Stumped

by Gary Pettigrew

About the Author: Gary Pettigrew lives in Scotland. He has written several children's novels but sometimes dabbles in grown up stuff too.

Excerpt

The summer of 1927 was as idyllic as ever remembered in the South of England. Old John Ayres had decided to retire to spend more time with his family in Dorset and so the council of Lower Dunston was forced to choose a new village policeman; by popular opinion, George Mahoney was the first name suggested. Fred Hurst nominated himself, of course, but this was quickly discarded because of the obvious reasons that nobody talked about. George, however, was above reproach in the eyes of the villagers. He was known as an honest man, friendly to everyone and, being an ex-miner, had the kind of physical presence that tended to put people off starting fights. Everyone loved George, he seemed like the ideal candidate and was voted in almost unanimously.

Two days later George’s body was found, stiff and a light blue colour, behind a hedge on the road to Upper Dunston. His bicycle was found later that afternoon in the pond behind the butcher shop.

The town council quickly and efficiently convened and appointed Fred Hurst as the new policeman. Hurst was roundly congratulated and there was much backslapping as he was now, without a doubt, the best person for the job.

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