Is this a Good Short Story?

The Usual Drill

Emma sat at her desk, listening to the high-pitched whine of the dentist’s drill. Working as a receptionist was boring but left her plenty of time to daydream, today she was thinking about her getaway to South America. She was particularly cheerful because her boyfriend had just told her that his wife had run away with an old flame; the even better news was that the old flame had swept the wife away without a backward glance, so it was unlikely there would be an expensive divorce. After such a tedious wait she was looking forward to the promised new life in the warm sunshine. She tried not to look bored as Mr Sheldrake made his way up to check in.

Brian Sheldrake looked around for a place to sit while he waited to be seen. He was nervous, not just about the impending dental work, but also because he’d left the luggage store in the hands of his inexperienced assistant: Derek. He knew he shouldn’t be worried of course; Derek had surprised him only last month when he had managed to flog the over-sized trunk that had been gathering dust for years. Brian couldn’t imagine who would need a piece of luggage that size, it had been a risk to buy it in the first place but Brian could never pass up a bargain. He nodded a good morning to Terry Brenner, the owner of the travel agents that was two doors up from his store on the high street.

Terry smiled back with uncharacteristic enthusiasm; he was very pleased to get his urgent root canal work done on such short notice. His teeth had always bothered him and since childhood he had always been frightened by the dentist, especially the sinister drill. What luck it was that he had such a nice dentist and especially that he could have his dental work done just before Dr Blakeney was gone for good. Just a couple of weeks ago Dr Blakeney had bought one way tickets to Venezuela, such an exotic location had piqued Terry’s interest, however the dentist had been quite cryptic. He had mumbled something about a long holiday and not knowing when he would be back. Terry hadn’t probed more, such a large purchase through his agency and the chance to sort out his dental problems had silenced his curiosity.

The bell on the surgery’s door tinged as Sandra walked in, she was urgent to get back to her checkout at the DIY store as her tea break only lasted another fifteen minutes, hopefully she could arrange a check-up with the dentist before her supervisor noticed her absence. She had spoken to the dentist while he was at the checkout in the DIY store, buying power tools and rope; one of her fillings was loose so he suggested she popped in to make an appointment. After saying hello to Terry, her brother-in-law, she went up to the receptionist’s desk to arrange an appointment.

The young police constable had been slightly disturbed by the sight of the mutilated corpse that had been found in a trunk in the lake. It was not often that a body was so unrecognisable that they had to request dental records, but this was not a normal case. After approaching the receptionist’s desk he began, “I’m afraid a body has been found in Cherry Lake and we need to request some dental records, nothing to worry about, it’s just the usual drill.”