His mother yelled foul play, kidnapping, brutal murder, and burial beneath the church’s petunia patch.
Perhaps it was the flesh eating virus finally found its way home.

Or an enemy ridding themselves of his boorish old ways, lay him down on a bed of thorns, drained his body and fed the pigeons with what remained.

It became a sort of who-done-it game, an attempt at finding a clue.

Looking into his room, an immaculate setting of furniture, rugs, mirrors, a single chair, and not a trace of human movement.

I searched and probed unfolding sheets and sliding fingers along cracks in walls. I heard a shuffling sort of watery sound.

Turning quickly I saw nothing moved, nothing shifted, or wet... nothing, save for a set of false teeth sitting next to his bed.

Shielded in bubbles they sat toothy and grinning.
Walking towards them I found myself tiptoeing and holding my breath as if in fear of waking some unknown creature.

“ A set of false teeth, a simple mixture of porcelain, halitosis and glue,” I found myself whispering.

I watched as a bubble slid along the gum line through the water and disappeared.

“ Closer” something whispered.

A second bubble rose, then became trapped above the canines.

Reaching out I tapped the glass. Pulling back,

I waited.

“ Closer” something whispered again, as a second bubble dislodged itself and disappeared into the room.

“ It was more like an act of mercy, really.”
Jumping, I turned around and saw nothing, no one save for my reflection.

“ Rather rubbery and more like salted pig fat really.”
Nothing there . . .
Reaching out to grab the glass, I heard the door swing open.

Wheeling herself in, a powdery scent of yellowed brassieres, tired skin and aqua net trailing behind his mother.

“ Oh! I wondered where they were.” Her voice cracked as she reached into the glass and placed the set of false teeth into her mouth, a gaping hole of rotted pink gums welcoming them home.