Murder in The Gallery

A creative story piece inspired by funny news stories from Singapore.

Murder in the Gallery

The chandeliers of the National Gallery Singapore shimmered in the city’s amber lights and where the five weirdest citizens were on a VIP list for an exclusive billion-dollar art auction. The gallery held a priceless collection of art works grounded in social justice, life journey’s, creative writing, teaching and research. The VIP guests plan to spend the next three days in the gallery, together getting to know the artists and the meaning behind the artworks. This event is hosted by the famous Victor Tan.

Introducing The VIP Guests

Lady Loo: “I just wanted to use the toilet.” She was given the name after accidentally getting trapped in a men’s toilet in Johor Bahru for 20 minutes, Toilet Lady became an unwilling escape-room champion. Armed with a mobile phone and two helpful brothers, she believes every locked door is now a personal challenge. She despised Slingshot Jill for her long shiny black curls and acrobatic skills, and secretly fancied Victor Tan.

Slingshot Jill: “Please keep your hands, feet, and hijab inside the ride at all times.” A thrill-seeker whose Clarke Quay slingshot ride transformed her hijab into an airborne disguise. Despite temporarily losing sight of the Singapore skyline, she emerged laughing and proudly holds the record for the fastest accidental costume change in the cast. She also fancied Auctioneer Victor Tan.

Guardian Dirt: “Karma is watching. Heaven is taking notes.” Protector of plants, defender of flowerpots, and creator of Singapore’s most intimidating anti-theft sign. Guardian Dirt possesses no known superpowers, yet somehow convinces thieves that the entire universe is monitoring their gardening behaviour.

Bottle Uncle: “The truth is out there... probably near the market stall.” A self-appointed investigator of mysterious objects. After discovering a row of unexplained plastic bottles outside market stalls, Bottle Uncle dedicated himself to uncovering their purpose. Several years later (or at least it feels that way), he remains no closer to an answer.

Cowboy Man: “This town isn’t big enough for one whip.” The unexpected cowboy of Sembawang. Armed with nothing but a whip and impeccable timing, Cowboy Man turned an entire neighbourhood into amateur detectives trying to identify the source of mysterious popping sounds.

Pre-Auction Tapas

Auctioneer Victor Tan: Tall, strikingly handsome Victor with dark short hair, stubble, solid build, with piercing brown eyes and a charming smile. His scent is most intoxicating, with every inhale of aromatic, woody blend that opens with zesty bergamot and grapefruit, settles into a spicy heart of star anise. His smooth deep voice and Whitty charm commanded attention, making million-dollar bids sound irresistibly to art collectors. He begins the event with “Welcome to Singapore, where every strange headline is somehow true.” Our guide through an evening of confusion, mysterious, and completely misunderstood.

The auctioneer Victor Tans job is simple: entertain, charm and seduce the guest, sell art on day three.

The guests enjoyed refreshments. Champagne. Tapas.

They drifted through the grand room of the National Gallery Singapore beneath glittering chandeliers and centuries of artistic works from around the globe. Champagne flowed freely, guests lots the count of how many drinks they had consumed, mingled, laughed and charmed each other. Lady Loo animatedly recounted her infamous restroom entrapment hoping that Victor would sense her helplessness and wrap his muscular arms around her, while Slingshot Jill demonstrated, much to everyone’s amusement how her hijab had transformed into an unexpected blindfold during a thrill ride, falling into the arms of Cowboy Man who broke her fall, she took her blindfold off, blushed with embarrassment.

Nearby, Guardian Dirt cornered unsuspecting guests with stern warnings about karma, heaven and the dangers of stealing potted plants, while Bottle Uncle attempted to recruit volunteers for his ongoing investigation into the mystery of the plastic bottles.

As dinner reached its climax, the evening’s host, renowned auctioneer Victor Tan, rose to make a toast. He held a flute of Champaign in his right hand and raised his arm shouting “To art, friendship, and weirdest Singaporean VIPs has officially commenced”, followed by “lets mingle, tingle and get friendly tonight” moving his gaze towards Slingshot Jill amazed by her acrobatic skills, their eyes locked together, intensity filled the invisible space between them. Heart and pulses racing.

The guests cheered. Shouted. Meowed. Winked at him flirtishly.

Cowboy Man disrupted the moment between Slingshot Jill and Victor, leaning in for a hello and a friendly introduction. He winked at her showed off his cowboy skills by celebrating with an enthusiastic crack of his whip, startling half the room. In the commotion, Auctioneer Victor Tan took a sip, winked at Lady Loo, “I will be getting friendly with …. ”, and collapsed onto a wall filled with tiny photographs of children in poverty, smashing the research piece, cutting his forehead, and landing on the floor with a heavy thump. A pool of blood slowly started to poor out beneath his head as he laid on the floor with a grin and a wink. Still. Dead.

Silence filled the tension and fear in the room

A champagne flute rolled across the floor; Cowboy Man landed his foot on it heavily smashing it to pieces.

Guardian Dirt immediately announced that karma had struck again, his irritating announcement sends a shock wave through Slingshot Jill as her lusting fantasy was ruined. suggested checking the security cameras. Bottle Uncle wondered if the mysterious bottles were somehow involved, he decided to take it upon himself to collect evidence and started examining them for fingerprints. As panic spread through the gallery, Lady Loo ran to the men’s toilets and locked herself in there, this time she did not call for help.

Slingshot Jill started walking in despair towards Victor, trembling, heart racing, crying and sobbing uncontrollably, when she slipped on he wet floor covered hard on her back, SNAP, with glass crystals and spilled champaign beneath her, she started to losing the feeling in her hands, arms and legs very quickly.

The three-day Art Auction event came to an abrupt stop in the first two hours.

Two things became very clear; there is a killer among us and the art auction is closed. One thing was up for debate among the remaining guests in the room; do we call the ambulance or the police?

THE END

Who Killed Victor Tan?

Acknowledgments

This creative story was written as part of a challenge set by Man With No Name I totally failed in following instructions. Instead, I decided to create my own and use 5 stories from Singapore Stomp News where I am staying now.

I tried to use AI, because I am time poor, but Chloe spat out slop. So this is what I came up with instead. I hope it okay.

Others who are participating in this challenge (I think) include:

D. Maria Ashley Butler The Journal of Rooted Growth Lola the Firebird HuckinFappy Leslie Paul Oosten HealinLayers