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Cold Sweat, by Gordon Lawrie

10/7/2020

 
Ted awoke around 2.00 a.m., sweating profusely. In truth, he hadn't really managed to sleep at all.
 
What did she have on him, he wondered? More to the point, what could she prove? It would be her word against his. The police wanted to interview him, but they were probably fishing. All he had to do was say nothing.  He wanted to deal with the press, though, but his lawyer had warned him to stay well clear.
 
What he'd done was legal, and she'd been old enough to give consent.
 
He was sure of that.
 
He was sure of that.
Mary Wallace
10/7/2020 09:26:34 am

Poor Ted...not sure enough to sleep. His Lawyer will need to earn his massive pay cheque.

Pamela Kenney
10/7/2020 01:01:52 pm

Is Ted being shaken down? Is he a victim of a false accusation? Good story...it leaves you guessing.

Bobby Warner
10/7/2020 02:16:43 pm

Conscience truly does make cowards of us all, eh Gordon? Good story.

Swapan k Banerjee
10/7/2020 03:55:16 pm

This's what succumbing to blind instinct entails! The repetition at the end is suggestive of how the same thought goes on and on and assaults the senses. The title is, as always, to a tee ...

Gordon Lawrie
10/7/2020 04:10:20 pm

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury... based on this man's sleep patterns – Guilty or Innocent?

(Thanks for the nice comments, by the way.)

Mary Wallace
10/7/2020 09:29:54 pm

I think Ted knew exactly what he was doing....and probably exactly how old she was. Based solely on his sleep patterns of course.

Jim link
10/7/2020 04:17:36 pm

The last lines, as he repeats himself, lends me to believe he's trying to convince himself more so than the reader, etching a bit more than just a shadow of doubt into his guilt, or innocence.
Nicely done
Jim

Phyllis Souza
10/7/2020 04:46:06 pm

Good story. In the end, I quess Ted wasn't so sure.

Sue Clayton
11/7/2020 03:06:27 am

He should have stayed awake arguing with his conscience and writing out his statement; Did I or didn't I? A great piece, Gordon.

Marjan sierhuis
11/7/2020 06:05:41 pm

"The gentleman doth protest too much methinks." Nicely done, Gordon.


Comments are closed.

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