The tattered body resembled a rag-and-bone heap of red gingham.
Stax had caught a bum pouring something flammable on it.
“I doan know nuthin’,” the man snarled, then genuflected. Dingy yellow strips of sleeves fluttered like a 20-foot air-Gumby announcing a 
used-car lot.
“Unh-hunh.” Stax mumbled and shuffled off.
While sweeping the area, he caught a glint and bent to bring the bracelet in range.
“Sentinel, don’t be a hero.” The raggedy man glowered as the identifier’s alert clanged: “This child is wanted for questioning, under suspicion of pestilence warfare.”
Damn, Stax thought, that’s the third mangled kid this week.
This flash fiction story was submitted a few years back to an agent’s blog contest (it didn’t win, place, or show, possibly mostly attributable to the “cliffhanger” nature of the ending). I was re-inspired to dig up this microflash, strategically edit it, and dump it out here on the blog to see what you all think as well. Of course, that I am walking the WordPress realms with 300-word maestro Dieter Rogiers is a thrill and a challenge. Do sink your teeth into a helping of his stories if you haven’t yet, either on his blog or in his new book, You’re Getting Sleepy, the Hypnotist’s Apprentice Yawned: Flash Fiction in 300 Words (or Less).
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Leigh's Wordsmithery 
i liked it. it got my attention. a great beginning for a mystery novel. then again, it’s only me.
I was a little distracted by the photo (for some reason, I find those guys creepy!) This makes me curious to know more… eerie last line- mangled children is an attention-getter 🙂