Giving Up The Ghost

by Shea E. Butler

About the Author: Shea E. Butler, an award-winning filmmaker for her short films, screenplays & web series, is an alumnus of the Ryan Murphy Half Foundation Directing Fellowship and the Warner Bros. Television Director’s Workshop. She has a BA in Literature and an MA in Radio & Television.

Excerpt

“Well, shit. This sucks,” Belle said. “Big time.” She looked down at the dead body of her client at her feet. The octogenarian, Conrad Charles, was sprawled out on the marble foyer on his back. Heart attack? Not likely with the pool of blood under his head staining the expensive stone floor.

Belle hiked up her already short skirt and, balanced effortlessly on her six-inch ankle boots, squatted down next to the body. With a plastic Chinese hair pin she pulled out of the messy updo of her long black hair, Belle carefully turned her client’s head to the side and examined the bloody mess that was now Conrad’s skull. Yup, someone sure bashed in your head, she thought. She patted Conrad’s cheek softly. “Too bad, old man. I liked you. But guess not everyone did.” Belle stood and looked around the foyer. No obvious murder weapon in sight and nothing seemed to be missing.

She sighed. Guess it was time to call the cops. Belle pulled out her cell phone from under her bra which pushed up her ample endowments for the world to see. Belle dialed a number from heart.

“Hey, detective asshole, it’s your favorite private eye. I got a dead body for you.” Belle rolled her eyes as she listened to the voice on the phone. “Yes, another one. Where? You figure it out, you’re the detective.” She disconnected, then looked down at the body.

“Ciao, old man.” She walked out the open front door to the huge, circular drive in front of the lavish, Beverly Hills mansion. Belle leaned against the Grecian column flanking the front steps and waited.

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