Date Night Jigsaw

‘Babe, what do you feel like doing tonight?’ said Catherine.

‘Should we order a pizza and watch a movie?’ said Bruce.

The doorbell chimed.

‘Bruce! Did you already order one?’

Catherine flicked on the porch light and opened the door. No one was there. A small package sat on their doormat. She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and picked it up.

Bruce walked in. ‘What’s that?’

Catherine turned the package over. ‘I don’t know, there’s no label or address. It’s just blank.’

‘Let’s see.’ Bruce sliced open the package and pulled out a plastic bag filled with cardboard pieces.

Catherine unfolded a note. ‘For your date night. Complete the jigsaw to reveal the hidden image.’

‘Must be from Kelly. Maybe she asked a friend to drop it off.’

Catherine and Bruce sat around the coffee table; jigsaw pieces sprawled across it. They’d finished the edge, mostly black and greys, and had grouped similar colours together. Most of the pieces were dark, with the occasional splash of colour.

‘It’s a shoe!’ Catherine threw her fist in the air. ‘They look like Kelly’s favourite pair. Remember when she wore those to her college graduation?’

‘Those studded boots stood out like a sore thumb,’ Bruce chuckled. ‘Made her so much easier to spot.’

They started on a patch of vibrant reds. A few pieces in, they found a dash of silver that slotted in perfectly. A couple more pieces later, and the shape revealed itself.

‘A dagger,’ said Bruce.

Catherine frowned. ‘This is a weird jigsaw.’

They kept piecing the background together until Catherine found some pieces with pale yellow strands running through them. They exchanged a glance and shivered.

‘That’s Kelly’s…’ Catherine’s eyes were wide.

‘I’m calling her right now.’ Bruce had already hit the dial and put his phone on speaker.

One ring. Another. Bruce’s hand trembled. The ringing fell silent.

‘Kelly, what’s going on?’

‘Well done on figuring out the hidden image,’ said a husky voice.