Thank you @mariannewest for another fabulous #freewrite challange: this time a special three part Weekend Freewrite challenge! To learn more and take part visit @mariannewest/weekend-freewrite-3-the-first-sentence
If you don't know what a freewrite is visit @mariannewest her is a link to the introduction post: @mariannewest/writers-or-wanna-be-writers-wanted-be-free-freewrite
"No Smoke Without Fire?"
I put tulips under all the pillows, and then I set fire to the house. The match flickered in the liquid and for a moment, I thought it would go out.
Then there was a woooppphhh sound and the hallway went up in a yellow ball of flame. I ran, shutting the door behind me, up towards the rose bushes.
I watched the flames take hold of the house, as I removed my clothing, shoving it into the bin bag I had left there, and pulling on the jeans and pullover I had left beside it.
Grabbing the bag, I headed up the hill, away from the scene of crime.
I pulled the torch from my jeans pocket and flicked it on. The narrow beam of light was enough for me to follow the path through the wood, and out onto the road behind it. My car was still parked in the layby, and there was no sign of anyone else.
So far so good, I thought. I pulled the keys from the other pocket and jumped into the drivers seat. The engine turned and started first time. I pulled off into the night.
I needed to get to the pub, before anyone noticed my absence.
...
I cheated on my spouse and it wasn't the first time. So, I knew how to cover my tracks.
The pub came into view, and I checked the time. Just twenty minutes had passed.
As I pulled into the carpark, I could hear music playing loudly. Good, I thought, the band hadn't had a break yet.
My absence wouldn't be noticed. My friends, and Gail, didn't see me go, and they wouldn't have noticed that I wasn't with them.
All eyes would be on Trevor and the rest of the band. I threw the bin bag with my clothes into the trash can next to the entrance to the kitchen and slipped in the side door.
My wife was still where I'd left her, eyes on Trevor. John caught my eye, as I put my arms around Gail.
Was that a questioning look? I smiled back at him and ignored his gaze. Gail squeezed my arm, turning her head slightly, her perfume reached my nostrils, over the stench of sweat and stale beer.
...
Trevor was a good musician, I'll give him that.
Slimey bastard.
Gail, obviously, couldn't keep her eyes off him. The band played two more songs, neither of which I recognised, but the crowd seemed to love it.
Afterwards, Trevor joined us at the table.
"Have you seen this?" he said, throwing a crumpled copy of the local rag on the table between us. "Looks like they caught the bastard."
I stared at the front page. A picture of a man stared back, under the headline "Tulip killer caught at last".
The paper stated that the man had confessed. Perhaps, they had got it wrong, I thought. I had been sure that Trevor was the man. Suddenly: a thought.
"Where is Amanda?" I said to Trevor.
"She's picked up the kids, and taken them back to the house" he said, "Why, what the fuck's wrong"
My face must have betrayed my fear...
...
The image used is a photo I took of my fire at home. The only editing I have done on these stories is to line space and add italics, and remove duplicate words. Other than that it is as written. Really enjoyed this challenge :)