide, I have to stick with it no matter what. Not much of a choice. Captains watch out for their teams. 

Can Mom notice my heart drumming in my throat?

“Yeah, I had the guys over for pizza. Hope you don’t mind.”
“When was this?”
“Last night.”
Her face brightens a little. “What about I grill us some steaks?”
I want to throw up, but I summon a reply to her smile. “Sounds great. If you’re not too tired.” 

She shakes her head and kicks off her shoes before slipping away. 

When the banging of pans reaches me, I shut the door and pull my cell from my jeans.  
Come on man… we rattle some cages. Straighten them out. No biggie.  
Yeah. Right.
Oh. I remember where I lost the ring.



27 comments:

  1. It's so fun to see the different things everyone does with this prompt. Thanks for sharing, Misha!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad to see you've followed up last week's strong effort with another great piece. Fast paced, written with a very down to earth edge and the first person perspective works very well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The plot thickens. Good job. Your characters are well drawn.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's hard to stick to a regular blogging schedule, huh? Good story.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love how not-dumb Laine is. Can't wait to see next week and who's perspective you follow.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Really like how complicated this is getting. Keith has some difficult choices to make. Very real.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a curious predicament. I love how this is developing. Keep it up! I'll be back next week for more. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Believable plot, great tension. Looking forward to next week.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ooh, I'd missed last week's and reading them both together now I'm really intrigued. Did he do anything? Is he a bad guy? Man, Renaissance is full of all kinds, huh? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is fantastic. Renaissance sounds like a nasty place to live.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Been by to have a read – sorry I can’t say too much while judging!

    J.C.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just read one and now two...very, very intense. You keep the atmosphere alive through the characters. Looking forward to #3...

    ReplyDelete
  13. fantastic dialogue! argh now I have to wait until next week to see what happens next! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is getting murkier and intense, great dialogue...maybe the next one will throw some light.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Must be difficult to have a parent as a cop - especially if you may be "involved" in something your self!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Where did she lose the ring? Or did I miss that in the story? /sigh

    ReplyDelete
  17. I like your use of dialogue and inner thought!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Uh...oh...someone's in trouble.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ooh, the drama is riding high with this one, and it's awesomely well done. I love Keith's voice and how it says so much about both himself and his mom, and...yes. I'll be holding out for next week!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This week's post holds up to the promise of last week's--a great story in the making. I love that Keith doesn't like it when Laine brings "work" home, but he's brought it into their home on his own.

    Now where is that ring????

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love how the voice in Part 2 is totally different from Part 1, and how you've made both of them totally sympathetic characters. Definitely compelling reading and so much tension knowing these characters are going to suffer when they find things out...!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Another great piece, Misha! I love the dynamic between mother and son - there's a lot going on between these two!

    I'm looking forward to next week's entry. Mmmm...who's perspective will it be from?

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is not looking good! I hope the kid didn't do it, that would be a bitch if she had to arrest her own son. I guess I'll have to wait for next week to find out.

    ReplyDelete
  24. This sucked me in--I can't wait to find out what happens!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh, this is brilliant! I love how your characters bounce off each other!
    I wonder who will be the star in your next chapter.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh no! I like the tension in the character's voice. You show how he's nervous without having to tell us.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for commenting! I love to read what you think.

Feel free to ignore the check-box saying "Prove you're not a robot." My word verification is off, but I moderate comments to posts older than two weeks.