Outstanding Stories » Mr. Detective

“Mr. Detective” is one of the outstanding stories (junior) of the second biannual International Short Story Contest 2018 written by Shaurya Ganjoo, Global Indian International School, Singapore.

Mr. Detective

During a cold winter night in Chicago, 2004, a detective, Samuel Fernandes was listening to the radio, while he sipped on his coffee.

“Fernandes has done it again!
He has saved Chicago from the thief, Marvin Oven.
Marvin had stolen the town jewel and had also hacked the satellites that powered communication. He had also framed our Mayor by his professional hacking skills. If Mr. Fernandes hadn’t arrived on time, all the communication in the United States would have been cut off! Everyone in the U.S.A thanks you Mr. Fernandes. Other reports suggest that he was captured by a virus in his device.

Now let’s go to the Friday nights. Comedy Marvin’s eagle is actually...”

‘Child’s play’ Samuel thought. As he was listening to the radio, his phone rang. Samuel being rather rich, had an assistant get the phone to him. He picked it up.

He heard 3 words, “we need you”.

Immediately, he grabbed his coat and called his driver, James. The driver came very late. Samuel questioned him for his late arrival as he usually was very punctual. The answer was not in James voice. The driver said his name was Steward and he was a replacement as James was down with the flu. Samuel ignored his irresponsibility and told him to hurry up. The driver had hidden his face with a cap. This driver was very lucky, whenever Steward went to a red light, it would turn green, whenever a car overtook him, it would automatically make way for him.

When Samuel reached HQ, he saw the driver’s hat slightly slipped-off, reveling a blue tattoo. It was of an Eagle.

It made him feel suspicious, but he decided to ignore his feelings and go on to HQ as it was imperative to go if he was being called at this hour. When he entered, he was faced by a lot of commotion. People where making a lot of noise. He asked his boss, Mr. C. it seemed that Marvin had escaped jail within 23 hours and 59 minutes. His boss told him that his driver was Marvin and that they always had their eyes everywhere, on him and on the rest of the squad.

Samuel said, “It wasn't him. You wanna know why? You got info from the T.V or the radio that Marvin has an eagle tattoo. You did not check his tattoo in his ID. Well you did not pay attention to the channel name; its name was Friday Night.” Mr. C asked, “So what.” “Pay attention sir, the channels name is Friday Night and Comedy Marvin is hired. There are more than two Marvins in our town alone. One of them is Comedy Marvin Steward. He has many jobs as he doesn’t earn enough to earn his bread and butter. So, how did he manage to make all lights turn green and be so lucky? Criminal Marvin did it to frame him.

Now, Mr. C, I want you to fire all of your guards and hire the list of the guards that you will find in your top right jacket pocket.

They took a bribe from Marvin to report to command center that Marvin had escaped.

Now, how do I know this?

I have eyes everywhere…”