The Case of the Chocolate Covered Cherries 
(or "The Corpse Wore Red" - A Trudy Tolliver Story) 
by Souvie

A flash story in 347 words.

*Dedicated to all my Trek friends out there.*

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"He's dead, Jim."

"I know he's dead, Trudy, and quit doing the Star Trek thing.
It lost its charm after the fifth time you said it."

"Pissy today, aren't you. Anyway, this is the second one this
week, isn't it? Same m.o. as the others?"


"Miss Tolliver, you know I can't confirm or deny any of that."

"Oh, Miss Tolliver now, huh?"

"Just shut it and let me do my job, or I'll kick you out. You
shouldn't be in here anyway."

"Hey, it's not my fault I did the mayor a favor last year, and
so now he's indebted to me for life."

"Yeah, well."

"Hey, that looks like . . . a chocolate covered cherry, isn't
it?"

"That's what it looks like."

"I was right! Second murder dealing with chocolate covered
cherries. Looks like you've got a serial killer, detective."

"I think it's a little premature to say that."

"I know! Maybe it's a gang of jilted girlfriends from a "first
girlfriends" club? Or All recent ex-virgins, getting revenge on
male sluts? The victims all members of one of those gangs where
seducing virgins is part of an initiation?"

"Trudy, Trudy, enough all ready!"

"Sorry, just theorizing out loud. I mean, he has chocolate all
over his mouth, the cherries are scattered around the body . . .
they could be poisoned. Or have a tiny explosive inside, and
when it starts to be digested - BOOM!"

"So you're a coroner now, huh?"

"Dammit, Jim, I'm a reporter, not a doctor!"

"Trudy, I'm warning you."

"Maybe the poison is arsenic. You know, with old lace since
today's Valentine's Day. Or cyanide. Isn't that the one that's
colorless and odorless, and tastless?"

"I've had enough of your blonde logic, you green-eyed,
vulcanized-boobed twit!"

"Hey, they're real, thank you very much! Want to check?"

"Trudy, I'm trying to be patient, I really am, but you're
driving me crazy."

" 'Death by chocolate', that's what my headline will read."

"Truuuudy. . . ."

"Hey, it's either that or 'Man dies popping cherries'."

"Two words for you, Trudy - BOLDLY GO!"



THE END