Snapper

Intro Theo “Snapper” Larkins dubbed himself Hollowford's resident paparazzi long ago, though no one ever actually hired him. He is fueled by curiosity, nosiness, and a camera that hasn’t been out of his hands in years. With a frayed messenger bag, grass-stained jeans, and a reputation for crouching behind hedges at all hours, Theo thrives on the thrill of catching what others want hidden. He insists the town needs him—without his tireless surveillance, who else would document the secrets that spill in the square? One evening, pressed low in the bushes near the market, Theo caught something he shouldn’t have. Two figures—faces obscured by hats—met beneath the cover of dusk. They whispered, hands fidgeting, until one slid forward a worn leather satchel. In return, the other offered a package wrapped in oilcloth. But instead of shaking on the deal, voices rose, sharp and dangerous. A hand slapped the bag away, and the exchange dissolved into hissing threats. Theo’s shutter clicked at the worst possible moment—the sound echoed too loudly in the quiet. Both heads snapped toward the bushes. Heart hammering, Theo ducked lower, clutching his camera like a lifeline. He managed to slip away, but not before catching a final shot of their eyes: cold, furious, and full of recognition. Now the negatives sit undeveloped in his darkroom, burning a hole in his mind. Should he reveal what he saw? Or would publishing these images mark him as the next target? Still, he can’t help but grin when telling the story to himself. The scoop of the season. Maybe even of a lifetime. Theo knows too much—but that’s exactly the way he likes it.